Online Master’s in Cyber Security Shape Secure Computer Networks
36
Credit Hours
100% online, 8-week courses
Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total
Next Start Dates: March 23, 2026 | May 18, 2026 | June 29, 2026
Your Future in Cyber Defense Begins with Liberty’s Online Master’s in Cyber Security
Technology is changing how the world works – and cyber threats are growing just as fast. Hackers target businesses, schools, hospitals, and government systems every day. When you earn a master’s in cyber security, you can prepare to enter a field that protects data, systems, and people.
Liberty University’s 100% online Master of Science (MS) in Cyber Security degree gives you the chance to survey how cyber attacks happen and how you can stop them. In this program, you’ll explore how to defend computer systems, secure networks, and reduce digital risk. In this way, an online cybersecurity program can support you as a professional seeking to strengthen your technical expertise for roles in cybersecurity analysis, network security, or information assurance.
Liberty University’s cyber security degree blends technical skills with ethical decision-making, helping you approach security challenges with confidence. The cybersecurity master’s program also focuses on providing you with the framework necessary for preventing, detecting, countering, and recovering from security weaknesses and cyber incidents. Additionally, you will study the standards and best practices related to an organization’s cyberspace infrastructure.
Organizations of all types and sizes rely on knowledgeable cybersecurity experts to protect important information and data. If you are new to this field, Liberty’s master’s degree in cyber security is a great choice. It can also help you improve your skills and offers a flexible way to prepare for work in today’s digital world without interrupting your life. Partner with us and find your niche in the exciting field of information security.
Your officially conferred degree name will be Master of Science (MS) in Cyber Security.
Backed by a brick-and-mortar campus ranked as Niche.com’s #2 Best College Campus in America for 2026
What Sets Us Apart?
- Private Nonprofit University
- 600+ Online Degrees
- No Standardized Testing for Admission
- Transfer in up to 75% of an Undergrad Degree
- Transfer in up to 50% of a Grad/Doctoral Degree
Why Choose Liberty’s Master’s in Cyber Security Online?
Choosing where to pursue your graduate degree can be challenging. At Liberty, we offer the perfect blend of flexibility, affordability, and rigorous academics, so you can get the knowledge, credentials, and training you need to pursue your unique goals.
Here’s what sets us apart:
- Accredited and Respected Academics | As one of the nation’s leading Christian universities, we seek to promote academic excellence in all our programs. Liberty University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), so you can feel confident in the quality of your online cybersecurity master’s.
- Ethical Approach to Cybersecurity | In Liberty’s cyber security online courses, our professors dedicate themselves to helping you grow into a passionate, principled professional. They will show you how to address different ethical challenges in cybersecurity. This approach can help you work with integrity and responsibility.
- Experienced Faculty | For its online master’s in cyber security, Liberty University focuses on hiring seasoned instructors who hold advanced degrees and possess years of real-world experience in the field. Their insight helps connect theory to modern security problems, allowing you to learn industry-relevant skills.
- Hands-On Learning | Liberty University’s cybersecurity master’s program online includes a final capstone project that allows you to apply what you’ve learned to practical cybersecurity scenarios, reinforcing key skills. This experience can help you build practical solutions to security situations. It can also improve your résumé for future employers.
What Will You Study in Liberty’s Cyber Security Master’s Online?
Understanding the legal and technical implications of today’s digital age is crucial to promoting justice and combating cyberattacks. In Liberty’s Master of Science in Cyber Security program, your cyber security online courses will blend technical skills with legal and ethical topics. You can learn how to acquire, examine, and interpret digital evidence through cryptography and hacking – and how you can help protect it.
Key areas of study include:
- Cyber Threats and Malware – Security and privacy issues that arise in the field and how to mitigate them
- Digital Forensics and Evidence Handling – The nature of specific threats in cybersecurity, including malicious code, network attacks, and hostile content
- Network and System Security – Best practices for threat and risk evaluation, assurance cases, and adversarial testing
- Privacy and Data Protection – The use of forensic technology to collect, preserve, and prepare digital evidence in a forensically sound manner
- Secure Software Engineering – Methods for writing, developing, and operating safe and dependable software systems
Liberty’s cyber security master’s degree online consists of 36 credit hours. This includes the program’s final capstone project, which allows you to use what you’ve learned in the program in virtual lab assignments. Upon completion of the capstone course, you can be better equipped to use your critical thinking and problem-solving skills to overcome real-world cybersecurity challenges.
