Programs Ranked Here
21
Schools
13
Degree Levels
3
Fully Online
20
Source: School program pages, verified October 2026
The best online cybersecurity degrees with multiple start dates let you begin in any month or any term instead of waiting for one fall class. Western Governors, American Public University and SANS start students every month, while Franklin, Boise State, Old Dominion and Syracuse run five to eight starts a year. Match the start pattern to your schedule and budget.
Top Picks
Top Pick at Each Degree Level
The leader in each degree level on this list.
- Bachelor'sTop Score74.5 out of 100
Western Governors University
Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance
Utah · B.S.
Western Governors University's B.S. Review - Master'sTop Score67.1 out of 100
- AssociateTop Score49.9 out of 100
Franklin University
Associate of Science in Cybersecurity
Ohio · A.S.
Franklin University's A.S. Review
Method
How We Chose These Programs
A program makes this list when its school states more than one start date a year for the online version of the degree. We read each start pattern, term length and price from the school's own program or admissions page.
The list covers associate, bachelor's and master's degrees, and the order reflects our shared scoring of cost, earnings, completion and online experience. The methodology page explains each measure and where the data comes from.
- Four or more start dates a year
- Delivered online
- Ranked on the shared methodology
Scores combine seven published factors. The methodology page shows each weight and rubric.
Online Bachelor's Degrees Ranked
-
1
Bachelor's
Western Governors University
Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance
School based in Utah
- Fully Online
- Asynchronous
- Private nonprofit
Why it ranks #1: its graduates in this field earn a median $129,303 (the highest among bachelor's programs on this list) and its school awards about 2,218 bachelor's degrees a year in this field per IPEDS (the most among bachelor's programs on this list).
Start datesA new six-month term opens every month, so you can enroll the week you decide and still pay the flat $4,425. What matters is the term clock, not any single course. Python, the two Network and Security courses and the capstone all fall under one bill, and exam prep covers Security+, Network+ and A+. It fits someone with help desk habits who can pass assessments back to back.
- Format
- Asynchronous, 12 starts a year
- Time to Finish
- 60% of graduates finish within 29 months
- Accreditation
- ABET
- School State
- Utah
-
2
- Fully Online
- Private nonprofit
Why it ranks #2: its graduates in this field earn a median $102,099 (higher than 4 of 5 other bachelor's programs on this list) and it charges $398 per credit (lower than 3 of 6 other bachelor's programs on this list).
Start datesEight starts a year and six-week course blocks let you slot Franklin around a transcript you already own. The $49,352 full-degree price assumes you transfer nothing, so every earlier credit shrinks it, and your first-term rate stays locked. Exercises run in a virtual lab, and the 4-credit Cybersecurity Capstone is a small-group project. The published course list is short, so ask for the full catalog.
- Cost
- $398 per credit
- Credits
- 124 credits
- Format
- 8 starts a year
- Est. Tuition
- $49,352
- School State
- Ohio
-
3
Bachelor's
American Public University System
Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity
School based in West Virginia
- Fully Online
- Private for-profit
Why it ranks #3: 100% of its undergraduates study fully online (tied for the highest share among bachelor's programs on this list) and it charges $360 per credit (lower than 5 of 6 other bachelor's programs on this list).
Start datesCourses begin monthly, but the real decision is the concentration you declare: General, Critical Infrastructure (ICS and SCADA systems), Digital Forensics, Privacy and Surveillance, or Wireless and Mobile Security. Electives such as Biometrics and Cryptography Concepts add range before the Senior Seminar capstone. Choose it to aim at a niche employer. The eight-week pace across 120 credits at $360 means a skipped week hurts.
- Cost
- $360 per credit
- Credits
- 120 credits
- Format
- 12 starts a year
- Est. Tuition
- $43,200
- School State
- West Virginia
-
4
Bachelor's
Columbia Southern University
Bachelor of Science in Information Systems and Cyber Security
School based in Alabama
- Fully Online
- Private for-profit
Why it ranks #4: it charges $278 per credit (the lowest among bachelor's programs on this list) and 100% of its undergraduates study fully online (tied for the highest share among bachelor's programs on this list).
