Cybersecurity Guide

Washington’s cybersecurity degree programs and career opportunities

Written by Cybersecurity Guide Contributors – Last updated:
In this guide

This guide is about cybersecurity opportunities in Washington. There are numerous educational opportunities and degree programs available in Washington and the state’s economy is shifting to embrace the emerging cybersecurity industry. 

Long reliant on agriculture, logging, and shipping, Washington state has become a diverse economy, and one of the primary centers of technology in the US.

At present, the state has the highest concentration of STEM-related employees in the country. It’s also the place where Amazon, Starbucks, Boeing, Microsoft, Costco, Nintendo, Expedia, and Weyerhaeuser all call home.

Economic activity is highly concentrated on the western coast, particularly the northwest corner of the state where Seattle, Tacoma, and Bellevue are all located in fairly proximity. 

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Featured Cybersecurity Degree Programs

School NameProgram More Info
Eastern Oregon UniversityOnline BS in Cybersecurity 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
UC Berkeley School of InformationMaster’s in Cybersecurity | No GRE/GMAT Required website
Purdue GlobalOnline BS in Cybersecurity website
Utica UniversityOnline BS in Cybersecurity website

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the largest employers in Washington’s economy in 2023 were: trade, transportation and utilities, government, education and healthcare services, professional and business services, and leisure and hospitality.

Washington is also home to the National Cybersecurity Training & Education Center or NCyTE Center. Formerly CyberWatch West, NCyTE was founded in 2011. In 2018, it was awarded a grant to become a National Cyber Resource Center.

NCyTE’s mission is to “improve the quantity and quality of existing cybersecurity resources building upon these resources to develop effective teaching and training modules.”

Interacting with educators, professionals, and government, NCyTE seeks to maximize cybersecurity workforce development through education. 

With its focus on technology industries, STEM occupations, and cybersecurity, as well as state government support, Washington is destined to be a prolific and lucrative center for cybersecurity professionals and companies. And Washington colleges and universities are beginning to get on board with quality degree and certification programs.

Growing importance of cybersecurity in Washington

Washington state government has been taking its own cybersecurity seriously for more than a decade now. It coordinates public sector infosec and private citizenship awareness through three segments of the government.

  • The Office of Cybersecurity is charged with detecting, blocking, and responding to attacks on state government computer networks.
  • A Cybersecurity Program was developed through the Emergency Management Division of the Washington State Military Department to set state cybersecurity policy and strategy for emergency management.
  • The Office of the Washington State Auditor conducts cybersecurity audits to ensure optimal security measures are in place across the government.

Washington’s cybersecurity workforce already has grown to nearly 25,000 employees. The state acting as the home to Microsoft has played a role in becoming the most highly concentrated market for STEM occupations in the country.

It is also home to a couple of large defense contractors and several other huge multinational corporations. The mindset for technology in Washington is well established, and the state government is fully on board for focusing the future on cybersecurity concerns.

This should put Washington in a position to attract top-flight cybersecurity professionals and companies and see its information security industry and workforce grow rapidly in the coming years.  

Cybersecurity education in Washington

Specialized cybersecurity degree and certificate programs are not especially plentiful in Washington at present, but that is beginning to change.

The University of Washington has created the Center for Information Assurance and Cybersecurity (CIAC) to focus its efforts on a community of diverse representatives from government, business, and other non-government organizations.

The Center is designed to be a catalyst for research and development, invention, educational development, and workforce development.

Already, there is an ample selection of information security education options in Washington, and we look for it to expanding soon. Look for state universities in particular to enhance their program offerings. 

Learn more about cybersecurity programs

Cybersecurity associate degrees in Washington

Due to the cybersecurity workforce shortage, employers are willing to hire candidates with associate’s degrees in cybersecurity for entry-level positions since it only takes half the time and resources to earn a bachelor’s degree, making them a good way to start a career in cybersecurity

  1. Columbia Basin College

    Pasco, Washington
    Program: Cyber Security AAS
    CAE designation: CAE-CD
    Credits: 90-94
    Cost per credit: $124 in state | $318 out of state
    Delivery Method: Campus
    Learn more: Program details

Cybersecurity bachelor’s degrees in Washington

As the cybersecurity industry has grown and become more advanced and sophisticated, so too have degree requirements called for by infosec employers.

A bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity is now necessary to land most information security jobs, other than some entry-level positions. 

While degrees in a cybersecurity specialty are not usually demanded, majoring in cybersecurity is certainly a plus on the resume when applying for infosec jobs. Washington in particular is flush with information technology and STEM-related professionals.

