Online MBA in Cybersecurity Programs
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In August 2021,Forbes shared the following advice with its readers: cybersecurity is no longer optional for businesses. Modern hackers aren’t just going after the big targets like Target, The Home Depot, the U.S. government, or other prominent victims of the past. There is currently potential for hackers to target anyone. Forbes noted that 51 percent of businesses were hit by ransomware in 2020 alone, with an average demand of $178,000.
With Business Wire’s prediction that by 2025, the Internet of Things (IoT) will reach a market value of over $480 billion, data vulnerability will require a lot of attention. Companies will need high-level insight into what hardware, software, and processes need to be established or replaced to maintain effective defenses against cybercriminals. For those interested in helping businesses keep data secure, an MBA in cybersecurity can lead to a purpose-filled, challenging, and lucrative career path in a fast-growing field.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS 2021) reports that opportunities for information security analysts—one of many potential career paths open to cybersecurity professionals—are expected to swell 33 percent between 2020 and 2030.
By understanding the inner workings of business and mastering the computer skills to keep data secure and keep intruders out, those who earn an MBA in cybersecurity can qualify for a range of positions, including security consultant, systems administrator, IT manager, database and network administrator, digital forensic specialist, and more.
In response to the need to offer professional development that fits into already-established lives, many MBA programs are now offered in fully online or in hybrid online/on-campus formats. These distance learning formats allow students to complete coursework on their own schedule within some parameters. In addition, distance learning programs don’t require students to physically relocate in order to complete the program and have no or minimal requirements for on-campus visits.
Because business education recognizes the need for quality programming that is also flexible, there is a wide range of high-quality online MBAs in cybersecurity taught by highly qualified and experienced professors.
Read on to learn more about online MBA programs in cybersecurity, including details about the expected curriculum and distinguished faculty.
| Featured Cybersecurity Programs | ||
|---|---|---|
| American University | MBA@American Online MBA - Cybersecurity | View Full Profile |
| Pepperdine University | Online MBA - Digital Innovation and Information Systems | View Full Profile |
| Strayer University | MBA - IT Security Management | View Full Profile |
Featured Business Schools with Online MBAs in Cybersecurity
Students pursuing an online MBA with a concentration in cybersecurity at American learn about risk management, database management, and cybersecurity governance. Graduates can be prepared to help companies, organizations, and agencies improve their defenses and investigational abilities through coursework in fraud examination, litigation support, and general forensic accounting.
The 48-credit program also includes an overview of business fundamentals, accounting, and finance. Courses are designed in coordination with the school’s Kogod Cybersecurity Governance Center, an entity focused on technology research and policy. Though American’s MBA in cybersecurity is primarily online, students are required to visit the campus for two three-to-four day practicums throughout the program.
| Location: Washington, D.C. |
| Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business |
| Time to complete: 18 to 24 months |
| Tuition: $1,642 per credit |
Maryville’s online MBA program offers nine concentrations, including cybersecurity. Students enrolled in the cybersecurity concentration learn hands-on skills like PEN testing and forensic examination and can gain analytical and theoretical information like the legal aspects of privacy and compliance. Creating strong defensive cyber systems is the main emphasis of this program.
The 36-credit online program also includes core MBA courses in business and leadership skills, and aims to prepare students with the required information to apply for certifications such as Certified Ethical Hacker, Certified Information Systems Security Professional, and EnCase Certified Examiner.
| Location: St. Louis, Missouri |
| Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (school), Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (program) |
| Time to complete: One to three years |
| Tuition: $714 per credit |
Pepperdine Universities Graziadio School of Business and Management offers online MBA programs, including a concentration in digital innovation and information systems. This program is closely related to cybersecurity and includes training in designing, sourcing, and building digital platforms; business process analysis and innovation; managing cybersecurity, risk, and policy; databases and big data management; and digital innovation and strategy.
Notably, classes are limited to 15 to 20 students for a favorable student-to-professor ration. Also, there is a required one-week immersion on the Los Angeles campus, where students receive hands-on instruction to complement their distance-based education and case studies.
| Location: Malibu, Encino, Irvine, Los Angeles, and San Jose, California |
| Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) |
| Time to complete: Two years or more |
| Tuition: $1,920 per credit |
Strayer University offers several online MBA programs, including a concentration in IT security management. In addition to core courses in the graduate business fundamentals, these students learn about information systems for decision-making; theories of security management; and IT risk management.
No GMAT, GRE scores, or work experience in required to apply to this 45-credit program. Students use the Blackboard LMS, which boasts mentoring services, discussion boards, and student and alumni support networks, among other resources. Also, this program requires no in-person immersions as it is 100 percent online.
| Location: Washington D.C. |
| Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) |
| Time to complete: One year or more |
| Tuition: $597 per credit |
MBA seekers interested in additional knowledge in cyber topics have two specialization options within Utica’s 30-credit curriculum: cybersecurity or cyber policy. The cybersecurity specialization helps students to understand the role that cyber systems can have on businesses and institutions.
Coursework in the cybersecurity specialization includes cyberintelligence, investigations, and general management and response to threats. The specialization in cyberpolicy includes coursework in public policy and politics, law and ethics, and international aspects of policies. Both specializations are available online.
| Location: Utica, New York |
| Accreditation: Middle State Commission on Higher Education (school), Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (program) |
| Time to complete: One year full-time, two years part-time |
| Tuition: $700 per credit |
The Florida Institute of Technology offers an MBA with a specialization in cybersecurity. In this program, students begin studies with a focus on business principles, followed by an overview of the fundamentals of modern cybersecurity terminology and practices. In an online format, students discover skills in risk assessment and how to create or maintain secure networks and communications systems.
In the 36-credit program, students also learn about current vulnerabilities and threats, how to prepare to defend against them, and how to prevent threats from affecting workplace secure networks.
| Location: Melbourne, Florida |
| Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
| Time to complete: 18-24 months |
| Tuition: $896 per credit, $32,256 for the entire program |
The MBA with a cybersecurity management concentration at St. Leo’s provides the technical skills and tools to create solid policies and defenses against cyber threats, blended with foundations of leadership, interpersonal communication, and team-building.
The 36-credit online curriculum emphasizes ethical business decisions and the role of technology related to management issues. This program includes courses on network security fundamentals, disaster recovery, web security, general security principles, and strategic planning for future defenses and intrusion efforts.
| Location: St. Leo, Florida |
| Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (school), Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs and the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (program) |
| Time to complete: Two years part-time, 18 months with permission |
| Tuition: $750 per credit |
Within the Satish and Yasmin Gupta College of Business, students can seek a 42-credit MBA with a cybersecurity concentration. The program includes an overview of business-focused courses such as finance, value-based marketing, and operations management.
The cybersecurity track covers topics such as network security, organizational cybersecurity management, data protection and compliance, and legal issues. The business school has been designated as a Center for Academic Excellence by the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security.
| Location: Irving, Texas |
| Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business |
| Time to complete: 18 months to three years |
| Tuition: $1,250 per credit |
The Muma College of Business at USF invites MBA students to concentrate in cybersecurity. This program includes courses on strategies in risk management to try to create strong defenses and disaster recovery methods if a system fails. Students also learn about database management, cryptology, legal compliance, and general information security topics.
The 32-credit online program is designed to help people do well in highly technical security fields, including working on projects and putting policies together. Students are required to visit campus for a three-day final capstone course.
| Location: Tampa, Florida |
| Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (school), Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (program) |
| Time to complete: One year full-time, three years part-time |
| Tuition: $750 per credit |
The 36-credit online MBA program includes a cybersecurity component and is recommended for people who want to be facilitators between IT teams and upper-level management. The program provides an overview of modern business foundations and theories, plus computer terminology, which can be useful in creating or updating corporate security policies.
Students in the online program also are taught how to assess system security, create disaster responses, and work with common cryptographic algorithms.
| Location: Tyler, Texas |
| Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (school), Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (program) |
| Time to complete: 18 to 24 months |
| Tuition: $856.10 per credit |
The online MBA program at the Missouri State University College of Business has several graduate certificates students can complete, including one in cybersecurity. This certificate consists of 12 credits (four courses).
Students can pick and choose which classes they take from a list of eight classes. They include telecommunications and network security, ethical hacking and incident response, legal issues in cybersecurity, computer forensics, web application security, and more. To be eligible to complete this graduate certificate program, students must be enrolled as MBA students.
| Location: Springfield, MO |
| Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (school), Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (program) |
| Time to complete: Two years |
| Tuition: $13,325 for the entire online program |
Professionals with at least two years of work experience can complete the online MBA with a concentration in information security at the James Madison University College of Business. This program aims to prepare graduates to work in information security management and focuses on problem-solving, decision-making, and communication.
Upon completion of this program, students will be able to explain complex information technology concepts, assess information security risks, mitigate any potential risks, and manage staff. Classes are offered both synchronously and asynchronously allowing for both individual and collective learning experiences.
| Location: Harrisonburg, VA |
| Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (school), Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (program) |
| Time to complete: Seven semesters |
| Tuition: $1,231 per credit |
The online MBA at Bellevue University College of Business offers a cybersecurity concentration. This program trains students with the necessary skills to detect, deter, prevent, and respond to digital attacks.
In addition to the nine credit hours of required coursework in cybersecurity, students are required to complete 27 hours of core coursework. These classes include accounting, finance, management, marketing, and strategy. Admissions to this program are relatively straightforward, with the only requirements being already having completed a bachelor’s degree and have at least a 2.5 GPA. No GMAT or GRE scores are required.
| Location: Bellevue, NE |
| Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (school), International Accreditation Council for Business Education (program) |
| Time to complete: Two years |
| Tuition: $610 per credit |
Admission Requirements to Online MBA Programs
Each MBA program is different in what requirements they expect of applicants. While it is important that prospective students understand each school’s individual requirements, general requirements often include:
- A bachelor’s degree in a related field (business, sometimes computer science)
- A minimum GPA (at least 2.5 or 3.0)
- A personal statement expressing interest
- Letters of reference from professionals in the field
- GRE/GMAT scores, which can be waived based on significant professional experience or other graduate-level courses.
- TOEFL scores for foreign students
Accreditation and State Authorization
Accreditation is the way in which universities indicate to prospective and current students that they are teaching relevant, high-quality information. To earn accreditation, universities and business schools allow industry organizations to perform evaluations to ensure that programming meets certain standards of quality. On an institutional level, more than 3,000 colleges and universities seek accreditation from entities approved by the Council for Higher Accreditation (CHEA).
For business education, the two main accreditation organizations include the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (AABSP) and the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). Both groups verify that correct, industry-relevant information is being delivered, and ensure that business programs (or schools) have other assets such as career placement, qualified faculty, and alumni and community support.
While certification is not required to work in cybersecurity, individuals can pursue post-graduate certification as a way to show potential employers that they possess specific schools. Those seeking additional certification in different realms of cyber security can explore the following certification entities: CompTIA Security+, Certified Ethical Hacker, Certified Information Security Manager, or Certified Information Systems Security Professional.
As a final note, if a student wishes to enroll in a program offered by an online university outside their state of residence, it is important to ensure that the intended university has the authorization to provide education in their home state. Students can learn this information by checking the program’s website, speaking to an admissions officer, or researching if their intended program is a participant in universal state reciprocity as delineated by the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA).
