• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Cybersecurity Guide

  • Bootcamps
    • CISSP
    • CCNA
    • CEH
    • Comptia+
  • PROGRAMS BY STATE
    • Alabama
    • Alaska
    • Arizona
    • Arkansas
    • California
    • Colorado
    • Connecticut
    • Delaware
    • Florida
    • Georgia
    • Hawaii
    • Idaho
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Kentucky
    • Louisiana
    • Maine
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Michigan
    • Minnesota
    • Mississippi
    • Missouri
    • Montana
    • Nebraska
    • Nevada
    • New Hampshire
    • New Jersey
    • New Mexico
    • New York
    • North Carolina
    • North Dakota
    • Ohio
    • Oklahoma
    • Oregon
    • Pennsylvania
    • Rhode Island
    • South Carolina
    • South Dakota
    • Tennessee
    • Texas
    • Utah
    • Vermont
    • Virginia
    • Washington
    • Washington, DC
    • Wisconsin
    • West Virginia
    • Wyoming
  • CERTIFICATIONS
    • Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
    • Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
    • Certified Information Security Systems Professional (CISSP)
    • Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
    • Digital Forensics Certifications
    • Security+
    • CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+)
    • Certified Network Defender (CND)
    • OSCP
    • CRISC
    • Pen Testing
    • CTIA
    • Cryptography
    • Malware Analyst
  • DEGREES
    • associate’s in cybersecurity
    • bachelor’s in cybersecurity
    • master’s in cybersecurity
    • cybersecurity analytics degree
    • Computer science with cybersecurity emphasis
    • MBA in cybersecurity
    • phd in cybersecurity
    • cybersecurity law degree
    • master’s in information security
    • Cybersecurity engineering master’s
  • ONLINE PROGRAMS
    • Online Certificate in Cybersecurity
    • online bachelor’s in cybersecurity
    • online IT degree
    • online master’s in cybersecurity
    • Online master’s in information security
    • online phd in cybersecurity
  • CAREER GUIDES
    • Security Engineer
    • Chief Information Security Officer
    • Security Analyst
    • Computer Forensics
    • Security Consultant
    • Digital Forensics
    • Cryptographer
    • Security Administrator
    • Penetration Tester
    • Security Software Developer
    • Security Specialist
    • Security Code Auditor
    • Security Architect
    • Malware Analyst
    • Data Protection Officer
    • Cybercrime Investigator
    • Cryptanalyst
    • Security Incident Responder
    • Chief Privacy Officer
    • Risk Manager
    • Network Administrator
    • Business InfoSec Officer
    • Information Security Manager
  • Experts
  • RESOURCE CENTER
    • Job Guide
    • Veteran’s Guide
    • Women’s Guide
    • Certification Guide
    • Internship Guide
    • Security Clearance Guide
    • Ethical Hacker Guide
    • Coding for Cybersecurity Guide
    • Cybersecurity 101
    • Student Guide to Internet Safety
    • Scholarship Guide
    • Cybersecurity Math Guide
    • Small Business Guide
    • COVID-19 Guide
    • Cybersecurity for K-12 students
    • Career Networking Guide
    • What is a Cyber Range?
    • Code Like a Hacker
    • Reacting to a Cyber Incident
    • Introduction to Cyber Defense
    • Cybersecurity Courses Online
    • Recommended Reading
    • Cybersecurity Jobs Report
    • Phishing Attacks
    • Cybersecurity Responsibility
    • How to Get Into Cybersecurity
    • Cyberwarfare
    • Cybersecurity Insurance
    • Job Interview Prep
    • Readiness Economy
  • Industries
    • Financial Sector
    • Insurance Sector
    • Healthcare Sector
    • Environmental Sector
    • Energy Sector
    • Government Sector
    • Transportation Sector
    • Food and Ag Sector

Cybersecurity degrees in Illinois — Your guide to choosing a school

Written by Cybersecurity Guide Contributors – Expert reviewed by Steven Bowcut – Last updated: December 16, 2022

This guide is about how Illinois ranks as a place to pursue both cybersecurity education and a place to find cybersecurity-related employment after graduation.

Home to the fourth-most-important business center in the world, Illinois is a state whose cybersecurity landscape is rapidly developing. All that development is sure to need an influx of new cybersecurity professionals to fill positions in both the private and public sectors. 

Ad
cybersecurityguide.org is an advertising-supported site. Clicking in this box will show you programs related to your search from schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other information published on this site.
Featured Cybersecurity Degree Programs

School NameProgram More Info
Purdue University GlobalOnline BS in Cybersecurity website
UC Berkeley School of InformationMaster’s in Cybersecurity | No GRE/GMAT Required website
Northwestern UniversityNorthwestern Cybersecurity Bootcamp website
Southern New Hampshire UniversityOnline BS in Cybersecurity or Online MS in Cybersecurity website
Grand Canyon UniversityOnline BS in Cybersecurity or Online MS in Cybersecurity website
Utica UniversityOnline BS in Cybersecurity website
In this guide
  • Associate degree
  • Bachelor’s degree
  • Master’s degree
  • Cybersecurity certifications

Cybersecurity development in Illinois

Illinois is both an urban and rural state, with the third-largest city in the United States (Chicago) and a very robust economy spread among many industries, including farming, manufacturing, banking, and finance. In fact, there are several Fortune 500 companies that have homes in Chicago or other and that require cybersecurity professionals.

As an example, Boeing, United, State Farm, and Allstate all have a significant presence in Illinois and that require top-tier cybersecurity to protect customer information from hackers. This is especially true for the last two names, as Illinois’ biggest industry is insurance.

The state has enjoyed an exceptional growth rate for cybersecurity job postings over the last decade – easily making Illinois one of the more rapidly developing states in this area. This is partially because Illinois is focusing on a new cybersecurity strategy. This state-mandated strategy involves funding for universities and expanding its partnerships with private and public sector cybersecurity firms and companies.

The Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology has taken steps to ensure the state’s digital security, as well as that of its citizens.

Cybersecurity education in Illinois

Although there is currently lots of cybersecurity development occurring throughout Illinois, most of it is centered around its universities and colleges, which drive the majority of its cybersecurity research and host most of its conferences. As a result, Illinois features a multitude of cybersecurity education options.

Associate degree

Campus-based cybersecurity associate degrees in Illinois

Associate degrees are excellent starting places for those who have no background in computer science or cybersecurity. They generally introduce cybersecurity as a concept with a heavy collection of foundational computer science courses, but they are usually not enough by themselves to secure a position in the cybersecurity field. However, they are great stepping stones to a bachelor’s level or higher degree in cybersecurity.

At this time, there are no universities in Illinois that offer associate-level degrees in cybersecurity through online programs. Instead, there are six on-campus associate cybersecurity programs to choose from:

Cybersecurity Associate’s Programs in Illinois

School City Program Website
College of DuPage Glen Ellyn Associate in Applied Science in Cybersecurity and Defense
John A Logan College Carterville Associate in Applied Science in Computer Forensics
John A Logan College Carterville Associate in Applied Science in Cyber Security/Information Assurance
Lincoln Land Community College Springfield Associate in Applied Science in Computer Systems – Networking Track
McHenry County College Crystal Lake, Illinois Network Security AAS
Rock Valley College Rockford Data Assurance & IT Security Degree

Bachelor’s degree

Campus cybersecurity bachelor’s degrees in Illinois

Bachelor’s degrees are the next step above an associate-level degree, and generally, they incorporate a broader concentration on cybersecurity concepts and more specialized classes. It’s possible to obtain a job in the cybersecurity field with a bachelor’s degree, though many proceed into graduate-level education for higher job placement or managerial responsibilities. 

In Illinois, there are five on-campus bachelor’s degree options, with two of them from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. This is particularly notable because it’s often considered one of the country’s best cybersecurity schools, especially because it makes use of the Illinois Cybersecurity Scholars Program.

This program fast tracks students who wish to study cybersecurity and can provide financial aid opportunities if they need assistance paying for college.

Cybersecurity Bachelor’s Programs in Illinois

School City Program Website
Loyola University Chicago Chicago BS in Cybersecurity
Northeastern Illinois University Chicago Bachelor of Science in Computer Science – Computer Networks and Security concentration
Roosevelt University Chicago Bachelor of Science in Cyber and Information Security
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Champaign, Illinois Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering – Illinois Cyber Security Scholars Program
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Champaign Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (Engineering) – Illinois Cyber Security Scholars Program
University of Illinois, Springfield Springfield Information Systems Security Bachelor’s Degree

Online bachelor’s degrees

The University of Illinois at Springfield has an excellent online bachelor’s option, with a BS in Information Systems Security. This does require two semesters of Bachelor’s degrees for all applicants, but it provides an extensive education surrounding the nuts and bolts of cybersecurity.

