Since September 11, 2001, security has emerged as one of the fastest-growing fields of employment. Because of computer attacks within the last few years, the demand for people with cybersecurity degrees has increased 73% – one of the fastest growing areas within the security field. At the time of this writing over a half a million jobs in this field were open!
By definition, cybersecurity refers to preventative methods used to protect information from being stolen, compromised or attacked. It requires an understanding of potential information threats, such as viruses and other malicious code. Cybersecurity strategies include identity management, risk management and incident management.
Because of the competiveness in this field, at least a bachelor’s degree is usually required by most companies and government agencies hiring entry-level positions in cybersecurity; for those having security-related military experience, some credits may transfer toward a cybersecurity degree. For those already working in the field, they should look at possibly adding a master’s degree to their cybersecurity education repertoire to stay both relevant and competitive – particularly within General Schedule (GS) positions.
Choosing a School
If using the Post 9/11 GI Bill, keep in mind it pays up to 100% of the tuition at public schools; up to $21,084.89 per year at private schools. If keeping out-of-pocket costs minimal is a major consideration, attending a public school will help attain that goal.
One of the top public schools in the nation is the University of Maryland University College. It was rated the Best Cyber Education Program in 2013. Part of their cybersecurity program entails working directly with the Department of Defense’s Cyber Command program.
Another one is Iowa State University, credited as having some of the best and most challenging Cyber Education training programs. Oklahoma State University is another top-ranked school teaching cybersecurity, but with a focus on information assurance.
Many schools offer a variety of cybersecurity degrees that can be taken either resident or online. Some schools offer the same degree in both venues. This is important as the degree has the same worth regardless of how it was obtained. Many veterans like the online option because of its flexibility; they can study according to their schedule and not the schools.
Other considerations when picking a school teaching cybersecurity include:
- The quality of technology used by the school to administer classes; program should include hands-on lab experience in an enclosed network.
- The experience and credentials of the faculty.
- The ability of the program to prepare graduates for real-world work environments.
- Employment rate of graduates.
- Has the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security designated the school as a National Center of Academic Excellence.
Besides government agencies, cybersecurity jobs are also found in healthcare, retail, manufacturing, financial services in addition to national security. With the demand continuing to increase each year, employment can almost be guaranteed in a field that can provide a challenging and rewarding career.
For-Profit Schools
There are three types of schools:
- Public
- Private Non-profit
- Private For-Profit
Because the last type operates under the demands of investors and stockholders, their best interest is not always that of the student or the quality of the degree earned. Investigations by the federal government and States’ Attorney Generals have revealed countless instances where questionable recruiting tactics were used to enroll as many students as possible with little regard of the student’s ability to pay for college or to be successful and graduate with a degree that was worth something. The focus was strictly on maximizing profits.
Because the tuition in many cases exceeds what the GI Bill will pay, many students end up racking up huge amounts of student loan debt and come out with a worthless degree. One tool to help you avoid this situation and that can be used to compare schools is the Department of Education’s College Navigator.
Using the Navigator, total cost to attend, accreditation, graduation rates, etc. are easily available. If you know tuition costs and how much the GI Bill will pay, you’ll know how much of a difference you’ll have to make up. Some of the difference of course could be made up through scholarships or grants.
Here are some other questions to ask that depending on the answer could raise a red flag:
- Is their recruiter pressuring you to enroll or rushing you to make a decision?
- Do they have a sample contract you can read?
- If you sign, is there a grace period where you can cancel if you change your mind?
- If the school advertises itself as “veteran or military friendly” ask what makes it so?
- Does the school accept credit for military training? Is so, how many credits?
Finally trust your instinct. If you feel something is not right, don’t enroll. Find another school.
