- Online bachelor’s
- Online master’s
- IT degrees
- Certification options
- InfoSec master’s
- Online PhD programs
Online cybersecurity education isn’t a side channel anymore — it’s where a huge chunk of the future cyber workforce is being trained.
Despite more than 514,000 cybersecurity job openings last year, the supply of qualified professionals remains insufficient. To address this gap, universities are increasingly offering online and hybrid programs, making cybersecurity education more accessible and helping to develop a stronger pipeline of skilled workers to meet industry demand.
Whether you’re just starting your academic journey or advancing into specialized research, online cybersecurity programs offer flexible, career-focused pathways across all levels of education.
What is an online cybersecurity degree?
An online cybersecurity degree is a structured academic program — usually 60 credits (associate), 120 credits (bachelor’s), or 30–36 credits (master’s) — delivered mostly or entirely online, but with the same security-focused curriculum you’d see on campus.
Online programs now feature in-browser labs, virtual environments, SIEM access, and capstone projects, providing students with hands-on experience. These tools help learners develop real-world skills in cybersecurity, network management, and system analysis, preparing them effectively for industry roles through immersive, practical training that complements theoretical knowledge.
Current trends shaping the curriculum
To remain relevant in this fast-evolving field, modern cybersecurity programs are adapting to include emerging technologies and soft skills:
- Practical, Hands-on Experience: Many programs emphasize virtual and physical lab assignments, penetration testing simulations, and real-world projects to ensure graduates have applied skills beyond just theory.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Security: AI is transforming both offensive and defensive strategies. Approximately 10% of cybersecurity job listings now require AI skills, and curricula are incorporating topics like anomaly detection and using AI to predict and counter advanced threats.
- Cloud Security Expertise: As organizations migrate to cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud), the need for professionals skilled in cloud-native security, identity management, and cross-cloud misconfigurations is skyrocketing.
- Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC): Beyond technical defense, students are learning the crucial non-technical skills of managing security risks, understanding legal/ethical issues, and adhering to global regulatory frameworks (like PCI DSS and NIST).
Key signals of a good online program
- CAE-C/CAE-CD designation – Programs offered by schools recognized as National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) have been vetted for curriculum quality and alignment with national workforce needs.
- Mapped to the 2025 NICE Framework – If a program says its courses map to NICE work roles, that makes the degree easier to translate into job skills.
- Hands-on/virtual labs – Look for courses that mention SIEMs, EDR, cloud labs, or red-vs-blue team exercises. Remote labs are an established practice in 2025, not an add-on.
- Specialization options – A lot of 2024–25 online offerings are adding tracks in SOC operations, cloud/DevSecOps, OT/ICS, forensics, or GRC because that’s where the jobs are growing.
Online bachelor’s programs
Every year, more colleges and university add online cybersecurity bachelor’s degree programs.
Online master’s in cybersecurity programs
Also popular among working professionals are online cybersecurity master’s programs, which are known for their flexibility.
Online IT degrees
An online IT degree is a great way to get exposure to the growing cybersecurity field.
Online information security master’s degree programs
Get a specialized professional degree with an online infosec master’s.
Online cybersecurity certifications
Earning industry certs have become a cornerstone of the cybersecurity industry.
Earn an online cybersecurity PhD
Take the next career step by earning an online cybersecurity PhD.
Is an online cybersecurity degree even worth it?
A recent study by the Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics shows that the various formats of online learning have been increasing.
- This includes blending online and campus learning (or what is known as hybrid learning) to nearly 18 percent of all students.
- The report also shows that 33 percent of all college students took at least one course online.
- And online-only offerings for college courses grew by 15 percent during the study’s time frame.
What’s interesting about this trend is that online learning is showing itself to be more effective for students across a number of metrics. The findings of a Learning House Inc. study summarized in this Forbes article, show that students are learning more and that online learning has the same or better outcomes in terms of job placement after graduation. A few notable findings:
- 85 percent of students surveyed felt like they got as good or better learning experience by taking online courses when compared to traditional campus-based courses.
- 37 percent of online students felt that the experience was superior to campus-based learning.
- Another interesting thing: Students that took California’s first-year law student exam after a year of online-only law school had a passing rate of 38 percent, compared to 17 percent for traditional in-person courses had a passing rate of 38 percent.