Potential Computer Security Career Opportunities
As technology becomes more connected, the need for cybersecurity professionals continues to grow. A cybersecurity master’s degree can support work in both public and private sectors.
With a master’s in cyber security, you can pursue roles that focus on protecting data, systems, and digital infrastructure across many industries. These roles can include:
- Cryptologist
- Cyber crime analyst/investigator
- Digital forensics analyst
- Ethical hacker
- Information security analyst
- Penetration tester
- Security architect
- Security engineer
- Security management specialist
- Security software developer
Featured Courses
Degree Information
- This program falls under the School of Business.
- View the Graduate Business Course Guides (login required).
Degree Completion Plan
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Speak to one of our admissions specialists to help you choose the program that best fits your needs.
Tuition & Aid
At Liberty University, a private Christian education is less expensive than you think. Over the last 10 years, Liberty University’s Online Program has only raised its standard tuition costs by less than 5% – and most of our online tuition rates rank in the top 35% for affordability for 2025 when compared to our leading online competitors.
| Graduate Full Time | $580/Credit |
|---|---|
| Graduate Part Time | $645/Credit |
| Military Graduate | $290/Credit |
These rates are reflective of academic year 2025-2026. Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.
All Tuition & Fees
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Admission Information for Our Master’s Degree in Cyber Security
Admission Requirements
- Apply online or over the phone with an admissions counselor by calling (800) 424-9596.
- A non-refundable, non-transferable $50 application fee will be posted on the current application upon enrollment (waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses – documentation verifying military status is required).
- Send official college transcripts (mailed as sealed, unopened copies or sent via a direct electronic transcript system). A regionally or nationally accredited bachelor’s degree with at least a 3.0 GPA is required for admission in good standing. Applicants who have earned a master’s degree or at least 12 graduate credits from an accredited institution will be assessed on the basis of the master’s-level degree work.
- Unofficial transcripts can be used for acceptance purposes with the submission of a Transcript Request Form.
- Transcripts must show a bachelor’s degree in one of the following areas:
- Computer Programming
- Computer Science
- Information Systems
- Information Systems Management
- Information Technology
- Management Information Systems
- If the student does not have the appropriate bachelor’s degree, then the transcript will require at least 3 credit hours and a minimum grade of “C” in each of the following course subjects (examples of Liberty equivalents are in the parentheses below):
- Algebra (Math 121 or higher)
- Computer Programming (CSIS 209; other languages may be accepted)
- Networks (CSIS 331)
- Statistics (Math 201)
- If students do not have these credits on their conferred bachelor’s transcripts, they may fulfill the courses through Liberty (offerings may be limited) or at another institution. Once completed, the student will need to submit transcripts showing the completed coursework. If these requirements are not met, then students will need to submit a résumé which shows at least 6 years of IT experience, along with certificates in the subject area, showing significant competency and knowledge of the subject.
- Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy.
Preliminary Acceptance
If you are sending in a preliminary transcript for acceptance, you must:
- Be in your final term and planning to start your master’s degree after the last day of class for your bachelor’s degree.
- Complete a Bachelor’s Self-Certification Form confirming your completion date. You may download the form from the Forms and Downloads page or contact an admissions counselor to submit the form on your behalf.
- Submit an official/unofficial transcript to confirm that you are in your final term. The preliminary transcript must show a minimum of 105 completed credit hours.
- If you are a current Liberty University student completing your undergraduate degree, you will need to submit a Degree/Certificate Completion Application.
- Send in an additional, final official transcript with a conferral date on it by the end of your first semester of enrollment in the new master’s degree.
Undergraduate Enrollment in Graduate Courses Policy
Please see the Online Undergraduate Enrollment in Graduate Courses Policy page for information about starting graduate courses while finishing your bachelor’s degree.
Transcript Policies
Unofficial College Transcript Policy
Unofficial transcripts combined with a Transcript Request Form can be used for admission. Official transcripts are required within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first, and will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.
