Top 10 Universities in USA for MS in Cyber Security 2025
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Top 10 Universities in USA for MS in Cyber Security 2025

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Aishwarya
Aishwarya Bhatnagar
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Updated on Oct 17, 2025 10:17 IST
MS in Cyber Security in USA is a STEM course and is offered across 140+ US universities to international students. The duration of the course varies based on the type of course offered, like there are online courses in Cyber Security as well at Master’s level. Since, a lot of students apply for this course form Engineeirng and COmputer Science back

Cyber security is one of the major concerns of the modern time. There have been over 298,000+ phishing attacks in 2023 filed officially in the US. More than USD 12.5 billion have been lost by consumers in these attacks. Despite strict rules more and more cases are appearing day by day. Hence, those who wish to pursue a master's in Cybersecurity can rescue the suffering of so many people across the globe.

US Universities for MS in Cyber Security

MS in Cyber Security in the USA is a STEM course and is offered across 140+ US universities to international students. The duration of the course varies based on the type of course offered there are online courses in Cyber Security as well at the Master’s level. Since a lot of students apply for this course from Engineering and Computer Science backgrounds, there is a 33% increase in jobs predicted in the upcoming 08 years. Check out all about this course in the article below. 

Read: Best Cybersecurity Courses Abroad

Table of contents
  • MS in Cyber Security in USA Highlights
  • Why Study MS in Cyber Security from USA?
  • Top 10 Universities in USA for MS in Cyber Security
  • MS in Cyber Security in USA Admission Requirements
  • Popular MS in Cyber Security in USA Specialisations
  • Career Options after MS in Cyber Security in USA

MS in Cyber Security in USA Highlights

Total US universities offering MS in Cybersecurity

143

Duration 

1 - 1.5 years

Modes of Offering

On-campus and online

Admission Requirements

Bachelor’s + GRE / GMAT + ELP scores

Median Annual Pay (2023)

USD 120,360

Scholarships 

Available for international students

Top Jobs

Cybersecurity Analysts & Information Security Analysts

Average Increase in Job Openings Annually

16%

Average Salary

USD 69,210

Job Vacancies to Open by 2025

Around 91,077

Why Study MS in Cyber Security from USA?

With evolving technology and increasing use as well, it has become mandatory to have specialised persons who can help people protect from scams, fall prey to hackers and lose all personal information. The top reasons to study MS in Cybersecurity in USA are as follows:

  • As per the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average job positions for information security analysts will increase at a rate of 33% over the next eight years.
  • It is forecasted that there will be around 3.5 million job openings in the cybersecurity field by the year 2025 across the globe. 
  • MS in Cybersecurity in the USA is offered across universities where the program is online and offers additional pathway options too.
  • On average, around 19,500 jobs would be open for MS in Cybersecurity grads in USA annually.
  • The admissions are tough at US universities for STEM courses like MS in Cybersecurity but the ROI and future prospects are quite strong.

Thus, applicants should weigh all pros and cons before applying for these courses and set a goal as to what they will do after the course completes as well.

Top 10 Universities in USA for MS in Cyber Security

Following is a list of the top 10 universities in USA offering MS in Cyber Security to international students:

Best Universities in US for MS in Cybersecurity

Courses Offered 

University of Arizona

Master's in Cybersecurity

University of Houston

Master of Science in Cybersecurity

University of California, Berkeley

Master of Information and Cybersecurity

Illinois Institute of Technology

Masters (MAS) in Cybersecurity 

New York University

Master of Science in Cybersecurity

University of Texas at Dallas

Master of Science in Cyber Security, Technology and Policy

Johns Hopkins University

Online Master’s in Cybersecurity

Georgia Institute of Technology

Online Master of Science in Cybersecurity

New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT)

MS in Cyber Security and Privacy (MS CSP)

Northeastern University

Master of Science in Cybersecurity

MS in Cyber Security in USA Admission Requirements

Admission requirements for MS in Cyber Security are more or less the same for all US universities offering this course. Check out the following requirements for reference: 

  • Bachelors with 3.0 or above GPA on 4.0 point scale.
  • Academic coursework and performance
  • Transcripts and mark sheets 
  • Work experience level
  • Resume 
  • SOP
  • LOR
  • GRE or GMAT score (may be optional in certain cases)
  • English language proficiency tests - TOEFL / IELTS / Duolingo

There may be additional requirements based on the university the applicant is applying to for an MS in Cybersecurity in USA, thus, applicants are advised to check all admission requirements carefully before beginning to apply.

How to Apply for MS in Cyber Security Universities in USA?

