Best Online Cybersecurity Programs in Minnesota (2027)

• Master's

  Top Score58.5 out of 100

  Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

  Master of Science in Cybersecurity

  Minnesota · M.S.

  Saint Mary's University of Minnesota's M.S. Review
• Associate

  Top Score56.4 out of 100

  Minnesota State College Southeast

  Cybersecurity and Network Administration (A.A.S.)

  Minnesota · A.A.S.

  Minnesota State College Southeast's A.A.S. Review

Minnesota's options come from four kinds of schools. Winona is home to both a public two-year college and a private nonprofit university, Minneapolis is home to two large online-first universities, and Mankato adds a public regional university.

Capella University and Walden University are private for-profit schools, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is a private nonprofit, and Minnesota State College Southeast and Mankato are public. For options beyond the state, see our best online cybersecurity degrees and our list of online master's in cybersecurity.

We include every online cybersecurity program based at a Minnesota school that we could verify on the school's own pages, then group them by degree level and order each group with our published methodology. Prices, credits, formats and admissions rules come from those pages, checked in October 2026. You can read the full method on the methodology page.

• School based in Minnesota, program delivered online
• In-state rate shown when the school publishes one
• Scored on the same seven factors as every list and ranked inside its degree level

Scores combine seven published factors. The methodology page shows each weight and rubric.

Choosing Between the Four Master's Programs

The four master's degrees point in different directions, so start with the job you want. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota offers a management track and a technology track, each an embedded graduate certificate, and its coursework prepares you for CompTIA Security+, CySA+, CISSP and CISM.

Capella's Cybersecurity and Applied AI degree adds machine learning to the security core. Walden's cybersecurity master's leans toward practice, with a cyber team and threat simulations.

Mankato's Professional Science Master's is the risk and audit choice, with courses in information warfare and information security risk.

What Each Master's Costs in Minnesota

Saint Mary's lists $775 per credit for 33 credits, an estimated $25,575 in tuition, plus a $100 technology fee each term. Partner organizations can offer a 10 percent tuition savings.

Walden charges $575 per quarter credit for 45 quarter credits, which is $25,875, and a $185 program fee each quarter brings the minimum to $26,800. The Believe & Achieve Scholarship lowers that to $21,050, and books can add $1,000 to $1,400.

Capella lists $735 per quarter credit for 48 credits, an estimated $35,280, plus a $175 resource kit. A CEH certification could cut up to $8,770.

Mankato's 30 credits cost residents $25,410 in tuition and non-residents $33,090, before $48.39 per credit in fees.

Check Admissions Rules and Schedules Before You Apply

Gaps between programs are wider than the tuition gaps. Capella asks for a bachelor's degree with a minimum 2.3 GPA and doesn't require the GRE. Saint Mary's wants a bachelor's from a regionally accredited school with a 2.75 GPA, also without the GRE.

Walden accepts a technical bachelor's, or a bachelor's in another field plus at least 1 year of relevant professional experience in information technology. It also highly recommends proficiency in one modern programming language, so budget time for a refresher if you don't code.

Transfer limits differ too. Walden may accept up to 20 transfer credits, Capella 12, and Saint Mary's a maximum of six semester credits.

Saint Mary's courses are instructor-led and asynchronous. There are no set class times, but assignments have due dates, and six start dates a year keep waiting short.

Capella uses 10-week quarters where you take one to three courses at a time, with weekly assignments and discussions. Walden's minimum time to finish is as few as 15 months.

Mankato's degree ends with CIS 697, a 4-credit internship that serves as the capstone, so leave room in your calendar for that work.

Starting With an Associate Degree in Winona

Both associate degrees at Minnesota State College Southeast run 60 credits and are taught fully online. The Cybersecurity and Network Administration degree lists about $13,206 in tuition and fees plus about $750 for books and supplies, and its courses prepare you for CompTIA, Cisco and Microsoft certifications.

The Cyber and Information Security degree lists about $12,534 plus about $460 for books and supplies. It adds digital forensics and criminal justice courses, including evidence handling and testifying in court.

Plan a transfer if you want a bachelor's, since none of the Minnesota programs we list is at that level.