University of Maine at Augusta Online Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity

The University of Maine at Augusta's online B.S. in Cybersecurity suits students who want a required internship, a simulated Cyber Range and a choice of focus areas at a public university. The school has held a National Security Agency Center of Academic Excellence designation since 2014. The tradeoffs are a synchronous format, a published graduation rate of 27%, and little cost detail on the program page.

The University of Maine at Augusta (UMA) is a public university in Augusta, Maine. Its Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity can be taken fully online, and students can also mix live online sessions with video conferencing.

The format is synchronous, which means some of your course time happens at scheduled hours with an instructor and classmates. That's closer to a classroom experience than a self-paced program, and it's a plus for people who like deadlines and discussion.

UMA serves 4,412 students, and 60% of them study online, so online learning is a regular part of the school.

The program has been designated an NSA Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education since 2014, and the school lists a redesignation for academic years 2019 to 2024. Confirm the current designation term with the department before you rely on it.

UMA admissions provides the current per-credit tuition and any technology fees before you apply. Ask whether the required internship carries tuition.

Credit for Prior Learning may apply to the internship, which can help if you already do security work.

Who It Fits

• You want an internship built into the degree. It's required, and a faculty coordinator helps arrange it.
• You work in a security-related job and may use Credit for Prior Learning toward the internship.
• You like live class sessions and want accountability from a schedule.
• You want to pick a focus: Cyber Forensics, Information Assurance or Network Security Analyst.

Who Should Skip It

• You need fully self-paced coursework with no meeting times.
• You need a full tuition total before you apply. UMA admissions provides the current per-credit rate and fees.
• You need to start in a specific term with a guaranteed path. Ask the advisor about course scheduling for online students.

The program offers three focus areas. Cyber Forensics deals with finding and preserving digital evidence. Information Assurance covers protecting data and managing risk. Network Security Analyst centers on monitoring and defending networks.

Coursework includes the Cyber Range, a simulation environment that gives students realistic training in attacking and defending systems. Practicing in a simulated network lets you make mistakes without consequences.

The internship is the capstone experience. It's meant to help you build a portfolio of relevant work experience before you graduate.

The internship may qualify for Credit for Prior Learning, and it is arranged with a faculty coordinator, so a student already working in security can talk through how that experience counts.

Standout Features

• Cyber Range simulation environment
• NSA Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education designation since 2014; redesignated for academic years 2019-2024

Students can take required courses completely online or through a combination of live online sessions and video conferencing. The format is synchronous, so check class times against your work schedule before you enroll.

The Cyber Range gives online students a place to practice. The internship is arranged with a faculty coordinator, so you'll need to find a host employer, and that's the part where being near Maine businesses may help.

You'd earn a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity from a public university. The program was designated an NSA Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education in 2014 and was redesignated for academic years 2019-2024, so confirm the current status with the school.

Federal data shows a graduation rate of 27% for the university and a completion figure of 38% for students in this kind of program. Those figures are lower than at many four-year schools, which is common at institutions serving working adults.

Where this degree can lead: Cybersecurity Degree Jobs.

The full rubric is on the methodology page.

• The university's federal graduation rate is 27%.
• Tuition and total credit requirements are confirmed through UMA admissions.
• Synchronous classes mean fixed meeting times.
• The designation window listed is 2019-2024, so check that it's current.

• What's the current per-credit tuition and fee total for online students?
• How many credits does the B.S. require, and how many can I transfer in?
• How are live sessions scheduled, and are they recorded?
• Who helps me find an internship if I live outside Maine?
• Can Credit for Prior Learning cover my internship?
• Is the NSA designation current?

• Best Information Assurance Degrees Rank 5 of 6, bachelor's
• Best Online Programs in Maine Rank 1 of 1, bachelor's

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