Colleges for Cyber Security in Virginia

Colleges for Cyber Security in Virginia

Cyber security remains a degree program in Virginia. There are several colleges for cyber security in Virginia. These schools may offer programs to help students learn these skills. According to the US DOE’s College Scorecard, Virginia has 136 colleges. These include universities, colleges and community colleges. Of those, 16 had cyber security grad in 2018. These are the top colleges for cyber security in Virginia: 

• ECPI University – 386 grads
• Northern Virginia Community College – 149 grads
• George Mason University – 42 grads
• Stratford University – 29 grads
• Marymount University – 26 grads
• Norfolk State University – 22 grads
• Strayer University Virginia – 20 grads
• Lord Fairfax Community College – 6 grads
• Regent University – 5 grads
• University of Phoenix Virginia – 4 grads

Online Cyber Programs in VA

Cyber is a major that may work well for students interested in an online education. Many of the colleges for cyber security in Virginia offer online programs or hybrid programs. These programs may allow students to work while pursuing their degrees. Online options in Virginia include: 

ECPI University – With a fully online BS and MS options. This school has a fast track program that is designed to allow students to earn their bachelors in 2.5 years. It does this through year round school. The cyber degree programs are hands on programs with plenty of lab based training. This is an NSA Center of Academic Excellence school. ECPI University stands out because of its small classes. This could gives students, both online and on-campus, individual attention from professors.

Strayer University

Strayer offers a BS in Info Tech Cyber Security that is available entirely online. This university has a campus in Arlington as well. The online cyber degree requires students to complete 40 11 week courses. It teaches hacking, penetration testing, network threat analysis, and counter measures. Strayer strives to provide students with individualized learning through attentive instructors. In addition to the BS in cyber, Strayer has two MS programs, the MS in Computer Sec Management and MS in Computer Forensic Management, both of which are online programs.

Regent University

Regent University offers online cyber programs, including a BS in Cyber Sec and several master’s degree programs, including an MS in Cyber Sec and an MA in National Sec Studies – Cyber Sec Policy. Because Regent University is located just minutes from Norfolk’s Naval Base, cyber students often work on problems and programs relating to military. This is an NSA Center of Academic Excellence in cyber.

George Mason University

George Mason University has both bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in cyber security, but the MS in Applied Info Tech, Cyber Sec Concentration is a fully online program thorough Mason Online. This program focuses on IT leaders who are wanting a leadership role in cyber. Because Virginia is so close to Washington, DC, the IT programs at GMU focus on federal needs. Students’ capstone projects are often in federal topics and areas. GMU is a NSA Center of Excellence.

Stratford University

Stratford University has an MS in Cyber Security that is fully available online or on-campus, depending on the student’s needs. It also has an AAS in Networking Management and Security that is available online or on-campus. Both programs aim to provide students hands-on experience in all things cyber. It also works to develop problem-solving and critical thinking skills with its students.

Norfolk State University

NSU offers an MS in Cyber Security that students may complete online. This degree focuses both on theory and on practical skills in cyber. Students learn how to identify risks and attacks and how to use forensics to find attackers. The school is also an NSA Center of Academic Excellence, Cyber students may benefit from small class sizes. In addition to the online MS degree, NSU offers an on-campus BS in Computer Science with Cyber Sec concentration. The NSU cyber program is highly rated. It’s affiliated with or accredited by several groups, including SANS Info Sec Training, INFOSEC Institute, and EC-Council.

Northern Virginia Community College

NVCC has a AAS in Cyber Sec that is fully available online. This NSA Center of Academic Excellence strives to help students learn the skills they need to pursue cyber careers. While it is a program that could transfer to other schools, the program’s main goal is for graduates to be ready to jumpstart their career. NVCC has several school specific scholarships available primarily for cyber students.

