University of Maryland Global Campus Online Cybersecurity Management and Policy Bachelor of Science

UMGC's online B.S. in Cybersecurity Management and Policy is the right bachelor's if you want to run security programs instead of configure firewalls. It is a 120-credit degree with a generous transfer allowance of up to 90 credits, a low in-state rate of $337 per credit and a military rate of $250.

The catch is that it is the management track, so it will not give you the deep hands-on technical work of UMGC's sibling bachelor's degrees.

University of Maryland Global Campus is a public university in Adelphi, Maryland, built around adult and military learners. Every course in this degree is available online, though the page notes a few select hybrid courses exist. This is one of three online cybersecurity bachelor's degrees at UMGC, and the management and policy version is the one aimed at planning, risk and governance work.

The three siblings split the field cleanly. Cybersecurity Technology leans toward the technical build and defense side. Cyber Operations is the third option, aimed at operational security work. This degree is for people who will write policy, assess risk and explain security to executives.

UMGC publishes three per-credit rates: $337 for in-state students, $499 for out-of-state students, and $250 for military students. Across the 120 credits, the listed total tuition is $40,440 in state and $59,880 out of state. Other fees may apply, so ask for a fee schedule.

The number that really moves your bill is transfer credit. UMGC allows up to 90 credits to transfer in. If you bring a full 90, you pay for only the remaining courses, which is a small fraction of the totals above. Request a transcript evaluation before you commit so you know your actual cost.

120 credits at $499 a credit comes to $59,880 in tuition, before fees. At the in-state rate of $337, the same 120 credits come to $40,440.

Who It Fits

• Students with an associate degree or a pile of earlier college credit. UMGC accepts up to 90 transfer credits toward the 120, so the real number of courses you take can be small.
• Active-duty service members and veterans. The military rate is $250 per credit, which is well below the standard rates.
• Maryland residents, who pay $337 per credit instead of $499.
• IT or business professionals moving into compliance, risk or security leadership who care more about governance than about configuring tools.

Who Should Skip It

• Anyone who wants to spend most of their coursework in a technical lab. The Cybersecurity Technology and Cyber Operations bachelor's degrees at UMGC are a better match.
• Students who want a named concentration or a certification built into the curriculum.
• Out-of-state students watching the budget closely. At $499 per credit across 120 credits, the total climbs, so transfer credit matters a lot.

The degree is 120 credits and finishes with the Cyber Management and Policy Capstone (CSIA 485, 3 credits). The coursework centers on how organizations manage security risk, set policy, and meet legal and regulatory expectations.

That is a different skill set from penetration testing or malware analysis. A graduate of this track is more likely to review a vendor's controls, write an incident response plan or present a risk assessment than to run a scan. If that sounds like the job you want, the focus is an advantage. If you are not sure yet, the sibling degrees keep more technical doors open.

All courses are available online, and a few select courses are also offered in a hybrid format. UMGC is a public university built around adult and military learners. Ask whether courses run on short terms and how often you can start.

The school enrolls 63,012 students, so ask how advising works and who you contact when you need help.

Federal earnings data lists $100,937 as the median earnings figure for UMGC graduates in this field at the bachelor's level, which gives you a rough signal of where graduates land. If certifications matter to you, plan on studying for them separately and ask an advisor which courses overlap with the exams you want. Management-oriented security roles often list credentials such as CISSP or CISM.

Where this degree can lead: Cybersecurity Degree Jobs.

The full rubric is on the methodology page.

• It is a management track, so hands-on technical labs are not the focus.
• Out-of-state tuition is $499 per credit, which makes the 120-credit total $59,880 if you transfer nothing.
• Term length and class format are worth confirming with an advisor before you plan your schedule.
• UMGC's federal graduation rate is 33%, which is typical for schools serving many working adults and transfers. Ask about support for students who study part time.

• How many of my credits will transfer toward the 120, and can you give me a written evaluation?
• How long are terms, and how many courses can I take at once while working full time?
• Which courses in this degree are hands-on, and is there a lab component?
• Which industry certifications do graduates of this track usually pursue, and does any coursework help with them?
• How does the Cyber Management and Policy Capstone work, and can I use a real workplace problem?
• Do I qualify for the in-state rate or the military rate?

• Best Cybersecurity Management Degrees Rank 7 of 10, bachelor's
• Best Cybersecurity Policy Degrees Rank 1 of 2, bachelor's
• Best Online Programs in Maryland Rank 3 of 6, bachelor's

• Cybersecurity Technology Bachelor of Science

  B.S., Bachelor's

  Fully Online $499 per credit Score 64.2

• Cyber Operations Bachelor of Science

  B.S., Bachelor's

  Fully Online $499 per credit Score 60.3

• Cybersecurity Technology Master of Science

  M.S., Master's

  Fully Online $694 per credit Score 61.4

• Cybersecurity Management and Policy Master of Science

  M.S., Master's

  Fully Online $694 per credit Score 61.2

• Cyber Operations Master of Science

  M.S., Master's

  Fully Online $659 per credit Score 60.4

• Digital Forensics and Cyber Investigation Master of Science

  M.S., Master's

  Fully Online $694 per credit Score 59.4

• University at Albany

  Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity

  New York $424.46 per credit Score 59.3

• The University of Texas at San Antonio

  Bachelor of Business Administration in Cybersecurity

  Texas $525 per credit Score 59.9

• Purdue University Global

  Online Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity

  Indiana $371 per quarter credit Score 60.2

• Purdue University Global

  Online ExcelTrack Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity

  Indiana Score 58.4