Start datesEleven start dates and round-the-clock course access suit people on rotating shifts. The security core pairs application security and intrusion detection with IS auditing and IS disaster recovery, which points toward monitoring, audit and continuity roles. At $33,360 for 120 credits the bill stays modest. The balance tilts away from hands-on penetration testing, so red-team hopefuls should look at other cards.
- Cost
- $278 per credit
- Credits
- 120 credits
- Format
- 11 starts a year
- Est. Tuition
- $33,360
- School State
- Alabama
-
5
Bachelor's
Boise State University
Bachelor of Science in Cyber Operations and Resilience
School based in Idaho
- Fully Online
- Public
Why it ranks #5: 61.5% of its transfer students earn a credential within eight years (higher than 6 of 7 other bachelor's programs on this list) and it charges $395 per credit (lower than 4 of 6 other bachelor's programs on this list).
Start datesSeven-week courses and six starts a year make Boise State easy to join mid-career. Free vendor-academy training from VMware, Palo Alto and Cisco gives you platforms to practice on alongside coursework, and the School of Computing behind it holds two NSA designations. At $395 per credit it asks for no technical background, so someone already working in IT may find the opening courses slow.
- Cost
- $395 per credit
- Format
- 6 starts a year
- School State
- Idaho
-
6
- Fully Online
- Public
Why it ranks #6: 59.5% of its transfer students earn a credential within eight years (higher than 5 of 7 other bachelor's programs on this list), but its graduates in this field earn a median $65,838 (lower than 4 of 5 other bachelor's programs on this list).
Start datesEthical Hacking and Penetration Testing sits beside Cyber Law, so you learn the attack side and what the law allows before the CYSE 368 internship course and two capstones worth 6 credits. Brainfuse tutoring is free on demand, which helps when eight-week terms leave little slack. Budget $54,360 total, or $53,160 for Virginia residents. Six starts a year means a missed date costs about two months.
- Cost
- $453 per credit
- Credits
- 120 credits
- Format
- 6 starts a year
- Est. Tuition
- $54,360
- School State
- Virginia
-
7
Bachelor's
SANS Technology Institute
Bachelor of Science in Applied Cybersecurity
School based in Maryland
- Online Degree Completion
- Live and Asynchronous
- Private for-profit
Why it ranks #7: its published tuition is $41,650 (lower than 5 of 6 other bachelor's programs on this list) and 98% of its undergraduates study fully online (a higher share than 5 of 8 other bachelor's programs on this list).
Start datesThere's no semester calendar: apply by the 15th of any month and begin. Six concentrations, from Penetration Testing and Cloud Security to Industrial Control Systems Security, let you aim the 50 SANS credits at a specialty. A Field Experience Practicum and a two-part Portfolio Practicum built on cyber challenges give you work to show employers. You need 70 transfer credits first.
- Credits
- 120 credits
- Format
- Live and Asynchronous, 12 starts a year
- Est. Tuition
- $41,650
- Time to Finish
- 24 months
- School State
- Maryland
-
8
Bachelor's
Syracuse University
Bachelor of Professional Studies in Cybersecurity Administration
School based in New York
- Fully Online
- Private nonprofit
Why it ranks #8: 66.5% of its transfer students earn a credential within eight years (the highest among bachelor's programs on this list), but its school awards 6 bachelor's degrees a year in this field per IPEDS (the fewest among bachelor's programs on this list).
Start datesSix starts a year in eight-week courses, with a mix of live and self-paced sessions, set the rhythm. What the $750 per credit buys is a Syracuse transcript and management-leaning courses such as Enterprise Risk Management and Securing Artificial Intelligence, ending in the BPS 411 Senior Seminar. The sticker for 120 credits is $90,000, so it pays off mainly for people transferring in up to 90 credits.
- Cost
- $750 per credit
- Credits
- 120 credits
- Format
- 6 starts a year
- Est. Tuition
- $90,000
- School State
- New York
-
9
- Fully Online
- Private nonprofit
Why it ranks #9: its graduates in this field earn a median $54,589 (the lowest among bachelor's programs on this list).
