2026 Best Cybersecurity Defense Master’s Degree Schools
Cybersecurity Defense programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 78 schools to find the best for cybersecurity defense students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Cybersecurity Defense in the United States
See the highest-ranked cybersecurity defense schools offering a master’s degree below.
Top Schools in Cybersecurity Defense
Michigan State University tops our 2026 ranking of the best cybersecurity defense schools. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 81%. There were roughly 31 cybersecurity defense students who graduated with this degree at Michigan State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, cybersecurity defense degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $54,166. Michigan State University graduates carry a median of $25,213 in student loans.
Read more about the cybersecurity defense program at Michigan State University
Kennesaw State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in cybersecurity defense, landing the #2 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Kennesaw. About 52% of students finish within six years. About 185 cybersecurity defense degrees were awarded at Kennesaw State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their cybersecurity defense degree from Kennesaw State University earn around $53,824 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,004 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in cybersecurity defense from Kennesaw State University
Boise State University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best cybersecurity defense schools. Boise State University is a very large public school located in the city of Boise. Boise State University graduates 59% of students within six years. About 30 cybersecurity defense degrees were awarded at Boise State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, cybersecurity defense degree recipients from Boise State University generally make around $49,059. Boise State University graduates carry a median of $24,311 in student loans.
More information about a degree in cybersecurity defense from Boise State University
Excelsior College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in cybersecurity defense, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Albany, Excelsior College is a large private not-for-profit university. About 26 cybersecurity defense degrees were awarded at Excelsior College in the most recent year. Cybersecurity Defense graduates of Excelsior College earn a median of $70,677 early in their careers. Excelsior College graduates carry a median of $19,311 in student loans.
Read more about the cybersecurity defense program at Excelsior College
A rank of #5 makes Regent University one of the top schools for cybersecurity defense. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Virginia Beach. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. Regent University awarded about 32 cybersecurity defense degrees in the most recent data year. Cybersecurity Defense graduates of Regent University earn a median of $67,561 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $29,451 to complete this degree.
See the full cybersecurity defense program report for Regent University
Other Cybersecurity Defense Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare Cybersecurity Defense rankings across degree levels:
View All Cybersecurity Defense Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 78 schools evaluated.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
