Pennsylvania guide to cybersecurity education and training

• 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?

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.

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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.

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

Cybersecurity bootcamps in Pennsylvania

1. University of Pennsylvania

   Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

   
   Program: Cybersecurity Boot Camp
   Credits: 24 weeks
   Cost per credit: $12,995 - $13,995
   Delivery Method: Online
   Learn more: Program details

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.

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.