Start datesEight-week classes with no live sessions let you start through the year around a day job. Bring 60 credits and general education requirements are waived, with up to 90 transfer credits accepted. ECI 498 Internship is required at 3 credits, and ECI 450 Senior Seminar closes the major. Tuition is $560 per credit.
- Cost
- $560 per credit
- Credits
- 120 credits
- Format
- 6 starts a year
- Est. Tuition
- $67,200
- Time to Finish
- 48 months
Online Master's Degrees Ranked
-
1
- Fully Online
- Private nonprofit
Why it ranks #1: 100% of its graduate students study fully online (tied for the highest share among master's programs on this list) and it charges $595 per credit (lower than 5 of 8 other master's programs on this list).
Start datesMissing a start here costs you about two months, because eight-week terms begin six times a year and the whole degree is laid out as 52 weeks. The tuition already covers CISSP certification, so Cyber Risk Management, Secure Network Design and the Advanced Cyber Defense Seminar double as exam preparation. Expect a steady load with no breaks, and check how national accreditation fits any plan for a doctorate.
- Cost
- $595 per credit
- Credits
- 36 credits
- Format
- 6 starts a year
- Est. Tuition
- $21,420
- Time to Finish
- 12 months
-
2
Master's
Western Governors University
Master of Science in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance
School based in Utah
- Fully Online
- Asynchronous
- Private nonprofit
Why it ranks #2: its graduates in this field earn a median $144,205, its school awards about 1,484 master's degrees a year in this field per IPEDS (the most among master's programs on this list), and 100% of its graduate students study fully online (tied for the highest share among master's programs on this list).
Start datesA new term opens on the first of every month, and you move on once you pass each assessment, so the 11 courses fit around a job instead of a semester calendar. Penetration Testing and Cloud Security lead into a capstone where you build a lasting security program for a real problem. Flat $4,925 terms reward people who already know the material, and nobody sets deadlines for you.
- Format
- Asynchronous, 12 starts a year
- Time to Finish
- 63% of graduates finish within 18 months
- School State
- Utah
-
3
- Fully Online
- Public
Why it ranks #3: its school awards about 83 master's degrees a year in this field per IPEDS (more than 6 of 9 other master's programs on this list) and it charges $662 per credit (lower than 4 of 8 other master's programs on this list).
Start datesTerms begin in late August, mid-October, January, March, May and early July, so a missed deadline costs weeks, not a year. You take four core courses, pick five electives to point the degree toward defense, offense or research, then finish with a capstone and no thesis. Thirty credits at $662 out of state comes to $19,860. Pick it if a public, NSA-designated name matters to you.
- Cost
- $662 per credit
- Credits
- 30 credits
- Format
- 6 starts a year
- Est. Tuition
- $19,860
- Time to Finish
- As few as 12 months
-
4
- Fully Online
- Private nonprofit
Why it ranks #4: 93% of its graduate students study fully online (a higher share than 5 of 9 other master's programs on this list), but its school awards about 13 master's degrees a year in this field per IPEDS (fewer than 7 of 9 other master's programs on this list).
Start datesCourses last six or twelve weeks and you can take them in any order, with five starts a year, so a hard month at work never blocks the next step. The embedded Graduate Certificate in Cyber Defense uses cloud-based labs, and the capstone is an original security research paper. New students get an automatic $2,000 scholarship. You'll need programming and networking background first, but no entrance exam.
- Cost
- $690 per credit
- Credits
- 36 credits
- Format
- 5 starts a year
- Est. Tuition
- $24,840
- Time to Finish
- 16 months
-
5
Master's
Boise State University
Master of Science in Cyber Operations and Resilience
School based in Idaho
- Fully Online
- Public
Why it ranks #5: it charges $550 per credit (lower than 6 of 8 other master's programs on this list), but its school awards 6 master's degrees a year in this field per IPEDS (the fewest among master's programs on this list).
Start datesSeven-week courses start six times a year, and an advisor helps you build a schedule from technical or non-technical tracks, which makes the first term low-pressure for someone changing fields. About one in four students has a military connection, and a Veteran Services Center backs them up. Ask an advisor what the credit total, certification path and finish line look like.