In the majority of cases, the applicants can apply for MS in Cybersecurity courses through the respective university websites. The procedure to apply is simple, applicants can follow the below-given steps:

  • Log on to the website of MS in the Cybersecurity offering department and click on apply.
  • You will be prompted to the signup page.
  • Sign up and generate your application credentials. 
  • With the created credentials log in to begin filling out the application form.
  • Upload necessary documents in the required format. 
  • Once done, pay the application fee and take a printout.

Thus, if there is anything beyond this, the university in question will give out clear directions on their websites.

Popular MS in Cyber Security in USA Specialisations

Though in USA, MS in Cybersecurity is an online course in a lot of top US universities, thus, only a handful of specialisations are offered and in turn, popularly opted for by international students. Following is a list of MS in Cybersecurity specialisations available in USA for international students:

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  • Security and Risk Management
  • Asset Security
  • Security Architecture and Engineering
  • Communication and Network Security
  • Identity and Access Management
  • Security Assessment and Testing
  • Security Operations
  • Software Development Security

The US university in question may or may not offer all of these specialisations, hence, applicants must check out the details about the course and then apply.

Career Options after MS in Cyber Security in USA

There are various career options that an applicant can go for after MS in Cybersecurity from the US, they are as follows:

  • Become a security architect 
  • Opt for the engineering stream and apply cybersecurity knowledge there 
  • Become a cryptographer
  • With official agencies becoming expert in cyber legal services
  • Get on with ethical hacking 

Also, you can opt for security software development if you have an interest in this area of functioning. 

Salaries by Job Roles for MS in Cyber Security Grads in US

Once the applicant chooses his/her career path after MS in Cybersecurity, they can check out the following job roles along with their corresponding starting annual salaries in the USA:







MS in Cybersecurity in USA Job Roles

Starting Annual Salaries 

Information Technology Security Consultant

USD 159,261

Computer Information Systems Manager

USD 154,230

Security Architect

USD 151,037

Cybersecurity Engineer

USD 131,625

Computer Network Architect

USD 117,800

Computer & Information Systems Manager

USD 117,491

Research & Development Engineer

USD 116,902

Software Developer 

USD 112,245

Research Scientist

USD 108,345 

Cybersecurity Analyst

USD 96,777

Overall, we can conclude by saying that this is one of the popularly opted courses among Computer Science and Engineering graduates and the prospects are only positive in the long run. Hence, there is a good possibility of a high-paying job in a reputed company or official governmental agency.

Have more queries? Get in touch with us in the comments below or sign up for Shiksha Abroad’s free Counselling.

Q:   What is the decent score required on the ACT test to get a good university in the USA?
A:

A score of 26 is a great start. Most good universities in United States generally look for student scores between 28 and 30. While the very best schools often expect a 33 or even higher. Always prepare well for it.

Q:   How is applying to California Polytechnic State University different from applying to other Universities in USA?
A:

There are various ways in which applying to California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) is different from applying to other US universities. These are the main variations, according to the data at hand:

  • First is the Application Procedure. Cal Poly uses Cal State to process online applications. Applying is open to both first-year and transfer students from October 1, 2026 through November 30, 2026. To increase their chances of being selected, students must select a major and review the selection criteria when submitting their applications.
  • Second are the application requirements. Typically, the application calls for a transcript from high school, a college prep course load, and a high school GPA. It is not necessary nor advised to have SAT or ACT results.
  • Unless the applicant is exempt from paying an application cost, there is a $70 application fee per campus. Email is the main method of communication used during the admissions process.
Q:   What GPA do you need to get into SDSMT or South Dakota School of Mines & Technology?
A:

Applicant who wish to study at South Dakota School of Mines & Technology must meet the GPA requirements. We have mentioned the South Dakota School of Mines GPA requirements for international students as per the program:

·      For UG admission, GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale required for South Dakota Mines admission

·      For PG admission, GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale required for South Dakota Mines

Also read What is Grade Point Average (GPA) and how it affects your admissions to the US Universities?

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About the Author
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Written by
Aishwarya Bhatnagar
Study Abroad Expert
Aishwarya is a professional Writer currently working as a Study Abroad Expert in the Editorial Team at Shiksha. She has over 5 years of experience and is skilled at creating Online Content with leveraged knowledge i Read Full Bio
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Kalyani
MBA Course in the US
Having Worked as an Academic Manager in Experiential Marketing earlier, Kalyani made her move to the study abroad vertical in 2017.Passionate about education and wanting to make a difference, Kalyani holds a B.Com d Read Full Bio
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