Southern Illinois University also features a BS in Information Systems Technologies, allowing for an emphasis in network and information security. While not a strictly cybersecurity degree, it covers many of the same topics and provides you with a broad background of computer science knowledge to afford you a multitude of career paths. 

Purdue University is another excellent choice, as its Global University online education programs are renowned for their rigor and academic excellence. They provide a pure BS in Cybersecurity, marking them as a top choice for students who know exactly what they want to progress into for a career.

Master’s degree

Campus-based cybersecurity master’s degrees in Illinois

Master’s degrees are a step above bachelor’s. These programs are usually quite intense and are focused even more on specific cybersecurity concepts, often allowing for specialization and for research-oriented career placement.

Illinois offers four master’s level degrees for cybersecurity:

CYBERSECURITY MASTER’S PROGRAMS IN ILLINOIS

School City Program Website
Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago Master of Cyber Forensics and Security Program
Illinois State University Norma Master of Science in Information Systems-Network and Security Management
Lewis University Romeoville Master of Science in Information Security (MSIS)
Loyola University Chicago Chicago MS in Information Technology with a Concentration in Information Assurance
Roosevelt University Chicago Master’s in Cyber Security and Information Assurance (MS)
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Champaign Master of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering – Illinois Cyber Security Scholars Program

Online master’s degrees

Lewis University also offers a match of their on-campus program through the online format, with an MSIS with a cybersecurity concentration. This exceptional degree option is perfect for future or current cybersecurity professionals.

DePaul offers an MS in Computer, Information, and Network Security, though it’s one of the few universities that doesn’t require students to have a tech background to apply. Instead, its introductory courses will help catch non-tech background students up to others in the program, though this may require taking a longer time to complete the program than someone with a cybersecurity background.

Students can continue their online bachelor’s education from Purdue with a master’s program; it’s an MS in Cybersecurity Management. This is a program that combines many IT courses with classes that material covered in other cybersecurity degree programs. 

Finally, Northwestern’s own MSIS program allows students to specialize in information systems security and is another good choice for people that don’t have a background in IT your computer science. It also incorporates many classes about management; thus, this program and Purdue’s may be good choices for future cybersecurity administrators.

CYBERSECURITY ONLINE MASTER’S PROGRAMS IN ILLINOIS

School City Program Website
DePaul University Chicago Master of Science in Cybersecurity
Lewis University Romeoville Online Master of Science in Computer Science – Cyber Security Concentration
Loyola University Chicago Chicago MS in Information Technology with a Concentration in Information Assurance
Northwestern University Evanston Online Masters in Information Systems – Information Systems Security Specialization
Purdue University Global Chicago Master of Science in Cybersecurity Management

Certifications

Campus-based cybersecurity certificate programs in Illinois

Certificates are not strictly necessary to obtain a job in the cybersecurity industry. But they do signify skills in particular cybersecurity aspects, programming languages, or operations, so they can make you a more attractive employee or allow you to hold positions horizontal to your actual field (as a forensic cybersecurity specialist, for example).

There are 11 on-campus certificate options throughout Illinois’ universities. Rock Valley College is a good place to get multiple certificates from the same school, with other universities only offering one.

Cybersecurity Certification Programs in Illinois

School City Program Website
College of DuPage Glen Ellyn Certificate in Information Assurance and Cyber Defense
Eastern Illinois University Charleston Technology Security graduate certificate program
Illinois State University Normal Information Assurance and Security Graduate Certificate
Joliet Junior College Joliet Computer Information Systems Computer and Network Security Specialist, Certificate of Achievement
Lincoln Land Community College Springfield Certificate of Achievement in Computer Administration – Networking Track
McHenry County College Crystal Lake Cyber Security Certificate
Moraine Valley Community College Palos Hills IT Security Specialist Certificate
Rock Valley College Rockford Cisco CCNA Security/3776 Certificate
Rock Valley College Rockford Cisco CCNP Security/3777 Certificate
Shawnee Community College Ullin Cyber Security and Computer Forensics Certificate
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Champaign Undergraduate Certificate in Global Security

Online certificate programs

There are seven total online certificate options from Illinois universities, with the Illinois Institute of Technology offering three, and at different levels of education. Purdue is another excellent choice, though both of their certificates are at the post-baccalaureate level.