- Cost
- $550 per credit
- Format
- 6 starts a year
- School State
- Idaho
-
6
Master's
American Public University System
Master of Science in Cybersecurity Studies
School based in West Virginia
- Fully Online
- Private for-profit
Why it ranks #6: 100% of its graduate students study fully online (tied for the highest share among master's programs on this list), but 41.5% of its transfer students earn a credential within eight years (the lowest among master's programs on this list).
Start datesMonthly starts mean you can enroll the same season you decide. Eight-week courses range from Intrusion Detection and Incident Handling to Cyber Intelligence and Advanced Cybercrime Analysis, and you close with either a capstone or a practical. Thirty-six credits at $470 is $16,920 before the $85 per-course technology fee. Admission accepts an IT certification like Security+ or two years of related work in place of a technical degree.
- Cost
- $470 per credit
- Credits
- 36 credits
- Format
- 12 starts a year
- Est. Tuition
- $16,920
- School State
- West Virginia
-
7
Master's
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
Master of Science in Cybersecurity
School based in Minnesota
- Fully Online
- Private nonprofit
Why it ranks #7: 72% of its transfer students earn a credential within eight years (higher than 7 of 8 other master's programs on this list), but its school awards 7 master's degrees a year in this field per IPEDS (fewer than 8 of 9 other master's programs on this list).
Start datesClasses begin in September, October, January, March, May and June, and the 33 credits are 11 courses you can finish in a year. No GRE or GMAT is needed, only a 2.75 GPA, and the school is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. At $775 per credit the estimated tuition is $25,575, plus $100 each term. Pick it if you want a technology or management certificate on the way.
- Cost
- $775 per credit
- Credits
- 33 credits
- Format
- 6 starts a year
- Est. Tuition
- $25,575
- Time to Finish
- 12 months
-
8
Master's
SANS Technology Institute
Master of Science in Information Security Engineering
School based in Maryland
- Fully Online
- Live and Asynchronous
- Private for-profit
Why it ranks #8: 93% of its graduate students study fully online (a higher share than 5 of 9 other master's programs on this list), but its price of $1,500 per credit is the highest among master's programs on this list.
Start datesYou apply by February 1, May 1, August 1 or November 1, then work through three-month courses, one at a time if you're also holding down a security job. That pace is why finishing takes three to five years. Classes are a mix of live and recorded, and you can add a research project you design yourself. Employers often pay for SANS training, so it favors practitioners with sponsors.
- Cost
- $1,500 per credit
- Credits
- 36 credits
- Format
- Live and Asynchronous, 4 starts a year
- Est. Tuition
- $54,000
- Time to Finish
- 36 to 60 months
-
9
Master's
George Washington University
Master of Engineering in Cybersecurity
School based in District of Columbia
- Fully Online
- Private nonprofit
Why it ranks #9: 79.5% of its transfer students earn a credential within eight years (the highest among master's programs on this list), but at $1,250 per credit it costs more than 7 of 8 other master's programs on this list.
Start datesFour nine-week sessions plus an optional summer give you five entry points, but class itself is fixed: live on Zoom one evening a week, with recordings if you miss it. Choose the Analytics track with a technical bachelor's, or Policy and Compliance from any field. The degree is STEM-classified and the engineering school holds the NSA research designation through 2030. Thirty credits at $1,250 totals $37,500.
- Cost
- $1,250 per credit
- Credits
- 30 credits
- Format
- 5 starts a year
- Est. Tuition
- $37,500
- School State
- District of Columbia
-
10
Master's
Washington University of Science and Technology
Master of Science in Cybersecurity
School based in Virginia
- Fully Online
- Private for-profit
Why it ranks #10: it charges $235 per quarter credit (the lowest among master's programs on this list), but its school awards about 31 master's degrees a year in this field per IPEDS (fewer than 6 of 9 other master's programs on this list).
Start datesFour ten-week quarters start each year, and up to 27 transfer credits can shorten the 54 you'd otherwise need. Admission asks for a 2.4 GPA and a distance education assessment, with no GRE. After ten core courses, including Security Assessment and Testing and Secure Software Development, you take a 4.5-credit capstone. The $12,690 price depends on staying fully online, so don't take any in-person class.
