- Rankings
- How we ranked affordability
- Cheap vs. Worth it
- How this cost ranking differs
- Cost per credit vs. total cost
- Ways to pay even less
- FAQs
- Related resources
If you have already decided on an online cybersecurity master’s and now just want the lowest price, this page is built for you: it ranks accredited programs by what they actually cost, total tuition and cost per credit, not by brand or general prestige.
The cheapest accredited option on the list is Columbus State University at about $9,270, which is a fraction of the most expensive programs in the field.
The important word there is accredited: a cheap degree that no employer or PhD program recognizes is not a bargain, so every program here clears an accreditation screen before it earns a place on the cost ranking.
One clarification up front, because it matters for how you use the site: this is the affordability lens. If you want the full, quality-based ranking of online cybersecurity master’s programs, that lives in our online master’s in cybersecurity guide, and campus options are in our campus master’s in cybersecurity guide.
This page answers one question only and answers it precisely: which accredited online cybersecurity master’s costs the least.
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Feature Online Master's Programs
| School Name | Program | More Info |
|---|---|---|
| UC Berkeley School of Information | Online MS in Cybersecurity | No GRE/GMAT Required | website |
| Wake Forest University | Online MS in Cybersecurity Leadership | website |
| Southern New Hampshire University | Online MS in Cybersecurity | website |
| Grand Canyon University | Online MS in Cybersecurity | website |
| Purdue Global | Online MS in Cybersecurity Management | website |
QUICK ANSWER
The most affordable online master’s in cybersecurity programs cost far less than the field average once you compare total tuition, not just cost per credit. The cheapest accredited program on this list is at roughly $9,270 total, about $309 per credit.
Every program ranked on this page is accredited, and most can be made cheaper still through in-state rates, employer tuition reimbursement, or the CyberCorps Scholarship for Service. This is a cost ranking; if you want the full quality-based comparison instead, see our online master’s in cybersecurity guide.
How we rank programs by affordability
Affordability is easy to claim and hard to prove, so here is exactly how this ranking is built. We start from total program cost, the published tuition multiplied by the credits the degree actually requires, because a low per-credit rate on a 42-credit program can cost more than a higher rate on a 30-credit program.
We then show cost per credit alongside it, so you can see both the sticker rate and the all-in figure. Where typical financial aid or in-state eligibility materially changes the real price, we note net price as well.
Two hard gates come before cost: every program must be institutionally accredited, and we flag NSA/DHS CAE designation where it applies, because a cheap program that fails either test does not belong on a list people will actually enroll from.
The result is a ranking you can replicate: sort by total cost, confirm accreditation, and the order falls out.
Cheap vs. worth it: don’t trade accreditation for price
The real risk in shopping purely on price is not overpaying; it is enrolling in a program that costs little because it is worth little. Before you pick the cheapest option, verify three things.
First, institutional accreditation from a recognized accreditor: this determines whether your credits transfer, whether employers and government agencies recognize the degree, and whether you can use federal aid. An unaccredited ‘master’s’ at any price is a poor deal.
Second, look for NSA/DHS Center of Academic Excellence designation, which signals the curriculum meets federal workforce standards and matters for government and defense hiring.
Third, check outcomes and delivery: a rock-bottom program with no faculty access, no labs, and no career support can cost you more in lost opportunity than you saved in tuition.
The honest rule is simple: rank by cost, but only among accredited programs, and treat a modestly pricier CAE-designated degree as often the better value than the absolute cheapest option.
How this cost ranking differs from our main online master’s guide
It is worth being explicit about how this page fits with the rest of the site, because the difference changes which page you should use. This ranking sorts accredited online cybersecurity master’s programs by price.
Our online master’s in cybersecurity guide does something different: it ranks programs on overall quality, weighing CAE designation, curriculum, delivery, and outcomes alongside cost, and it covers the full field rather than just the most affordable end.
If your first constraint is budget, start here and use the main guide to sanity-check quality. If your first constraint is fit and quality, start with the main guide and use this page to find the cheapest option that meets your bar.
For an in-person program, see the campus master’s in cybersecurity guide, and if your interest is the governance and assurance track specifically, the online master’s in information assurance guide covers that.
The four pages are complementary lenses on the same decision, not four versions of the same list.
Understanding online cybersecurity master’s tuition: cost per credit vs. total cost
The single most useful habit when comparing affordable programs is to stop reading the per-credit rate as the price. Online cybersecurity master’s programs typically run 30 to 42 credits, so the credit requirement swings the total as much as the rate does.
A program at a low per-credit rate that requires 42 credits can easily cost more than one with a higher rate that requires 30.
Always multiply the current per-credit tuition by the program’s required credits, and confirm whether the rate you are quoted is the in-state rate, the out-of-state rate, or a flat online rate, since many public universities charge online students a single rate regardless of residency, which can make an out-of-state public program far more affordable than its sticker suggests.
