Information Assurance and Cyber Security Degrees in Arizona

Great schools and great employers have attracted large numbers of graduates to pursue careers in cyber security in the Grand Canyon State. The Greater Phoenix area has one of the nation’s highest densities of information security analysts. Of these, a great number of cyber security jobs revolve around financial services, and major employers in this sector include Wells Fargo, Charles Schwab and American Express. Several top cyber security companies, such as BeyondTrust, LifeLock and Trusona, are also based in Arizona. Six schools in Arizona award Cyber Security degrees, and fully half of these are recognized by the NSA as “National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Security”.

Arizona Cyber Security Jobs

The Information sector is the tenth-largest division of Arizona’s economy, directly after such stalwarts as Construction and Services, and boasting some 41,800 employees. Unfortunately, the high number of job candidates with cyber security degrees may translate to decreased demand, because salaries for cyber security jobs in this state are slightly below the national average. The Bureau of labor Statistics cites an annual mean salary per year of $80,910 for information security analysts in Arizona.

Cyber Security Degrees in Arizona

Associate’s Degrees in cyber security are offered by Cochise College, which awards an Associate of Applied Science in Cyber Security.

Bachelor’s Degrees in cyber security are offered by four Arizona-based universities: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, University of Advancing Technology, University of Arizona, and Arizona State University. The latter three are NSA-recognized “National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Security”.

Master’s Degrees in cyber security can be earned at University of Advancing Technology, Arizona State University and University of Arizona. In addition to awarding graduate degrees in cyber security, the latter also offers a master’s-level Cyber Security Fellowship Program.

Certificates and Doctoral Degrees in cyber security are offered by three Arizona-based institutions.
University of Arizona offers an online Management Information Systems (MIS) Enterprise Security Certificate and awards a doctoral degree in MIS Emphasis in Information Assurance. Mohave Community College offers a certificate in cyber security, and Arizona State University awards a Ph.D. in Computer Science.

Cyber Security Resources in Arizona

State Government Entity/Resource

State Government Entity/Resource

Professional Association

Professional Association

Professional Association

Professional Association

Other Resource: Nonprofit training and innovation center

Other Resource: Nonprofit private/public collaborative

Other Resource: Nonprofit private/public partnership

Cyber Security Degree Providers in Arizona

Below we’ve included some of the most pertinent information for choosing a cyber security degree program. Affordability looked at the average in-state tuition rate (where applicable) and divided the range of tuition rates into five bins. Each bin contains a roughly $8,000 jump in tuition. So one $ contains schools from roughly $1,000 in in-state tuition to $9,000, $$’s contains schools from >$9,000 to $17,000, and so forth. Retention rate is one of the best predictors of undergraduate education quality. While the NSA/CAE designation marks programs deemed excellent by the NSA/CAE.

Arizona State University

Tempe, Arizona
$ $ $ $ $
Financial Aid Recipients
94%
Retention Rate
86%
NSA Designated
Yes
Degrees
  • B.S. in Computer Science B.S.E. in Computer Systems Engineering M.C.S. in Computer Science M.S. in Computer Science Ph.D. in Computer Science

Cochise College

Douglas, Arizona
$ $ $ $ $
Financial Aid Recipients
76%
Retention Rate
63%
NSA Designated
No
Degrees
  • Associate of Applied Science in Cybersecurity

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Prescott, Arizona
$ $ $ $ $
Financial Aid Recipients
96%
Retention Rate
84%
NSA Designated
No
Degrees
  • Bachelor of Science in Cyber Intelligence and Security

Mohave Community College

Kingman, Arizona
$ $ $ $ $
Financial Aid Recipients
72%
Retention Rate
47%
NSA Designated
No
Degrees
  • Systems Support and Security Certificate

University of Advancing Technology

Tempe, Arizona
$ $ $ $ $
Financial Aid Recipients
93%
Retention Rate
52%
NSA Designated
Yes
Degrees
  • Bachelor of Science in Technology Forensics Master of Science in Information Assurance Network Security Bachelor of Science

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona
$ $ $ $ $
Financial Aid Recipients
83%
Retention Rate
80%
NSA Designated
Yes
Degrees
  • AZ Secure Cybersecurity Fellowship Program (MS-MIS) BAS in Cyber Operations MIS online – Enterprise Security Certificate MS in Management Information Systems with Emphasis in Information Assurance PhD in MIS with Emphasis in Information Assurance