Cyber Scholarships in VA

Many students need help paying for their college education. In addition to federal grants and scholarship programs, those seeking a cyber degree in Virginia may find a number of degree-specific scholarships. Financial aid may be available to those who qualify. These are some of the scholarships you may want to look out for:

Virginia Cybersecurity Public Service Scholarship

This program awards $20,000 to Virginia students studying cyber. In return for the scholarship, the student agrees to work in a public service capacity, such as working for a Virginia state agency. The work commitment will equal the number of years the student receives the scholarship. The Virginia Cyber Sec Public Service Scholarship comes from the Cyber Veterans Initiative. 

Electronic Security Association Youth Scholarship

High school seniors who are heading to work in the security industry in VA, including cyber, can apply for the Electronic Security Association Youth Scholarship. This program awards $2,500 to $7,500 in benefits to children of active public safety employees. In order to apply, the student must be committed to working in security or public safety and have been accepted to a college program. This scholarship requires an essay.

AFCEA DC Chapter Scholarships

The AFCEA DC Chapter awards 20 STEM students in the Washington, DC, metro area with scholarships for their college education each year. Applicants must live within the Metro Washington Council of Governments, which includes many VA communities. They must be pursuing an STEM degree, which includes cyber sec.

Cyber Workshops and Conferences in Virginia

Attending workshops and events in the cyber industry helps students and graduates build their professional networks. Virginia, because it is so close to Washington, DC, hosts many such conferences every year. 

Each year, cyber pros come to Virginia for the following events:

930gov

This is the largest and longest running conference for IT in gov’t. It talks about all things IT, including cyber security, and brings thought leaders together. The Digital Government Institute hosts this in Vienna.

FireEye Cyber Defense Summit

This summit brings together cyber experts and government officials in a three day conference. It’s held at the Washington Hilton. Attendees can choose a track based on their job or interests.

Blacks in Cyber Sec

Blacks in Cybersecurity, LLC, hosts a conference in the spring and winter at Marymount University in Arlington. This event focuses on how minorities have influenced the cyber and STEM worlds.

Virginia Cybersecurity Education Conference

VACYBEREDUCON, as it is better known, tackles issues surrounding cyber education to help cyber pros train the next generation in the field.

Cyber Meetups and Events in VA

In addition to the annual events, cyber meetups can help students and grads grow their professional network. These are some excellent groups to check out: 

Cyber Innovation Forum

The Cyber Innovation Forum in Fairfax is a meetup sponsored by GMU’s School of Business. It meets for case studies presented by tech experts.

DC Cyber Sec Professionals

This meetup in Arlington is the country’s largest cyber meetup. They meet to discuss latest topics in the field. They also have hands on training programs.

Free Cyber Sec Training

This meetup in Herndon provides free training in the field. It is open to anyone with a background in tech.

Women’s Society of Cyberjutsu

Women with a passion for info sec can join Cyberjutsu, a female based training meetup group. This group meets in McLean.

NoVA Hackers

NoVA Hackers meets on the second Monday each month in Reston, VA. They tackle the latest issues in info sec and provide opportunities for networking. 

Cyber Security Jobs in Virginia

Graduates of colleges for cyber in Virginia may have many open job opportunities. In 2018 the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated the mean annual wage in Virginia to be $111,780. Some companies to consider in the search for a job include:

SOS International LLC

This federal contractor in Chantilly works in the aerospace and defense sectors. This is the largest private, family owned tech and service company in these fields.

SAIC

This federal contractor is also in Chantilly works in enterprise IT, analytics, space, cyber, and engineering. They help companies and government groups modernize to today’s IT. 

Dominion Energy

Located in Richmond, Dominion Energy is a federal contractor that provides energy services in Idaho, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming. 

McIntire Solutions

This Chantilly company advises the Dept. of Defense and many federal agencies in enterprise tech, computer engineering, strategy, and management. 

Salient CRGT

With a location in Fairfax, Salient CRGT is a federal contractor that works in health, public safety, defense, and intelligence, providing IT solutions and help to companies and federal agencies. 

Cyber Security Degrees in Virginia by College

In Virginia, many schools offer cyber programs, but some stand out due to their large number of graduates. These are the details about the top colleges for cyber in Virginia. To make it easier for you to find colleges in VA with cyber security degrees, we compiled a list of schools. We put these schools in order of the number of students who graduated in the 2018 year.