Add mandatory fees, which some programs bundle and others list separately, and you have the number that actually matters for this ranking.
Ways to pay even less
Sticker price is only the starting point, and several levers can cut the real cost of even the cheapest program on this list.
- In-state or flat online rates: Many public universities charge all online students the in-state or a single flat rate, so residency may not raise your cost at all; confirm this per program.
- Employer tuition reimbursement: Many employers, and most large defense and financial services firms, reimburse graduate tuition, often up to the $5,250 annual federal tax-free limit under IRS Section 127.
- Scholarships: the National Science Foundation’s CyberCorps Scholarship for Service funds full tuition plus a stipend in exchange for federal service after graduation, which can make an accredited program effectively free; see our cybersecurity scholarships guide for more.
- No-GRE programs: skipping the GRE saves test and prep costs and shortens the timeline.
- Transfer credit: Some programs accept graduate transfer credits or recognize certifications, trimming the credits you pay for. Stacked together, these can move a program from affordable to nearly free.
Top affordable online cybersecurity master’s programs for 2026
Columbus State University
Columbus, Georgia
Program: Cybersecurity (MS)
CAE designation: CAE-CD
Tuition: $9,270
Delivery Method: Online, campus & hybrid
2025/2026 Cost per credit: $309
Credits: 30
Learn more: Program detailsFort Hays State University
Hays, KSProgram: Master of Professional Studies in Cybersecurity
CAE designation: CAE-CD
Tuition: $10,470
Delivery Method: Online & campus
2025/2026 Cost per credit: $349
Credits: 30
Learn more: Program detailsSoutheast Missouri State University
Cape Girardeau, MOProgram: Cybersecurity (MS)
CAE designation: CAE-CD
Tuition: $11,850
Delivery Method: Online
2025/2026 Cost per credit: $395
Credits: 30
Learn more: Program detailsUniversity of West Florida
Pensacola, FloridaProgram: Master of Science (M.S.) Cybersecurity
CAE designation: CAE-CD
Tuition: $12,750
Delivery Method: Online & campus
2025/2026 Cost per credit: $425
Credits: 30
Learn more: Program detailsUniversity of Central Missouri
Warrensburg, MissouriProgram: Master of Science in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance
CAE designation: CAE-CD
Tuition: $13,350
Delivery Method: Online & campus
2025/2026 Cost per credit: $445
Credits: 30
Learn more: Program detailsUniversity of Southern Maine
Portland, MaineProgram: Master's in Cybersecurity
CAE designation: CAE-CD
Tuition: $15,780
Delivery Method: Online
2025/2026 Cost per credit: $526
Credits: 30
Learn more: Program detailsNorthern Kentucky University
Highland Heights, KentuckyProgram: Master of Science in Cybersecurity
CAE designation: CAE-CD
Tuition: $15,900
Delivery Method: Online
2025/2026 Cost per credit: $530
Credits: 30
Learn more: Program detailsSouthern Utah University
Cedar City, UtahProgram: M.S. in Cybersecurity with Information Assurance
CAE designation: CAE-CD
Tuition: $16,368
Delivery Method: Online
2025/2026 Cost per credit: $496
Credits: 33
Learn more: Program detailsAmerican Military University
Charles Town, West VirginiaProgram: Master of Science in Cybersecurity Studies
CAE designation: CAE-CD
Tuition: $16,380
Delivery Method: Online
2025/2026 Cost per credit: $455
Credits: 36
Learn more: Program detailsBoise State University
Boise, IdahoProgram: Master of Science in Cyber Operations and Resilience
CAE designation: CAE-CD
Tuition: $16,500
Delivery Method: Online
2025/2026 Cost per credit: $550
Credits: 30
Learn more: Program detailsMarshall University
Huntington, WVProgram: Cybersecurity, MS
CAE designation: CAE-CD
Tuition: $17,153
Delivery Method: Online & campus
2025/2026 Cost per credit: $571.75
Credits: 30
Learn more: Program detailsIndiana Institute of Technology
Fort Wayne, INProgram: Cybersecurity, M.S.
CAE designation: CAE-CD
Tuition: $17,700
Delivery Method: Online & campus
2025/2026 Cost per credit: $590
Credits: 30
Learn more: Program detailsChamplain College
Burlington, VermontProgram: Master's in Cybersecurity Management
CAE designation: CAE-CD
Tuition: $17,850
Delivery Method: Online
2025/2026 Cost per credit: $595
Credits: 30
Learn more: Program detailsEastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, MichiganProgram: Cyber Security [M.S.]
