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Pennsylvania guide to cybersecurity education and training

Written by Cybersecurity Guide Contributors – Expert reviewed by Steven Bowcut – Last updated: April 16, 2025
In this guide
  • Associate degree
  • Bachelor’s degree
  • Master’s degree
  • Cybersecurity certifications
  • Cybersecurity in Pennsylvania
  • Jobs in Pennsylvania

Cybersecurity is a growing field, but not all states and regions offer the same level of educational and economic opportunity to truly prepare for the opportunities and employment avenues in the emerging industry.

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Featured Cybersecurity Degree Programs

School NameProgram More Info
Southern New Hampshire UniversityOnline BS in Cybersecurity or Online MS in Cybersecurity website
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Purdue GlobalOnline BS in Cybersecurity website
University of Maryland Global CampusOnline Bachelor's in Cybersecurity website
UC Berkeley School of InformationMaster’s in Cybersecurity | No GRE/GMAT Required website

Cybersecurity development in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania as a state is a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to cybersecurity development. It has lots of rural towns, but also several major metropolitan centers that are themselves very close to several of the most important industrial hubs in the world, such as New York or Washington DC. 

Additionally, Pennsylvania used to be one of the major manufacturing hubs for the country but now specializes more in banking or financial services and insurance companies, especially Pittsburgh or Philadelphia. In addition, Pennsylvania hosts a huge number of growing tech companies.

As such, cybersecurity development in Pennsylvania has progressed rapidly compared to other partly rural states. The Pennsylvania Office of Administration has pushed (successfully) for cybersecurity development across the state, resulting in numerous awards being one and the promotion of a cyber-aware culture.

Why is Pennsylvania such a good cybersecurity state?

For starters, the Army Research Laboratory works with Penn State to head the new Cyber-Security Collaborative Research Alliance. This cybersecurity research collective is a great place for current and future cybersecurity professionals to push the boundaries of current cybersecurity understanding.

In addition, Amazon, Google, Tesla, and Adobe have a significant presence within Pennsylvania and its various universities. All of these large companies have significant investments in the future of cybersecurity and offer excellent employment opportunities for those who can cut. They drive a huge amount of current cybersecurity employment and development in the state.

All in all, Pennsylvania is well situated along the East Coast of the United States, with plenty of cybersecurity research and employment opportunities within its borders and other companies within driving distance for many of its graduates.

Related resources

  • Veterans’ gateway to cybersecurity careers
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  • Industry cred: Find popular online cybersecurity certifications
  • Get a master’s in infosec or info assurance online

Cybersecurity education in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania is a great choice of state in which to pursue cybersecurity education, especially because three of its universities are consistently ranked among the best schools for cybersecurity. These universities are Carnegie Mellon, the University of Pittsburgh, and the West Chester University of Pennsylvania.

There are other valuable schools described below, but these three feature comprehensive cybersecurity programs and extensive resource networks to assist with finding employment after graduation.

Learn more about cybersecurity programs

Cybersecurity associate degrees in Pennsylvania

Cybersecurity associate degrees are great as starting credentials. They usually have curriculums that focus on basic understandings of cybersecurity fundamentals and computer science, as well as many of a student’s general education requirements.

  1. Bucks County Community College

    Newtown, Pennsylvania
    Program: Cybersecurity, Associate of Science
    Credits: 61-63
    Cost per credit: $165 in-state | $495 out of state
    Delivery Method: Campus
    Learn more: Program details
  2. Community College of Beaver County

    Monaca, Pennsylvania
    Program: Cybersecurity Program
    Credits: 65
    Cost per credit: $182 in state | $546 out of state
    Delivery Method: Campus
    Learn more: Program details
  3. Community College of Philadelphia

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    Program: Associate in Arts (A.A.) – Cyber Security
    Credits: 60
    Cost per credit: $159 in state | $477 out of state
    Delivery Method: Campus
    Learn more: Program details
  4. Lackawanna College

    Scranton, Pennsylvania
    Program: Cybersecurity-Associate Degree
    Credits: 66
    Cost per credit: $595
    Delivery Method: Online
    Learn more: Program details
  5. Mount Aloysius College

    Cresson, Pennsylvania
    Program: Associate Degree in Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics
    CAE designation: CAE-CD
    Credits: 60
    Cost per credit: $680
    Delivery Method: Campus, Online, Hybrid
    Learn more: Program details
  6. Westmoreland County Community College

    Youngwood, Pennsylvania
    Program: Cyber Security, AAS
    Credits: 61
    Cost per credit: $140 in-state | $420 out of state
    Delivery Method: Hybrid
    Learn more: Program details

Cybersecurity bachelor’s degrees in Pennsylvania

Bachelor’s degrees are much more focused on individual subject matter and offer courses about cybersecurity specifically or computer science knowledge.

  1. Mercyhurst University

    Erie, Pennsylvania
    Program: Bachelor of Science in Cyber Security
    Credits: 121
    Cost per credit: $1,375 in-state | $1,375 out-of-state
    Delivery Method: Campus
    Learn more: Program details
  2. Messiah College

    Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
    Program: Cybersecurity B.S
    Credits: 123
    Cost per credit: $1,291 in-state | $1,291 out-of-state
    Delivery Method: Campus
    Learn more: Program details
  3. Saint Vincent College

    Latrobe, Pennsylvania
    Program: Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity
    CAE designation: CAE-CD
    Credits: 127
    Cost per credit: $1,215 in-state | $1,215 out-of-state
    Delivery Method: Campus
    Learn more: Program details

Cybersecurity master’s degrees in Pennsylvania

Master’s degrees aren’t strictly necessary to enter the cybersecurity workforce, though they open more employment doors than a regular bachelor’s degree and offer more specialized knowledge within cybersecurity sub-fields.

Campus-based master’s degrees

  1. Drexel University

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    Program: Master of Science (MS) in Cybersecurity
    CAE designation: CAE-CD
    Credits: 45
    Cost per credit: $1,342
    Delivery Method: Campus, Online
    GRE/GMAT Required: Not required
    Learn more: Program details
  2. Villanova University

    Villanova, Pennsylvania
    Program: Master of Science in Cybersecurity
    Credits: 30
    Cost per credit: $1,541
    Delivery Method: Campus, Online
    GRE/GMAT Required: Required
    Learn more: Program details

Online master’s degrees

  1. Drexel University

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    Program: Master of Science (MS) in Cybersecurity
    CAE designation: CAE-CD
    Credits: 45
    Cost per credit: $1,342
    Delivery Method: Campus, Online
    GRE/GMAT Required: Not required
    Learn more: Program details
  2. La Salle University

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    Program: M.S. in Cybersecurity – Data Science
    Credits: 30
    Cost per credit: $1,015
    Delivery Method: Online
    GRE/GMAT Required: Not required
    Learn more: Program details
  3. Sans Technology Institute

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    Program: Cyber Security Master’s Degree
    CAE designation: CAE-CD
    Credits: 36
    Cost per credit: $1,500
    Delivery Method: Online
    Learn more: Program details
  4. Villanova University

    Villanova, Pennsylvania
    Program: Master of Science in Cybersecurity
    Credits: 30
    Cost per credit: $1,541
    Delivery Method: Campus, Online
    GRE/GMAT Required: Required
    Learn more: Program details

Cybersecurity certifications in Pennsylvania

These certificates allow you to qualify for more advanced job positions or hone your cybersecurity skills in a certain area. Alternatively, you can earn these certificates while not holding a cybersecurity degree and potentially get a job in the field with the right recommendations.

  1. Community College of Philadelphia

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    Program: Cybersecurity Certificate
    Credits: 40
    Cost per credit: $499
    Delivery Method: Online
    Learn more: Program details
  2. DeSales University

    Center Valley, Pennsylvania
    Program: Cyber Security Certificate
    Credits: 12
    Cost per credit: $560
    Delivery Method: Online
    Learn more: Program details
  3. Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

    University Park, Pennsylvania
    Program: Cybersecurity Graduate Credit Certificate
    CAE designation: CAE-CD
    Credits: 15
    Cost per credit: $1,017
    Delivery Method: Campus
    Learn more: Program details
  4. Robert Morris University

    Moon Township, Pennsylvania
    Program: Cybersecurity Graduate Certificate
    CAE designation: CAE-CD
    Credits: 12
    Cost per credit: $840
    Delivery Method: Campus, Online
    Learn more: Program details
  5. Saint Joseph’s University

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    Program: Cyber Security Certificate
    Credits: 15
    Cost per credit: $1,011
    Delivery Method: Campus
    Learn more: Program details
  6. Valley Forge Military College

    Wayne, Pennsylvania
    Program: Cybersecurity Certificate Program
    CAE designation: CAE-CD
    Credits: 12
    Cost per credit: $2,581
    Delivery Method: Campus
    Learn more: Program details
  7. Villanova University

    Villanova, Pennsylvania
    Program: Cybersecurity Certificate (General)
    Credits: 15
    Cost per credit: $1,595
    Delivery Method: Campus
    Learn more: Program details
  8. Westmoreland County Community College

    Youngwood, Pennsylvania
    Program: Cyber Security, Certificate
    Credits: 22
    Cost per credit: $140 in-state | $420 out of state
    Delivery Method: Online
    Learn more: Program details
Learn more about professional certifications

Cybersecurity jobs in Pennsylvania

CyberSeek reports that there are currently 11,238 open cybersecurity jobs in Pennsylvania, compared to a total cybersecurity workforce of 34,737. Thus, the cybersecurity worker supply/demand ratio is 87 percent compared to a national average of 83 percent.

All this means that there aren’t as many cybersecurity jobs in Pennsylvania as there are in larger or more metropolitan states, but there’s still plenty of opportunity for cybersecurity professionals or graduates.

Most of these positions are entry-level or middle-management, such as cybersecurity engineers and analysts, cybersecurity managers and administrators, or vulnerability analysts and penetration testers.

Learn more about cybersecurity careers

Most jobs will be in Pittsburgh or similar metropolitan areas, but you have to take into account the cost of living in this mixed rural/metropolitan state. Pennsylvania’s average cost of living is 94.6 on a scale of 100, with scores below 100 meeting a lower-than-average cost of living compared to the U.S. as a whole.

A Pennsylvania cybersecurity worker’s hourly salary averages $54.26, with an average annual salary totaling about $112,850 in May 2023, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

These salaries will stretch a little farther in Pennsylvania than they would in other states, possibly making this state a great place to save money or raise a family.

Pennsylvania and cybersecurity

Overall, Pennsylvania is a great choice for anyone who wants to pursue cybersecurity as a career. There’s a multitude of educational opportunities and options, plus several pathways to consistent employment either in the state or within a short distance of those schools, thanks to its proximity to many other tech-oriented states.

Source

  • Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics | Source from BLS in February 2025
  • Cybersecurity supply/demand information | Source from Cyberseek in February 2025

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