Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity graduates earn an average annual wage of $156,788, making it one of the higher-paying degree fields. With 50,000 professionals in the field earning competitive wages, this degree offers strong career prospects.
Key Statistics
Institutions
Information about the types of higher education institutions that grant degrees in Cybersecurity and the types of students that study this field.
Tuition Costs for Common Institutions
$11,790 Median In-State Public
$36,280 Median Out of State Private
Tuition costs for Cybersecurity majors are, on average, $11,790 for in-state public colleges, and $36,280 for out of state private colleges.
Tuition costs comparison for Cybersecurity programs.
Degrees Awarded Over Time
10,000 Total Degrees Awarded in 2023
This chart shows the number of degrees awarded in Cybersecurity from 2015 to 2023.
Historical trend of degrees awarded in Cybersecurity.
Top 5 Schools by Enrollment
| # | School | State | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion | AZ | 64,398 |
| 2 | University of Maryland Global Campus | MD | 48,238 |
| 3 | Lone Star College System | TX | 47,486 |
| 4 | Ohio State University-Main Campus | OH | 44,617 |
| 5 | Dallas College | TX | 41,815 |
Schools with the largest enrollment offering Cybersecurity programs.
Top 5 Most Affordable Tuition
| # | School | State | Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Antelope Valley Community College District | CA | $1,124 |
| 2 | Lake Tahoe Community College | CA | $1,131 |
| 3 | El Camino Community College District | CA | $1,144 |
| 4 | College of the Redwoods | CA | $1,147 |
| 5 | Berkeley City College | CA | $1,148 |
Schools with the lowest tuition costs for Cybersecurity programs.
Top 5 Most Affordable Net Price
| # | School | State | Net Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Canada College | CA | $10 |
| 2 | Henry Ford College | MI | $576 |
| 3 | Fort Scott Community College | KS | $665 |
| 4 | Cerritos College | CA | $693 |
| 5 | Moorpark College | CA | $742 |
Schools with the lowest net price (after financial aid) for Cybersecurity programs.
Graduation Rates
52.72% Median Graduation Rate (150% of normal time)
52.56% Average Graduation Rate
752 Institutions Reporting
37.34% - 66.33% Interquartile Range
Graduation/completion rates for Cybersecurity programs across institutions.
Employment
Information on the businesses and industries that employ Cybersecurity graduates and on wages and locations for those in the field.
Yearly Income for Common Jobs
$156,788 Average Wage in Workforce
The average salary for Cybersecurity majors is $156,788.
Average annual salaries of the most common occupations for Cybersecurity majors.
Occupations by Share
50,000 2023 Workforce
The number of Cybersecurity graduates in the workforce has been growing.
Various jobs filled by those with a major in Cybersecurity by share of the total number of graduates.
Return on Investment & Value
Financial analysis of Cybersecurity degree including debt, earnings, and return on investment metrics.
Financial Value Analysis
$18,750 Median Student Debt
$50,000 Median Annual Earnings (10 years after enrollment)
37.50% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
3.8 years Estimated Payback Period (assuming 10% of income)
683.99% Return on Investment (10-year earnings vs 4-year cost)
This degree shows strong ROI, with 10-year earnings significantly exceeding the cost of education.
$63,776 Estimated Total Cost (4 years at median net price)
Financial value comparison for Cybersecurity degree.
Diversity
Demographic information for those who earn a degree in Cybersecurity in the United States.
Workforce Age
40.0 Average Age in 2023
This chart shows distribution of ages for employees with a degree in Cybersecurity.
Age distribution for Cybersecurity degree holders in the workforce.
Gender Distribution
38,088 Total Degrees Awarded
29,662 Male (77.88%)
8,426 Female (22.12%)
Gender distribution of Cybersecurity degree recipients.
Race and Ethnicity Distribution
16,551 White (43.45%)
6,293 Black or African American (16.52%)
5,640 Hispanic or Latino (14.81%)
2,808 Asian (7.37%)
1,560 Two or More Races (4.10%)
Racial and ethnic distribution of Cybersecurity degree recipients.
Degrees Awarded
The most common degree types awarded to students graduating in Cybersecurity are Bachelors Degree, Masters Degree, and Associates Degree.
Distribution of degree types awarded in Cybersecurity.
Skills
Data on the critical and distinctive skills necessary for those working in the Cybersecurity field from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Required Skills
Cybersecurity majors need many skills, but most especially Critical Thinking, Active Listening, and Reading Comprehension.
Rating of how necessary various skills are for Cybersecurity majors.
Skills Bar Chart
This bar chart shows the same information as the radar chart, displaying the importance of each skill.
Skill importance ratings for Cybersecurity majors.
About
Cybersecurity
In 2023, 10,000 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs in Cybersecurity.
CIP Code
11.1003 - Cybersecurity
Insights and Analysis
Exceptional Return on Investment: Cybersecurity offers an outstanding ROI of 684%, meaning graduates typically earn significantly more over 10 years than the total cost of their education. This makes it one of the most financially rewarding degree choices available.
High Earning Potential: Cybersecurity graduates earn an average annual wage of $156,788, placing them among the top earners in the workforce. This strong earning potential reflects both the demand for skills in this field and the value employers place on this degree.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, IPEDS completion data, and Bureau of Labor Statistics employment data.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Employment and wage data are from the most recent Census Bureau ACS PUMS estimates.