- Cost
- $235 per quarter credit
- Credits
- 54 quarter credits
- Format
- 4 starts a year
- Est. Tuition
- $12,690
- School State
- Virginia
Online Associate Degrees Ranked
-
1
- Fully Online
- Private nonprofit
Start datesEight start dates a year, such as January 4, February 15 and March 29 in 2027, let you enroll soon after you decide. Courses run six or twelve weeks, so you can choose a lighter pace or a faster sprint. Standard tuition works out to about $23,880 for 60 credits, plus $100 each semester. Read the catalog before applying to see the full course sequence.
- Cost
- $398 per credit
- Credits
- 60 credits
- Format
- 8 starts a year
- Est. Tuition
- $23,880
- School State
- Ohio
-
2
Associate
American Public University System
Associate of Science in Cybersecurity
School based in West Virginia
- Fully Online
- Private for-profit
Start datesTwelve start dates a year mean a missed deadline costs you one month, not a whole term. You build skills in Scripting Languages for the Administrator and Networking Concepts before moving into Hardening Operating Systems, then finish with a capstone portfolio. At $360 a credit, 60 credits come to $21,600. It suits self-starters who want the same school's bachelor's concentrations later.
- Cost
- $360 per credit
- Credits
- 60 credits
- Format
- 12 starts a year
- Est. Tuition
- $21,600
- School State
- West Virginia
Side by Side
Compare Every Program Side by Side
Sort any column. The order you see first is the ranking.
| Rank | School and Program | Degree | Score | Cost per Credit | Credits | Delivery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western Governors University B.S. Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance | Bachelor's | 74.5 | Fully Online, asynchronous | ||
| 2 | Franklin University B.S. Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity | Bachelor's | 69.8 | $398 | 124 | Fully Online |
| 3 | American Public University System B.S. Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity | Bachelor's | 62.1 | $360 | 120 | Fully Online |
| 4 | Columbia Southern University B.S. Bachelor of Science in Information Systems and Cyber Security | Bachelor's | 61.0 | $278 | 120 | Fully Online |
| 5 | Boise State University B.S. Bachelor of Science in Cyber Operations and Resilience | Bachelor's | 57.2 | $395 | Fully Online | |
| 6 | Old Dominion University B.S. Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity | Bachelor's | 56.1 | $453 | 120 | Fully Online |
| 7 | SANS Technology Institute B.S. Bachelor of Science in Applied Cybersecurity | Bachelor's | 52.6 | 120 | Online Degree Completion, live and asynchronous | |
| 8 | Syracuse University B.P.S. Bachelor of Professional Studies in Cybersecurity Administration | Bachelor's | 43.6 | $750 | 120 | Fully Online |
| 9 | Hilbert College B.S. Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity | Bachelor's | 31.7 | $560 | 120 | Fully Online |
| 1 | Hallmark University M.S. Master of Science in Cybersecurity | Master's | 67.1 | $595 | 36 | Fully Online |
| 2 | Western Governors University M.S. Master of Science in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance | Master's | 65.3 | Fully Online, asynchronous | ||
| 3 | Old Dominion University M.S. Master of Science in Cybersecurity | Master's | 62.5 | $662 | 30 | Fully Online |
| 4 | Franklin University M.S. Master of Science in Cybersecurity | Master's | 59.8 | $690 | 36 | Fully Online |
| 5 | Boise State University M.S. Master of Science in Cyber Operations and Resilience | Master's | 59.1 | $550 | Fully Online | |
| 6 | American Public University System M.S. Master of Science in Cybersecurity Studies | Master's | 58.7 | $470 | 36 | Fully Online |
| 7 | Saint Mary's University of Minnesota M.S. Master of Science in Cybersecurity | Master's | 58.5 | $775 | 33 | Fully Online |
| 8 | SANS Technology Institute M.S. Master of Science in Information Security Engineering | Master's | 56.8 | $1,500 | 36 | Fully Online, live and asynchronous |
| 9 | George Washington University M.Eng. Master of Engineering in Cybersecurity | Master's | 56.5 | $1,250 | 30 | Fully Online |
| 10 | Washington University of Science and Technology M.S. Master of Science in Cybersecurity | Master's | 55.4 | $235 | 54 | Fully Online |
| 1 | Franklin University A.S. Associate of Science in Cybersecurity | Associate | 49.9 | $398 | 60 | Fully Online |
| 2 | American Public University System A.S. Associate of Science in Cybersecurity | Associate | 45.7 | $360 | 60 | Fully Online |
Monthly Starts Versus Six or Eight a Year
Monthly starts are the most flexible option, and they come in two forms. American Public University System runs 8-week courses with a new start every month, at $360 per credit for its 120-credit bachelor's and $470 per credit for its 36-credit master's. Columbia Southern starts students 11 times a year at $278 per credit, which comes to $33,360 for the bachelor's.
