How To Earn Your Cybersecurity Bachelor's Degree

Choose a Cybersecurity Degree Program

If you want a strong introduction into the field of cybersecurity and can provide an official high school or college transcript, consider an on Bachelor of Science in cybersecurity degree program.

You can earn a BS in cybersecurity degree by completing 120 credit hours or more in required courses through an accredited cybersecurity degree program.

Undergraduate cybersecurity degree programs involve general education or core course requirements, major requirements, elective requirements, and more. Example of major course requirements include:

• routing and switching
• networking concepts
• ethics in cybersecurity
• Linux system administration

Many BS in cybersecurity degree programs offer concentrations to focus your degree in an area that fits your personal interests and career goals. Examples of concentrations include:

• digital forensics
• cloud computing
• programming and analytics

Internships are also provided for hands-on experience and capstone projects are often required to exit out of a cybersecurity degree program to demonstrate acquired knowledge and skills.

Other Cybersecurity Programs

Many NCAE-C designated institutions offer an undergraduate information technology, computer science, or computer engineering major with an emphasis or concentration in cybersecurity.

Programs that offer an emphasis in cybersecurity provide courses such as cybersecurity foundations, cybersecurity and ethics, and cyber forensics investigations to introduce you to the field of cybersecurity.

There are also cybersecurity certificate programs available for students who want to save time and money. Certificate programs do not involve as much training as degree programs.

Pay for Your Cybersecurity Degree

You will have to pay for your college education to earn a cybersecurity degree. There are many options available to help you pay for your degree.

The federal and state government, as well as non-profit and other organizations offer financial aid options to help pay for college such as grants, scholarships, and tuition reimbursement programs.

Many colleges offer in-house scholarships and tuition grant opportunities to help students pay for college. Learn about a few financial aid options below.

Grants

Submit a Free Application for Student Aid to be considered for a federal Pell grant and a Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity grant.

The Scholarship for Service also offers grants awarded by the National Science Foundation to support education for qualified undergraduates and graduates in cybersecurity.

Scholarships

There are tons of scholarship opportunities for students in financial need, students with academic achievements, and students with personal situations such as their selected college major or ethnic or military background.

Search for scholarships that are focused on student education in a science, technology, engineering, or math major. See example scholarships below:

• KnowBe4 scholarships for black Americans in cybersecurity
• Raytheon's Intelligence and Space Underrepresented Minorities in cybersecurity scholarship
• Microsoft cybersecurity scholarship program
• MPower Women in STEM scholarship

Some scholarships offer up to the full amount of tuition. For example, the Department of Defense cyber scholarship program offers recruitment and retention scholarships to help cybersecurity students pay for college.

Other Financial Aid Options

You may also be able to earn your cybersecurity degree through a tuition reimbursement program from your employer or through savings from a tuition waiver from your college.

There are also work-study programs available for students with financial need. Transfer credits help time and money toward earning your degree.

If you have earned college credit from an accredited institution or have professional experience, find out how many previously earned credits you can apply to your cybersecurity degree program.

Summary on How to Earn Your Cybersecurity Degree

There are three steps to take to earn your cybersecurity degree. There may be additional steps required before you take the next step. See an example list of things to do to earn your cybersecurity degree below.

• Step 1: Choose a cybersecurity degree program.
• Step 2: Choose how to pay for your cybersecurity degree.
• Step 3: Complete your cybersecurity degree program and earn your degree.

Completing your cybersecurity degree program can take two to five years depending on your current credentials and academic behaviors.

Many online cybersecurity programs are delivered in a format that allows you to complete courses at your own pace. Consider support opportunities such as cybersecurity groups, study groups, mentorships, and more for motivation.

Begin Earning Your Cybersecurity Degree Today

If you want to know how to earn your cybersecurity degree in simple terms, complete an accredited cybersecurity undergraduate or graduate degree program by finding ways to pay for college and practicing good academic behaviors.