Wilmington University Online Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity

Wilmington's bachelor's is a practical, working-adult degree with a clear lab and certification story: practitioner-led technical labs, a Digital Forensics concentration, and preparation for six industry certifications from A+ to CISSP. Classes start every 8 weeks, so you rarely wait. At $439 per credit the tuition is $52,680, and graduate earnings are modest, so it is a strong practical fit more than a prestige pick.

Wilmington University is a private nonprofit university in New Castle, Delaware that serves working adults. The Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity is 120 credits and fully online. Wilmington says the NSA and the Department of Homeland Security have designated it a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance/Cybersecurity.

The school is large: federal data shows 13,746 students enrolled, and 128 awards per year in this field, which is a long track record of graduating cybersecurity students. Federal data also shows 79% of undergraduates study exclusively online.

Wilmington has an associate degree and a master's in cybersecurity too. The associate is 60 credits at the same $439 rate, and the master's is 36 credits, so you can start small and keep going.

The full rubric is on the methodology page.

Tuition is $439 per credit. A typical 3-credit course is $1,317, and the full 120 credits come to $52,680. The 60-credit associate at the same rate is a smaller first step if you want to test the waters before committing to the bachelor's.

Ask about transfer credit and employer tuition benefits, because both can lower the real cost far more than the sticker price suggests. Ask also whether the Digital Forensics concentration or any certificate adds courses beyond the 120 credits.

120 credits at $439 a credit comes to $52,680 in tuition, before fees.

Who It Fits

• Working adults who want frequent start dates. Classes start every 8 weeks.
• Students who want a forensics specialty, since the Digital Forensics concentration is available.
• People who want certification prep tied to the degree. The program names CISA, CISSP, A+, Linux+, Security+ and Network+.
• Learners who want practitioner-led labs, which the school describes as technical lab exercises led by active cybersecurity experts.

Who Should Skip It

• Students watching every dollar. At $439 per credit the 120-credit degree comes to $52,680 in tuition, and the associate and bachelor's here cost the same per credit.
• People who want the highest graduate earnings data. College Scorecard shows median earnings of $81,537 for Wilmington graduates at this level.

The program describes its curriculum in three parts. Technical lab exercises, led by active cybersecurity subject matter experts, give you hands-on practice rather than only reading. The Digital Forensics concentration lets you tilt the degree toward investigation. And the course content is built to prepare you to sit for CISA, CISSP, A+, Linux+, Security+ and Network+.

That certification list covers a wide range. A+, Network+, Linux+ and Security+ are entry and early-career credentials. CISSP and CISA are advanced credentials that generally expect professional experience, so the degree prepares you for the exam content but you will earn those later.

Wilmington also offers concentrations and certificates beyond Digital Forensics. Ask which ones are available online.

Standout Features

• Designated a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance/Cybersecurity by the NSA and DHS
• Technical lab exercises led by active cybersecurity practitioners

Classes start every 8 weeks, so your calendar can follow your work schedule. Federal data shows 79% of undergraduates study exclusively online, so most students are in the same position you are.

The technical labs are led by practicing professionals, and the school serves working adults, so the pace and support are designed around people balancing jobs. Ask whether labs run on a set schedule or can be completed any time.

The school says it holds the NSA and Department of Homeland Security designation in Information Assurance/Cybersecurity, which is the program's headline credential.

College Scorecard shows median earnings of $81,537 for graduates at this level and field. Federal data also shows 58% of transfer-in students earning an award within eight years, and a 20% first-time graduation rate school-wide. Finishing is the hard part for working learners, so ask your advisor about completion support.

Where this degree can lead: Cybersecurity Degree Jobs.

• At $439 per credit, the bachelor's costs $52,680 in tuition, which is a real commitment for a working adult.
• Median graduate earnings of $81,537 are well below the $129,180 field median in the federal data, so the degree alone will not close that gap.
• A 20% first-time graduation rate school-wide shows that many students take longer than expected or do not finish, so ask about support for working learners.

• Which courses make up the Digital Forensics concentration, and can I take it fully online?
• How many credits will transfer from my associate degree or prior coursework?
• Which certifications does the curriculum cover in class, and does the school pay for exam vouchers?
• How are the technical labs run online, and who are the practitioners teaching them?
• What does the associate-to-bachelor's path look like, and can I switch between them?

Private university in New Castle, Delaware, serving working adults.

• Best Online Cybersecurity Degrees Rank 4 of 10, bachelor's
• Best Online Bachelor's Programs Rank 4 of 10, bachelor's
• Best Digital Forensics Degrees Rank 2 of 10, bachelor's
• Best Accelerated Online Programs Rank 1 of 10, bachelor's
• Best for Working Adults Rank 4 of 10, bachelor's
• Best 100% Online Programs Rank 4 of 10, bachelor's
• Best Programs With Certifications Rank 2 of 10, bachelor's

• Master of Science in Cybersecurity

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  Fully Online $564 per credit Score 49.8

• Associate of Science in Cybersecurity

  A.S., Associate

  Fully Online $439 per credit Score 54.0

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• University of Arkansas Grantham

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• Franklin University

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• University of Maryland Global Campus

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