Cybersecurity Online Certification Programs in Illinois

School City Program Website
Elmshurst University Elmshurst Certificate in Cyber Security
Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago Certificate in Information Security and Assurance
Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago Master Certificate in Cyber Security Management
Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago Master Certificate in Cyber Security Technologies
Purdue Community Global Chicago Computer Forensics Postbaccalaureate Certificate
Purdue Community Global Chicago Information Security Postbaccalaureate Certificate
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Champaign Computer Security Certificate

Cybersecurity jobs in Illinois

To determine how well the cybersecurity industry is doing in Illinois, we can look to CyberSeek.org. 

There are currently 38,767 employed cybersecurity professionals compared to 20,268 open cybersecurity positions. This puts the ratio of cybersecurity worker supply/demand at 72 percent, compared to a national average of 68 percent. In simplified terms, there is plenty of opportunity and demand for new cybersecurity workers in this state.

Job spread is pretty good, too, with titles ranging from entry-level positions like cybersecurity analysts and engineers to systems engineers to cybersecurity managers and administrators.

The average hourly salary for cybersecurity workers in Illinois is $54.25, which translates to an annual yearly salary of about $112,830. Given that the Bureau of Labor Statistics records that the median wage for many IT positions is only $91,250, this shows that it can truly pay to work in cybersecurity in Illinois.

How far does that money stretch? On a scale with the US average cost of living being rated as “100”, Illinois is cheaper than the average with a rating of “93.4”. This means that every dollar you earn from your cybersecurity position will go further, even if you live in Chicago.

Illinois and cybersecurity

Overall, Illinois is a fantastic state for those considering pursuing cybersecurity as a career. There’s a multitude of high-quality educational opportunities, plus many high-status companies with which to pursue employment once you have your degree and related certificates.

Primary Sidebar

  • BOOTCAMPS
    • CISSP
    • CCNA
    • CEH
    • CompTIA Security+
    • Azure
    • CISM
  • CERTIFICATIONS
    • CISA
    • CEH
    • CISSP
    • CISM
    • Security+
    • CASP+
    • CND
    • Forensics
    • OSCP
    • CRISC
    • Pen Testing
    • CTIA
    • Cryptography
    • Malware Analyst
  • CAREERS
    • Security Engineer
    • Chief Information Security Officer
    • Security Analyst
    • Computer Forensics
    • Security Consultant
    • Digital Forensics
    • Cryptographer
    • Security Administrator
    • Penetration Tester
    • Security Software Developer
    • Security Specialist
    • Security Code Auditor
    • Security Architect
    • Malware Analyst
    • Data Protection Officer
    • Cybercrime Investigator
    • Cryptanalyst
    • Security Incident Responder
    • Chief Privacy Officer
    • Risk Manager
    • Network Administrator
    • Business InfoSec Officer
    • Information Security Manager
    • Cyber Operations Specialist
  • RESOURCE CENTER
    • Centers for Academic Excellence
    • Job Guide
    • Veteran’s Guide
    • Women’s Guide
    • Internship Guide
    • Security Clearance Guide
    • Ethical Hacker Guide
    • Coding for Cybersecurity Guide
    • Cybersecurity 101
    • Student Guide to Internet Safety
    • Scholarship Guide
    • Cybersecurity Math Guide
    • Small Business Guide
    • COVID-19 Guide
    • Cybersecurity for K-12 Students
    • Career Networking Guide
    • What is a Cyber Range?
    • Code Like a Hacker
    • Reacting to a Cyber Incident
    • Introduction to Cyber Defense
    • Cybersecurity Courses Online
    • Recommended Reading
    • Cybersecurity Jobs Report
    • Phishing Attacks
    • Cybersecurity Responsibility
    • How to Get Into Cybersecurity
    • Cyberwarfare
    • Cybersecurity Insurance
    • Job Interview Prep
    • Readiness Economy
    • Is Cyber a Good Career?
    • What is CyberCorps?
  • INDUSTRIES
    • Financial Sector
    • Insurance Sector
    • Healthcare Sector
    • Environmental Sector
    • Energy Sector
    • Government Sector
    • Transportation Sector
    • Food and Agriculture Sector
Cybersecurity Guide
  • Home
  • Campus Programs
  • About Us
  • Popular Careers
  • Online Programs
  • Terms of Use
  • Resources
  • Programs By State
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2022 · Cybersecurity Guide · All Rights Reserved