Is a master's degree in cybersecurity worth it?
Table of Contents
By: James Tonin, Edited by: Rebecca Munday
Published: January 22, 2025
Cybersecurity skills are in high demand, and job opportunities continue to grow, but is a master's degree in cybersecurity worth it considering the costs? Explore the benefits of pursuing this degree.
What is a master's degree in cybersecurity?
Master's programs in cybersecurity build advanced and versatile technical skills for safeguarding computing systems and networks. Schools offer these programs in campus-based, online, and hybrid formats.
Programs vary in length, but they typically cover about 30-36 credits, and full-time students can graduate in about two years.
In a master's in cybersecurity program, you can gain the knowledge and proficiencies you need to succeed in operational roles with advancement potential. Some schools also integrate industry-standard cybersecurity certifications into their curricula, which can help you build additional, highly marketable credentials.
Benefits of a master's degree in cybersecurity
Is a master's in cybersecurity worth it? The key advantages of this degree include:
- Broader, deeper, and more specialized technical skills
- Valuable specialization opportunities
- Access to professional roles with advancement potential
- Increased salary potential
How much does a master's degree in cybersecurity cost?
Analyzing costs can also help you determine whether a master's in cybersecurity is worth it.
A 2020 study conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) found that graduate students in mathematics, engineering, and computer science programs paid average annual tuition and fees of $20,545. The data includes all institution types and program delivery formats.
edX partner school tuition for master's in cybersecurity programs ranges between $36,000 at Hawai'i Pacific University to more than $73,000 at UC Berkeley.
Factors that can influence costs include:
- School location
- School type (public or private)
- Program delivery format
- School prestige and reputation
- Campus resources and infrastructure
When budgeting, remember to account for expenses beyond tuition. These may include:
- Relocation and housing costs
- Transportation and parking
- Computer hardware and/or software
- Technology and lab fees
Scholarships, grants, and employment can help you offset some of these costs. Try to minimize loan borrowing.
Does a master's degree in cybersecurity have a good ROI?
Think of a master's in cybersecurity as an investment in yourself. That investment may lead to a higher-than-average salary.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), information security analysts — one role that master's in cybersecurity graduates can pursue — earned a median annual salary of $120,360 as of May 2023. Earners in the 10th percentile made less than $69,210 annually, while those at the 90th percentile earned more than $182,370 in the same year.
Given that the NCES reports the average annual tuition and fees for mathematics, engineering, and computer science programs as $20,545 per year, earning a master's in cybersecurity may generate a highly favorable return — even if you start out at the lower end of the cybersecurity industry's salary range.
Are graduates of a master's degree in cybersecurity in demand?
As CompTIA notes, the cybersecurity industry continues to struggle with a critical skills gap. Qualified cybersecurity professionals are in very high demand in the United States and globally.
The BLS projects rapid job growth of 33% for information security analysts from 2023-33. It also expects to see about 17,300 information security analyst job openings annually across the decade.
Cybersecurity professionals often work for firms that serve clients on a contract basis. Some also hold full-time roles with regular employers, especially in industries with strong information security needs including:
- Financial services
- Healthcare
- Government
- Energy and utilities
- Education