Western Governors works differently. It charges $4,425 per six-month term for the bachelor's, and you finish as many courses as you can in that window. The school reports that 60% of graduates finish within 29 months. Its master's is $4,925 per term, and 63% of graduates finish within 18 months.
Six starts a year gives you a new class roughly every two months, which is enough for most people. Boise State uses 7-week courses, while Old Dominion, Syracuse and Hallmark use 8-week courses. Missing one start costs you about two months, not a full year.
Why Short Courses Change How You Study
Start dates and course length go together. A 6 to 8 week course covers a full class in two months, so you take one or two at a time. That pace suits a full-time job, and it lets you stop for a term without losing a semester of progress.
Franklin's courses run 6 or 12 weeks, and the master's lets you take them in any order. Franklin finishes in about 16 months, and up to 16 credits can transfer. Holding a CISSP or CEH earns 4 credit hours each toward specific courses, which saves real tuition.
Hallmark's 36-credit master's runs 8-week terms and takes about 12 months. Tuition is $595 per credit, or $21,420, and the CISSP exam is included. Lab and technology fees add $100 and $125 per term, so budget for those. Old Dominion's 30-credit master's can also finish in one year with full-time enrollment.
Programs That Do Not Fit the Usual Pattern
Some schools on this list start often but have other conditions. SANS accepts applications by the 15th of any month for its bachelor's, yet students must bring 70 transferable college credits. The $41,650 tuition covers the 50 credits taken at SANS, plus textbooks and GIAC certification tests.
SANS's master's has four application dates, February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1. It costs $1,500 per credit, about $54,000 over three to five years, and it expects you to hold an information security role now.
George Washington runs four 9-week sessions plus an optional summer session at $1,250 per credit, or $37,500 for 30 credits. Washington University of Science and Technology uses four 10-week quarters, and its 100% online students get a 50% distance education reduction to $235 per credit. Syracuse starts six times a year, but at $750 per credit its 120-credit bachelor's totals $90,000.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are the Best Online Cybersecurity Degrees: Multiple Start Dates in 2027?
The top-ranked online cybersecurity Degree: multiple start dates for 2027 is Western Governors University's Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance.
Among bachelor's programs, Western Governors University's Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance leads. Among master's programs, Hallmark University's Master of Science in Cybersecurity leads. Among associate programs, Franklin University's Associate of Science in Cybersecurity leads.
Which Online Cybersecurity Degrees Start Every Month?
What Are the Best Affordable Online Cybersecurity Degrees With Frequent Starts?
Can I Finish Faster at a School With Rolling Starts?
Do All Degrees at a School Share the Same Start Dates?
Does Missing a Start Date Delay Me by a Year?
Which Programs Help Military Students Pay Less?
Can I Earn Certifications While I Study?
Sources
- Western Governors University Cybersecurity Bachelor's
- Western Governors University Cybersecurity Master's
- Franklin University Master's in Cybersecurity
- American Public University System Cybersecurity Studies Master's
- SANS Technology Institute Bachelor's Program
- SANS Technology Institute Master's Program
- Hallmark University Cybersecurity Master's
- Old Dominion University Online Cybersecurity Master's
- George Washington University Online Cybersecurity Master's
- Syracuse University Cybersecurity Administration
- Washington University of Science and Technology MSCS
- IPEDS Data Center
- ABET accredited program search
All sources retrieved .