by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 126 U.S. colleges awarded 2,476 degrees and certificates in Cyber/Computer Forensics and Counterterrorism. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 48% of graduates. College Factual ranks 57 schools in its 2027 Best Cyber/Computer Forensics and Counterterrorism Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $51,422 one year after completing, rising to $69,868 after four years.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., cyber/computer forensics and counterterrorism is a widely-pursued major, with 2,476 degrees awarded annually. 126 colleges award cyber/computer forensics and counterterrorism degrees, an average of 20 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 137.
By level, the 2,476 awards include 205 certificates, 339 associate degrees, 731 bachelor’s degrees, 1,195 master’s degrees and 2 doctorates.
Women earned 29% of cyber/computer forensics and counterterrorism degrees and certificates in the latest year (716 of 2,476). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (1,110) and Black or African American (386), and international students earned 232.
College Factual ranks 57 schools in its 2027 Best Cyber/Computer Forensics and Counterterrorism Schools ranking, including 14 for associate degrees, 26 for bachelor’s degrees and 23 for master’s degrees. It also ranks cyber/computer forensics and counterterrorism schools within 18 states. In all, 126 colleges offer cyber/computer forensics and counterterrorism programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Cyber/Computer Forensics and Counterterrorism Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common cyber/computer forensics and counterterrorism credential is the master’s degree: 1,195 of the 2,476 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to cyber/computer forensics and counterterrorism call most for Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking and Active Listening, and for knowledge of Computers and Electronics, English Language and Customer and Personal Service, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Comprehension, Written Comprehension and Oral Expression.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a cyber/computer forensics and counterterrorism degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 205 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 339 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 731 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,195 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 2 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to cyber/computer forensics and counterterrorism, at 39.8%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 39.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 16.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 11.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 10.0% |
| Some college courses | 9.5% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 6.3% |
| Master’s degree | 4.2% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.3% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.7% |
| Doctoral degree | 0.3% |
Source: O*NET Online.
16 occupations are related to Cyber/Computer Forensics and Counterterrorism, with an average median salary of $104,000; the strongest outlook belongs to Detectives and Criminal Investigators, at 14.5% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Security Analyst, Systems Engineer, Security Consultant and Investigator.
The occupation related to cyber/computer forensics and counterterrorism with the most projected jobs is Information Security Analysts, at 583,513.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Information Security Analysts | 583,513 | 12.3% |
| Computer Systems Engineers/Architects | 576,059 | -1.9% |
| Information Security Engineers | 575,902 | -3.8% |
| Blockchain Engineers | 556,747 | 5.1% |
| Information Technology Project Managers | 543,383 | -3.4% |
| Police Identification and Records Officers | 532,882 | 7.1% |
| Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians | 530,023 | -1.9% |
| Web Administrators | 510,685 | 0.7% |
Cyber/Computer Forensics and Counterterrorism graduates earn a median $51,422 one year after completing their program, $69,868 after four years and $58,543 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $51,422 |
| 4 years | $69,868 |
| 5 years | $58,543 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to cyber/computer forensics and counterterrorism is Computer Occupations, All Other, with a median salary of $159,837.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $159,837 |
| Document Management Specialists | $147,490 |
| Information Security Engineers | $142,543 |
| Computer Systems Engineers/Architects | $140,795 |
| Information Technology Project Managers | $124,655 |
| Blockchain Engineers | $123,667 |
| Digital Forensics Analysts | $119,226 |
| Information Security Analysts | $111,930 |
Cyber/Computer Forensics and Counterterrorism has 8 similar majors in the Law Enforcement & Firefighting field, which together award 8,058 degrees a year; the largest are Forensic Science and Technology (5,123), Cybersecurity Defense Strategy/Policy (1,714) and Criminalistics and Criminal Science (632). Browse all Law Enforcement & Firefighting majors or the full list of college majors.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
