Best Online Cybersecurity Programs in Rhode Island (2027)

• Highest Score48.1 out of 100

  Strongest CredentialsPrepares for SECURITY PLUS, GIAC

  University of Rhode Island

  Professional Science Masters in Cyber Security

  Rhode Island · P.S.M.

  University of Rhode Island's P.S.M. Review
• Lowest Price$1,176 per credit

  Roger Williams University

  Master of Arts in Cybersecurity

  Rhode Island · M.A.

  Roger Williams University's M.A. Review

Rhode Island's online options come from three very different schools. Brown is a private Ivy League university in Providence, URI is the state's largest four-year public institution in Kingston, and Roger Williams is a private university in Bristol.

The state has one price point that stays steady across both Roger Williams degrees, $1,176 per credit, and a higher one at URI, $1,377 per credit. All four programs are taught fully online, so you can live anywhere in or outside the state and still earn a Rhode Island degree.

We list every online cybersecurity program based in Rhode Island that we could confirm on a school's own pages, then order them with the same published method we use nationally. Prices, credit counts, start dates, courses and admissions rules come from each school's program pages, checked in October 2026. Read the full method on the methodology page.

• School based in Rhode Island, 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.

Pick the Program That Matches Your Starting Point

The four programs ask for very different backgrounds. The URI professional science master's wants a bachelor's degree in information technology or a closely related field, or a related degree plus IT work experience, with a 3.0 GPA and two letters of recommendation. A self-paced prep program called Fundamentals for Cyber Security is available to enrolled students from less technical backgrounds.

The Roger Williams M.S. asks for two programming and two networking courses from the last 10 years, or a plan to complete them. At Brown, the computer science track requires a STEM or social sciences degree plus math and introductory computer science, while the policy track takes any undergraduate degree.

Compare the Courses and Hands-On Work Before You Commit

URI lists the most specific coursework: Introduction to Information Assurance, Penetration Testing, Cyber Threat Intelligence, Advanced Incident Response and Advanced Intrusion Detection and Defense. It offers concentrations in Forensics and Incident Response and in Security, and each week brings a hands-on homework assignment alongside video lectures you watch whenever you choose.

Roger Williams says its M.S. is taught fully online in virtual environments that simulate the operating systems you would monitor on the job. Its M.A. in cybersecurity shares the same 30 credits, price and schedule. Ask admissions how the M.A. and M.S. course lists differ.

Check Certification Prep and Capstone Rules

URI is the only Rhode Island program here that names certifications it prepares you for: CompTIA Security+ along with the GIAC exams GCFA, GISF, GSEC and GCED. GIAC is a security certification body, and those exams are widely used in incident response and defense roles.

URI also ends with an internship that serves as the capstone, and it does not require a thesis. If you already work in IT, ask whether your current job can count toward that final course. Ask Brown and Roger Williams about capstone and certification rules before you apply.

Plan Your Timeline and Budget Around the Start Dates

Start dates change how fast you can begin. URI admits students for fall only, Brown starts in fall and spring, and Roger Williams starts three times a year. Brown lists about 2 years to finish, and Roger Williams lists 2 to 3.5 years, which gives you room to slow down during a busy season.

At Roger Williams, 30 credits at $1,176 comes to $35,280, and the $145 semester fee adds to that. At URI, 36 credits at $1,377 comes to $49,572. URI's FAQ page still shows an older $955 per credit figure from Fall 2020, so confirm the current rate with the school. Ask Brown's admissions office for its current tuition.