This guide contains information about cybersecurity schools in Oregon including online cybersecurity degree options and other training opportunities.
Oregon’s location in the northwest corner of the US, just below the state of Washington, long defined its direction. The great mountain forests made the state a large source of lumber for decades, and fishing and agriculture were also big business. And the Pacific Ocean has made Oregon a perfect port for trade and transportation since the mid-1800s.
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In the 1980s, though, hard times hit the state’s economy hard, leaving Oregon in need of a new direction. Since then, the state has tried to focus on developing a base of manufacturing, service industries, and high technology. Computers and electronic products are now by far the state’s largest export.
Transportation is now becoming one of the prized targets for international hackers, particularly those with political agendas. And, of course, high tech manufacturing is a favorite target for industrial espionage. Oregon’s sizeable healthcare and business services industries are also in need of top-flight cybersecurity defenses due to the huge stores of extremely sensitive information they hold.
The environment for cybersecurity in Oregon
Oregon’s economic makeup is fairly well suited to the cybersecurity industry. But as the state has just the 26th largest economy in the US, the information security activity at present is not large in comparison to other states. There are, however, growing attempts to make cybersecurity a primary focus, both by government and the private sector.
The Technology Association of Oregon (TAO) was established as a membership organization to promote all things technology within the state. Members represent a wide range of technology industries that form a variety of “communities” within the association. One such community is Cyber Security of Southern Willamette Valley, which holds periodic “meetups” for professional networking and an ideas exchange. TAO also tries to promote technology education and incentives for top technology talent to find a home in Oregon.
Like many states, Oregon’s state government has passed several laws in an attempt to build up its own information security measures. Internal audits and the Oregon Cybersecurity Advisory Council are two results of the legislation passed to date. The state also now has a Chief Information Officer responsible for the security of public information databases and networks. The Council combines with TAO to present an annual one-day Cybersecurity Summit. Part of the Council’s mission is also to encourage the development of Oregon’s cybersecurity workforce, as well as infosec research and education programs.
Cybersecurity education in Oregon
There are now at least three institutions that have established focused cybersecurity education efforts.
- Mt. Hood Community College now boasts the Oregon Center for Cybersecurity and an associate’s degree program in cybersecurity. The cybersecurity center is an unusual commitment to infosec education among US community colleges. And MHCC has been designated by the Department of Homeland Security as a Center for Academic Excellence Two-Year Institution.
- Oregon State University has assembled a six-person cybersecurity team to conduct research in various areas of cybersecurity, and to serve as the primary faculty for the school’s cybersecurity education program.
- The University of Oregon has developed a bachelor’s degree program with a cybersecurity concentration. It has also conducted Oregon Cybersecurity Days on its campus, and established a cybersecurity bootcamp that provides the opportunity for students to be job-ready in 24 weeks.
Cybersecurity associate degrees in Oregon
Associate’s degrees usually require two years to complete, and thus can provide entry into the workforce in much less time and less expense than a four-year degree. And in the case of cybersecurity, there are still plenty of entry-level jobs and employers that are happy to accept candidates with a specialized cybersecurity associate’s degree.
Associate degrees
At present, there are two cybersecurity associate’s degree programs available from Oregon schools through on-campus programs. Lane Community College offers a program leading to an Associate of Applied Science in Computer Network Operations. Mt. Hood Community College provides an opportunity for an Associate of Applied Science in Cybersecurity and Networking. You can find a comprehensive list of Associate degree programs here:
Lane Community College
Eugene, OR
Program: Associate of Applied Science in Computer Network Operations
Credits: 90
Cost per credit: $139 in state | $323 out of state
Delivery Method: Campus
Program Highlights:- Objective: Educate individuals to become proficient network support technicians and skilled network administrators.
- Overview: Equips individuals with the skills required for roles ranging from beginner network support technicians to seasoned network administrators.
- Curriculum: emphasizes both specialized computer networking techniques and broad troubleshooting skills for hardware and software challenges.
Mt Hood Community College
Gresham, ORProgram: Associate of Applied Science in CyberSecurity and Networking
CAE Designation: CAE-CD
Credits: 96-100
Cost per credit: $122 in state | $247 out of state
Delivery Method: Online
Program Highlights:- What Students Learn: The course covers fixing hardware and software, setting up networks, understanding security, and learning about "ethical hacking."
- Certificates: Students can prepare for well-known certifications like CCNA and CompTIA.
- Guidance: There are teachers assigned to help students based on their last names.
Umpqua Community College
Roseburg, ORProgram: Associate of Applied Science in Computer Information Systems – Cybersecurity
Credits: 92
Cost per credit: $115
Delivery Method: Hybrid
Program Highlights:- Affiliations: The college has partnerships with well-known tech academies and is connected to Mount Hood Community College, known for its excellence in cybersecurity.
- Job Opportunities: Students can get certifications that help them land good jobs. Some past students now work at big companies like Google and Uber.
- Certifications: The college helps students get tech certifications and even has a place on campus to take the certification tests.
Central Oregon Community College
Bend, ORProgram: Associate of Applied Science Option (AASO) in Networking and Cybersecurity
Credits: 96-98
Cost per credit: $118 in state | $347 out of state
Delivery Method: Campus
Program Highlights:- Jobs: Graduates can work in many areas like businesses, government, and e-commerce.
- Networking and Cybersecurity Focus: This part of the program trains students to set up and protect computer networks for small businesses.
- Courses: It covers both computer hardware and software and prepares students for industry certifications.
Chemeketa Community College
Salem, ORProgram: Associate in Applied Science in Cybersecurity
CAE Designation: CAE-CD
Credits: 94
Cost per credit: $138 in state | $309 out of state
Delivery Method: Campus
Program Highlights:- What It Is: It teaches students about technology and computers.
- Jobs: People who finish the program might earn around $70,000 a year.
- Why Take These Classes: Chemeketa is known for being really good at teaching about computer safety.
Cybersecurity bachelor’s degrees in Oregon
The job market for cybersecurity professionals is extremely tight today, with most areas needing more employees than are available. Still, most specialties within information assurance are highly technical and require extensive training. Thus, for the vast majority of cybersecurity careers, applicants with a bachelor’s degree are generally preferred. Technical majors are often acceptable, in part due to the tight labor market. But for those hoping to distinguish themselves from the pack, obtaining a bachelor’s degree in a cybersecurity specialty will go a long way.
Bachelor’s program listings
George Fox University
Newberg, ORProgram: Bachelor of Science in Computer Science – Cyber Security Concentration
Credits: 54
Cost per credit: $1,480
GRE/GMAT Required: Not Required
Delivery Method: Campus
Program Highlights:- Learning to Defend: Students learn about "ethical hacking" to understand and counteract hacker techniques.
- Diverse Learning: The course is part of the computer science major, giving students a broad learning experience.
- Achievements: The university has won awards in cyber competitions and is ranked among the top schools by Cyber Skyline.
Cybersecurity certifications in Oregon
Cybersecurity certification programs can be found today that apply to just about any student or professional in nearly any stage of a career. Introductory certifications for new students, specialty certifications for existing professionals, and degree certifications for those lacking the time to complete an entire degree program are all available today.
Certifications program listings
Central Oregon Community College
Bend, ORProgram: Cybersecurity Career Pathway Certificate of Completion
Credits: 16
Cost per credit: $118 in state | $347 out of state
Delivery Method: Campus
Program Highlights:- Key Description: Designed to provide students with advanced knowledge and skills that go beyond the basics of computer networking and administration.
- Focus: Both vendor-neutral and Cisco-specific environments, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of cybersecurity.
- Courses: The program will teach students to differentiate between deep packet inspection, packet filtering, and stateful firewall operations.
Mt Hood Community College
Gresham, ORProgram: Certificate in Cybersecurity: Secure Network Technician
CAE Designation: CAE-CD
Credits: 28
Cost per credit: $122 in state | $247 out of state
Delivery Method: Hybrid
Program Highlights:- About the Program: This program teaches students to set up basic computers and networks.
- Courses: Students will learn computer repair, how to design small office networks, and the basics of cybersecurity.
- Certifications: After finishing, students can take exams for the CompTIA A+ and Cisco CCent certificates.
Portland Community College
Portland, ORProgram: Certificate in Cybersecurity Fundamentals
CAE Designation: CAE-CD
Credits: 28
Cost per credit: $128
Delivery Method: Campus
Program Highlights:- Goal: The course trains students in cybersecurity, teaching them to use technology safely and spot security risks.
- What's Offered: Practical labs and classes and course content meets top national security standards.
- Job Opportunities: Graduates can become Network Technicians, Cyber Analysts, Intrusion Analysts, Incident Responders, and IT Auditors.
Portland State University
Portland, ORProgram: Graduate Certificate in Computer Security
CAE Designation: CAE-R
Credits: 21
Cost per credit: $516 in state | $743 out of state
Delivery Method: Campus
Program Highlights:- Overview: Students learn from current industry trends and can work with big and small tech companies.
- Jobs After Graduation: Students can become Security Analysts, Security Engineers, or IT Consultants.
- Real-world Learning: Being in the Silicon Forest gives students access to many tech companies.
Cybersecurity jobs in Oregon
The size of Oregon’s cybersecurity industry reflects the overall size of the state’s economy – substantial, but not large. Cyberseek reports that the state of Oregon employed 10,037 cybersecurity professionals and posted 7,557 new information assurance job openings. The Portland region, which is the state’s economic center, saw the vast majority of these new job opportunities at 5,363. The other cities with more than 100 cybersecurity job openings are Salem (835) and Eugene (314).
The state of Oregon as a whole has a relatively high standard of living. It now costs about 13 percent more to live in Oregon than the average cost of living in other states in the US. Using security analysts as a representative example of cybersecurity employment indicates that cybersecurity pay scales are a bit behind the state’s standard of living. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that, as of May 2021, security analysts in Oregon were paid an average hourly wage of $53.24, and an average annual salary of $110,740. These figures are about in line with or slightly higher than the average security analyst compensation throughout the US.
Cybersecurity in Oregon
Demand for qualified cybersecurity professionals is growing rapidly worldwide, and Oregon is no different. As compared to some other states in the US, Oregon’s infosec employment market is not large or overly constrained.
It is, however, still a tight market relative to other job categories. And several organizations within the state have made commitments to attracting new cybersecurity professionals to the state, developing quality education programs to advance qualifications, and conducting high-level research to push the discipline forward.