Campus-based bachelor’s degree

  1. City University of Seattle

    Seattle, Washington
    Program: Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance
    Credits: 180
    Cost per credit: $495
    Delivery Method: Campus, Online
    Learn more: Program details

  2. University of Washington-Seattle Campus

    Seattle, Washington
    Program: Bachelor of Science in Informatics – Information Assurance and Cybersecurity Option
    CAE designation: CAE-CD, CAE-R
    Credits: 180
    Cost per credit: $272 in-state | 905 out-of-state
    Delivery Method: Campus
    Learn more: Program details

  3. Western Washington University

    Bellingham, Washington
    Program: Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity
    CAE designation: CAE-CD
    Credits: 180
    Cost per credit: $172 in-state | $570 out-of-state
    Delivery Method: Campus
    Learn more: Program details

Online bachelor’s degree

  1. City University of Seattle

    Seattle, Washington
    Program: Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance
    Credits: 180
    Cost per credit: $495
    Delivery Method: Campus, Online
    Learn more: Program details

Cybersecurity master’s degrees in Washington

A bachelor’s degree is a minimum requirement for most cybersecurity career paths today, and increasingly master’s degrees are being stipulated for senior and management-level information security posts.

This is especially true of C-suite-type positions such as Chief Information Security Officer. Some C-suite cybersecurity openings are now even requesting candidates to have a PhD in cybersecurity.

In addition, for those drawn to a career path outside the typical corporate environs, perhaps in academia, research, or cybersecurity consulting, a master’s degree is worth the investment in time and resources.

Campus-based master’s degree

  1. University of Washington – Tacoma Campus

    Tacoma, Washington
    Program: Master in Cybersecurity and Leadership (MCL)
    Credits: 40
    Cost per credit: $1,069 in-state | $1,795 out of state
    Delivery Method: Campus, Online
    GRE/GMAT Required: Not required
    Learn more: Program details

Online master’s degree

  1. City University of Seattle

    Seattle, Washington
    Program: Master of Science in Cybersecurity
    CAE designation: CAE-CD
    Credits: 59
    Cost per credit: $735
    Delivery Method: Online
    GRE/GMAT Required: Not Required
    Learn more: Program details

  2. University of Washington – Tacoma Campus

    Tacoma, Washington
    Program: Master in Cybersecurity and Leadership (MCL)
    Credits: 40
    Cost per credit: $1,069 in-state | $1,795 out of state
    Delivery Method: Campus, Online
    GRE/GMAT Required: Not required
    Learn more: Program details

Cybersecurity certifications in Washington

For those just starting or trying to determine if cybersecurity is right for them, there are certification programs designed to provide an introduction to information security.

Some cybersecurity certifications can give candidates an advantage when applying for entry-level jobs, while others are designed as prerequisites or early coursework for an advanced degree.

Many certifications are given for study in a distinct specialty of cybersecurity, such as penetration testing, that can further a professional’s knowledge or advance their career standing.

At this stage, most of the certificate programs on offer in Washington are either of the introductory type or specialty disciplines in cybersecurity.  

Learn more about professional certifications

Central Washington University, Edx University of Washington, Peninsula College, and University of Washington Continuum College are the only institutions that have an online option for their certifications:

  1. Central Washington University

    Ellensburg, Washington
    Program: Certificate in Cybersecurity
    Credits: 20
    Cost per credit: $357 in state | $836 out of state
    Delivery Method: Campus, Online
    Learn more: Program details

  2. Edx University of Washington

    Seattle, Washington
    Program: Professional Certificate in Essentials of Cybersecurity
    Cost per credit: $716
    Delivery Method: Online
    Learn more: Program details

  3. University of Washington Continuum College

    Seattle, Washington
    Program: Certificate in Cyber Security
    Credits: 12
    Cost per credit: $350
    Delivery Method: Online
    Learn more: Program details

Cybersecurity jobs in Washington

Cybersecurity industry growth has been consistently outpacing increases in new information security professionals. This has resulted in an imbalance between the supply of qualified job applicants and the demand for new job openings.

According to Cyberseek, Washington employed a total of 33,799 people in some aspect of cybersecurity and about 10,331 information security job openings from September 2023 through August 2024.

The Seattle/Tacoma/Bellevue area in the northwest corner of the state accounted for 7,559 of those cybersecurity job openings.

Learn more about cybersecurity careers

The Bureau of Labor Statistics research concluded that in 2023, security analysts in Washington were enjoying an average hourly wage of $71.20, and the average annual salary was $148,090. Both of these pay rates are well above the national average.

Washington is also one of only seven states in the US with no personal income tax.

Tax revenue is raised through business taxes, personal property taxes, and sales taxes on both goods and services (although most foods are exempt). The state comes in at 9 out of 9, with a total tax burden of 8.24 percent

Cybersecurity in Washington

Washington is already home to several large technology companies and the highest concentration of STEM professionals in America. It’s also a place where several huge international companies are based.

There is already a strong contingent of people employed in some type of cybersecurity role, and the number is expanding rapidly, soon to exceed 25,000. And the demand for cybersecurity professionals is outpacing the supply of qualified workers.

While the standard of living is significantly above the national average, so are cybersecurity pay scales. Not to mention Washington is one of only seven states with no personal income tax. 

The state government of Washington is setting an example for all residents and organizations with its multi-pronged approach to information security. And efforts are being made to make Washington a center of cybersecurity research and higher education.

The northwest corner of the state is a haven for business and technology, and the source of over 98 percent of new Washington state cybersecurity job openings in the last year. It’s also an area with a great reputation for lifestyle.

So cybersecurity professionals and students will have plenty of opportunities for education, lucrative careers, and a good quality of life in the state of Washington.