Before sending unofficial college transcripts, please make sure they include the following:
- Your previous school’s name or logo printed on the document
- Cumulative GPA
- A list of completed courses and earned credit broken down by semester
- Degree and date conferred (if applicable)
Official College Transcript Policy
An acceptable official college transcript is one that has been issued directly from the institution and is in a sealed envelope. If you have one in your possession, it must meet the same requirements. If your previous institution offers electronic official transcript processing, they can send the document directly to luoverify@liberty.edu.
If the student uses unofficial transcripts with a Transcript Request Form to gain acceptance, all official transcripts must be received within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first. Failure to send all official transcripts within the 60-day period will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.
Admissions Office Contact Information
Liberty University Online Admissions Verification
1971 University Blvd.
Lynchburg, VA 24515
Ready to Apply?
Submit your application online or over the phone.
Military
Liberty University is dedicated to providing world-class educational experiences to military students across the globe.
Who May Qualify?
- Active Duty
- Reserve/National Guard
- Veterans/Retirees
- Spouses of Service Members and Veterans/Retirees
- Current Department of Defense Employees
Available Benefits:
- Tuition discounts – $290 per credit hour for graduate courses
- Additional discount for veterans who serve in a civilian capacity as a First Responder*
- 8-week courses, 8 different start dates each year, and no set login times (may exclude certain courses such as practicums, internships, or field experiences)
*Not applicable to certificates.
These rates are reflective of academic year 2025-2026. Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.
Frequently Asked Questions About a Cybersecurity Master’s
Is a master’s degree in cyber security worth it?
An online degree in cybersecurity can help prepare you for many jobs in the cybersecurity field. Specifically, a master’s program can help you prepare for leadership roles in a competitive job market.
One common career for those who have completed their master’s in cybersecurity is that of an information security analyst. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects this field to grow 29% from 2024 to 2034 – significantly faster than the overall average for jobs.*
With booming job availability, a master’s degree in cybersecurity can be well worth the investment!
*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, at Information Security Analysts (viewed online Jan. 7, 2026). Cited projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.
What is the best age to learn cyber security?
There is no time like the present – no matter your age. If you are interested in a career in computer security, you can start your application today. If you are new to the field of cybersecurity, Liberty’s online cyber security master’s degree program can still be an option for you.
At Liberty, we don’t require work experience as a prerequisite for admission. You do need to fulfill certain educational requirements and course prerequisites, but Liberty’s program is open to both seasoned professionals and applicants with little to no prior experience. No matter where you are in your career, our cyber security online master’s degree can help you get the training you need.
Can you get a master’s degree in cyber security online?
Certainly! At Liberty, we offer a wide variety of cybersecurity degrees so you can find the program that best suits your goals, aspirations, and personal commitments. The Master of Science in Cyber Security offers an in-depth look at many essential skills in the field, with courses in digital forensics, legal issues, cryptography, security engineering, ethical hacking, and more.
If you want to focus specifically on cyber security in the context of information systems or technology, we have other online master’s degrees that may better fit your needs. Additionally, be sure to research the exact requirements for the job or industry you want to enter. That way, you can pick the best master’s degree for you.
How long does a cyber security course take?
An MS in Cyber Security can be completed at the rate that is best for you, as long as your prerequisites are met along the way! Liberty’s online Master of Science in Cyber Security consists of 100% online, 8-week courses with 8 different start dates each year and no set login times. This flexibility allows you to move forward in your education while balancing your responsibilities in life, work, and family.
As a pioneer in distance education since 1985, Liberty knows how to create flexible online programs that fit your schedule. Our online cyberspace security courses use a variety of available learning resources, including support from knowledgeable professors along the way. It is our priority to help you pursue your educational goals without putting your life on hold.
What are the best online courses for cyber security?
When you choose an accredited university, you can be confident that your online master’s in cyber security will hold weight as an advanced educational credential.
Good news! Liberty University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). We’ve designed our cybersecurity master’s program to offer you the best in quality, flexibility, and hands-on training.
Additionally, our online programs are backed by our brick-and-mortar campus – ranked as Niche.com’s #2 Best College Campus in America for 2026 – and that commitment to excellence extends to our online students as well. Earning your degree from a nonprofit university with this recognition can enhance the value of your credentials. It can also help you stand out in your field.
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