CAE designation: CAE-CD
Tuition: $18,000
Delivery Method: Online & campus
2025/2026 Cost per credit: $600
Credits: 30
Learn more: Program detailsMississippi State University
Mississippi State, MississippiProgram: M.S. in Cyber Security and Operations
CAE designation: CAE-CD, CAE-CO, CAE-R
Tuition: $18,011
Delivery Method: Online & campus
2025/2026 Cost per credit: $581
Credits: 31
Learn more: Program detailsMurray State University
Murray, KentuckyProgram: Master of Science in Cybersecurity Management online
CAE designation: CAE-CD
Tuition: $18,180
Delivery Method: Online
2025/2026 Cost per credit: $606
Credits: 30
Learn more: Program detailsUniversity of Massachusetts-Lowell
Lowell, MassachusettsProgram: Master of Science in Security Studies: Cybersecurity Concentration
CAE designation: CAE-R
Tuition: $18,300
Delivery Method: Online
2025/2026 Cost per credit: $610
Credits: 30
Learn more: Program detailsUniversity at Albany
Albany, NYProgram: MS Cybersecurity and Risk
CAE designation: CAE-CD, CAE-R
Tuition: $22,837.68
Delivery Method: Online & campus
2025/2026 Cost per credit: $540.38 in-state | $634.38 out-of-state
Credits: 36
Learn more: Program detailsUniversity of New Hampshire
Durham, New HampshireProgram: M.S. in Cybersecurity Policy and Risk Management (CPRM)
CAE designation: CAE-CD
Tuition: $19,200
Delivery Method: Online
2025/2026 Cost per credit: $640
Credits: 30
Learn more: Program detailsWilmington University
New Castle, DelawareProgram: Master of Science in Cybersecurity
CAE designation: CAE-CD
Tuition: $19,836
Delivery Method: Online
2025/2026 Cost per credit: $551
Credits: 36
Learn more: Program detailsOld Dominion University
Norfolk, VirginiaProgram: Master of Science in Cybersecurity
CAE designation: CAE-CO, CAE-CD, and CAE-R
Tuition: $19,470
Delivery Method: Online & campus
2025/2026 Cost per credit: $486 in-state | $649 out-of-state
Credits: 30
Learn more: Program detailsSaint Leo University
Saint Leo, FloridaProgram: Master of Science in Cybersecurity
CAE designation: CAE-CD
Tuition: $20,100
Delivery Method: Online & campus
2025/2026 Cost per credit: $670
Credits: 30
Learn more: Program detailsGrand Canyon University
Phoenix, ArizonaProgram: Master of Science in Cybersecurity
CAE designation: CAE-CD
Tuition: $20,400
Delivery Method: Online
2025/2026 Cost per credit: $600
Credits: 34
Learn more: Program detailsDakota State University
Madison, South DakotaProgram: Master of Science in Cyber Defense
CAE designation: CAE-CD, CAE-R, CAE-CO
Tuition: $20,460
Delivery Method: Online & campus
2025/2026 Cost per credit: $385 in-state | $682 out-of-state
Credits: 30
Learn more: Program detailsUniversity of Maryland Global Campus
Adelphi, MarylandProgram: Master's Degree Cybersecurity Technology
CAE designation: CAE-CD
Tuition: $20,820
Delivery Method: Online
2025/2026 Cost per credit: $694
Credits: 30
Learn more: Program details
2025 Affordable listings
2024 Affordable listings
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbus State University, at about $9,270 total ($309 per credit), ranks first here because it combines a low per-credit rate with a modest credit requirement, and it clears the accreditation screen every program on this page must pass.
Two or three other programs come within a few thousand dollars of it (Fort Hays State University at $349 and Southeast Missouri State University at $395). Remember to compare total cost, not just the per-credit rate, since a low rate on a high-credit program can cost more overall.
Across the accredited online programs on this ranking, total cost ranges from roughly $9,270 at the most affordable end to $20,820 at the most expensive, with cost per credit typically between $309 and $694. The spread is wide because credit requirements (usually 30 to 42) and residency rules vary as much as the per-credit rate does. The programs on this page cluster at the affordable end of that range by design.
Yes, provided it is accredited. An affordable degree from an institutionally accredited, ideally NSA/DHS CAE-designated university carries the same recognition as a pricier one from a comparable school, so paying more does not automatically buy more.
The one thing you should never trade away for price is accreditation: an unaccredited ‘master’s’ will not transfer, will not qualify for federal aid, and may not be recognized by employers or government agencies. Rank by cost, but only among accredited programs, and treat a modestly pricier CAE-designated option as often the better value than the absolute cheapest.
This page ranks accredited online cybersecurity master’s programs by cost, total tuition, and cost per credit. Our online master’s in cybersecurity guide ranks programs on overall quality (CAE designation, curriculum, delivery, and outcomes as well as cost) and covers the full field. Use this page if budget is your first constraint; use the main guide if fit and quality come first.
Yes. Most online cybersecurity master’s programs have dropped the GRE requirement, and several of the most affordable accredited options on this list are no-GRE. Skipping the GRE also saves the exam and prep costs and can shorten your timeline, so a no-GRE program is often the cheaper choice overall even when the tuition is similar.
Additional resources
If you are looking for your next opportunity in cybersecurity, be sure to check out these related resources: