- 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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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?
Looking at the cybersecurity job in the U.S. between May 2023 and April 2024, there was plenty of action. Oversight and Governance roles were the clear frontrunners with 355,590 openings.
Implementation and Operation (335,993) and Design and Development (331,644) also offered a ton of opportunities. Protection and Defense saw 238,516 roles, and Investigation had 19,525 nationwide.
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
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.
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.
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 detailsCommunity College of Beaver County
Monaca, PennsylvaniaProgram: Cybersecurity Program
Credits: 65
Cost per credit: $182 in state | $546 out of state
Delivery Method: Campus
Learn more: Program detailsCommunity College of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaProgram: 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 detailsLackawanna College
Scranton, PennsylvaniaProgram: Cybersecurity-Associate Degree
Credits: 66
Cost per credit: $595
Delivery Method: Online
Learn more: Program detailsMount Aloysius College
Cresson, PennsylvaniaProgram: Associate Degree in Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics
CAE designation: CAE-CD
Credits: 60
Cost per credit: $680
Delivery Method: Campus, Online, Hybrid
Learn more: Program detailsWestmoreland County Community College
Youngwood, PennsylvaniaProgram: 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.
Mercyhurst University
Erie, PennsylvaniaProgram: 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 detailsMessiah College
Mechanicsburg, PennsylvaniaProgram: Cybersecurity B.S
Credits: 123
Cost per credit: $1,291 in-state | $1,291 out-of-state
Delivery Method: Campus
Learn more: Program detailsSaint Vincent College
Latrobe, PennsylvaniaProgram: 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
Drexel University
Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaProgram: 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 detailsVillanova University
Villanova, PennsylvaniaProgram: 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
Drexel University
Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaProgram: 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 detailsLa Salle University
Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaProgram: M.S. in Cybersecurity – Data Science
Credits: 30
Cost per credit: $1,015
Delivery Method: Online
GRE/GMAT Required: Not required
Learn more: Program detailsSans Technology Institute
Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaProgram: Cyber Security Master’s Degree
CAE designation: CAE-CD
Credits: 36
Cost per credit: $1,500
Delivery Method: Online
Learn more: Program detailsVillanova University
Villanova, PennsylvaniaProgram: 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
Understanding the current pool of certified cybersecurity talent across the nation is crucial. Cyberseek’s data shows these figures for common certifications:
- CompTIA Security+: 265,992 certification holders
- CISSP: 91,765 certification holders
- GIAC: 46,318 certification holders
- CISA: 35,812 certification holders
- CISM: 20,300 certification holders
- CIPP: 13,652 certification holders
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.
Community College of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaProgram: Cybersecurity Certificate
Credits: 40
Cost per credit: $499
Delivery Method: Online
Learn more: Program detailsDeSales University
Center Valley, PennsylvaniaProgram: Cyber Security Certificate
Credits: 12
Cost per credit: $560
Delivery Method: Online
Learn more: Program detailsPennsylvania State University-Main Campus
University Park, PennsylvaniaProgram: Cybersecurity Graduate Credit Certificate
CAE designation: CAE-CD
Credits: 15
Cost per credit: $1,017
Delivery Method: Campus
Learn more: Program detailsRobert Morris University
Moon Township, PennsylvaniaProgram: Cybersecurity Graduate Certificate
CAE designation: CAE-CD
Credits: 12
Cost per credit: $840
Delivery Method: Campus, Online
Learn more: Program detailsSaint Joseph’s University
Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaProgram: Cyber Security Certificate
Credits: 15
Cost per credit: $1,011
Delivery Method: Campus
Learn more: Program detailsValley Forge Military College
Wayne, PennsylvaniaProgram: Cybersecurity Certificate Program
CAE designation: CAE-CD
Credits: 12
Cost per credit: $2,581
Delivery Method: Campus
Learn more: Program detailsVillanova University
Villanova, PennsylvaniaProgram: Cybersecurity Certificate (General)
Credits: 15
Cost per credit: $1,595
Delivery Method: Campus
Learn more: Program detailsWestmoreland County Community College
Youngwood, PennsylvaniaProgram: Cyber Security, Certificate
Credits: 22
Cost per credit: $140 in-state | $420 out of state
Delivery Method: Online
Learn more: Program details
Cybersecurity jobs in Pennsylvania
CyberSeek reports that there are currently 12,753 open cybersecurity jobs in Pennsylvania, compared to a total cybersecurity workforce of 37,451. Thus, the cybersecurity worker supply/demand ratio is 78 percent compared to a national average of 74 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.
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 $53, with an average annual salary totaling about $110,230 in 2024, 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.