Cyber Security Colleges in New York

Cyber Security Colleges in New York

New York has many colleges and universities, but not all offer cyber security degree programs. The US Dept. of Ed’s College Scorecard says there are 396 schools in the state. Of those, 32 had cyber graduates in 2018. The first 12 schools based on the number of cyber grads are: 

• CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice – 71 graduates
• Excelsior College – 61 grads
• Rochester Institute of Technology – 56 grads
• Mercy College – 40 grads
• Farmingdale State College – 34 grads
• Fordham University – 33 grads
• SUNY Polytechnic Institute – 33 grads
• SUNY Westchester Community College – 32 grads
• Mohawk Valley Community College – 30 grads
• St. John’s University New York – 30 grads
• SUNY at Albany – 29 grads
• New York University – 28 grads

Online Cyber Security Programs in NY

Several of the schools that offer cyber security programs in New York also offer online degree programs for both undergrad and graduate students. These programs make it possible for students to enhance their education in a flexible way. These programs offer these flexible online learning option:

Excelsior College

Excelsior College has nine online cyber programs, including bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, master’s and bachelor’s combo degrees, and certs. The BS in Cyber Sec is one of these. This program is flexible in that it allows students to transfer prior computer and cyber work experience as actual college credits. Other cyber degrees offered online include BS in Cyber Ops, BS in Info Tech with Cyber Concentration, MBA with Cyber Management Concentration, and MS in Cyber Sec. Students may graduate prepared for industry cert exams and gov’t positions.

Rochester Institute of Tech

RIT offers a Master of Science in Computer Sec that is available fully online. This program delves deeply into sec topics. RIT boasts a Global Cyber Sec institute that gives it a place to train cyber pros with hands on experiences. It also performs testing for partners, and students can help with those projects. RIT is an NSA/DHS Center of Academic Excellence.

RIT offers unique options for its students through its Co-op and Career Services Office. This office provides co-op info for students that they can apply for to help them gain real world experience while pursuing their training.

Mercy College

Mercy offers a Bachelor of Science in Cyber that can be completed online. It also has a five-year fast track BS/MS Cyber Sec Dual Degree and an MS Cyber Sec that can be earned online as well. Mercy is an NSA/DHS Center of Excellence.

SUNY Polytechnic Institute

SUNY Polytechnic Institute has an online MS in Cybersecurity: Network and Computer Sec that provides a deep look at cyber issues. This program was created with help from government and industry pros. This is a good complement to the schools on campus BS in Cyber, and it does require an undergrad in the field. The MS program takes 18 months of full time study to complete.

New York University

New York University takes a multi disciplinary approach to cyber. The MS in Cyber Sec Risk and Strategy pulls faculty from the NYU School of Law and the NYU Tandon School of Engineering. The MS in Cyber Sec is another option that offers two pathways, the Cyber Defense and Cyber Offense pathways. Both of these are offered as hybrid programs, on campus programs, or fully online programs. Through the NY Cyber Fellowship, cyber fellows can get up to 75% of their tuition paid through a scholarship. NYU is an NHS Center of Academic Excellence.

SUNY Westchester Community College

SUNY’s Westchester Community College offers an AAS in Cyber Sec that may be mostly completed online. Students may take as much as 75% of this program through the school’s online education platform. This school is an NSA Center of Excellence. Students who do not need to earn a full degree may complete a cert in cyber fully online through this program.

Cyber Scholarships in NY

Finding money to pay for school is often a challenge. Students in New York will find a number of options to get help with these costs. Scholarships are a great way to pay for school because they typically do not need to be repaid. Financial aid may be available to those who qualify. Some New York scholarships that apply to cyber students include these: 

NYS STEM Incentive Program

This state based program awards up to $6,870 per year to attend an undergraduate program in STEM. To apply, students need a GPS of 2.5 or higher. They also must have lived in New York State for the 12 months prior to the start of the college term.

PMI New York City Chapter Scholarship

This award of up to $2,500 is offered to a student who is studying project management or a field that relates to it, like info tech. The applicant must be attending a school in New York State.

Herring College Memorial Scholarships

This award is given through the Northern New York Community Foundation to a student studying a STEM topic. Priority is given to students who live in St. Lawrence, Lewis, or Jefferson counties.

Cyber Workshops and Conferences in New York

A cyber education is just the start of pursuing your career. After graduating with a degree in cyber, students should work to increase their professional network. Cyber risks are always changing, so ongoing training in the field is also important. Regular workshops, conferences, events, and meetups may help.

Annual Cyber Events in NY

Some events take place every year, providing cyber students and pros the chance to explore the latest changes in the industry. These are some of the annual cyber events in the state:

HOPE Conference

HOPE stands for “Hackers on Planet Earth.” This annual cyber event brings together a diverse group of hackers who explore everything from movies to workshops with the goal of exploring all things cyber. 

International Conference on Cyber Sec

This event is hosted by the FBI and Fordham University. This global, three day event brings in multiple keynote speakers to talk on all things cyber. It also provides networking opportunities.

New York Cyber Sec Summit

This Summit brings senior execs together to discuss infra structure and info sec. Attendees can learn from these leaders how to best protect companies from risks. It is held at the Grand Hyatt New York.

NY Metro Joint Cyber Sec Conference

This conference brings together the New Jersey Chapter of (ISC)2 and the NY Metro Chapter of the Cloud Sec Alliance and Association of Continuity Pros to discuss all things cyber. It is a group effort to discuss current cyber issues.

New York State Cyber Sec Conference

This event is hosted by the NY Office of Info Tech. It brings together educators, employers, employees, and government workers. It is a two day event in Albany.

Cyber Sec Meetups and Groups in NY

In addition to meeting at annual events, new cyber grads and current students may build their networks through local meetups and cyber groups. Some of the meetups in the state include these:

New York Crypto Party Network

This group meets in NYC. They host free, public Crypto Parties where people can get answers to their cyber questions.

NY Info Sec Meetup

With over 500 members, this is one of the world’s largest info sec meetups. Students who are near NYC should make plans to visit the panel discussions, vendor events, workshops, or networking meetings.

Brooklyn Cyber Sec

This group meets in Brooklyn to discuss cyber on a regular basis. It has nearly 2,000 members, making it another large group to help build a pro network.

Cyber Security Jobs in New York

In 2018 the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated the average wage for cyber pros in New York was $122,000. Because New York is an economic center, many companies have headquarters in the state. In every industry from insurance to manufacturing, cyber sec pros are needed to keep systems secure. Some companies that often hire grads of cyber programs include:

NBC Universal

NBCUniversal is a mass media company that serves as a federal contractor. It has headquarters in Rockefeller Plaza in New York City.

Deloitte

Deloitte provides professional services to help companies with their financials and risk management. This federal contractor also provides auditing and consulting services. It has a location in New York City.

BAE Systems

This British company works in defense, security, and aerospace. The company’s New York facilities serve as federal contractors that often need cyber pros.

Kforce

Kforce is a professional staffing agency that is one of the top 5 search firms in the United States. It has a location in Brooklyn that often needs cyber pros.

SMBC

This banking company is a federal contractor. It has locations in White Plains and New York City. It needs cyber pros to keep its financial computer systems secure.

Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo is a major banking entity with locations in New York City. This federal contractor often needs cyber professionals to keep its systems secure and free from hackers.

Cyber Security Degrees in New York by College

Students considering a career in cyber may find a number of colleges that offer degree programs. Whether they are looking for an associate’s degree to jumpstart their career, want a more in depth bachelor’s degree, or need a master’s degree, they may find a school that fits. These are the programs in New York for cyber education based on the number of graduates: