MS in Cybersecurity FAQs

The Middlebury Institute of International Studies is accredited as a graduate school of Middlebury College by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).

We offer a student-friendly admissions process without entrance exam requirements. If you have other questions about applying to the program, request information to connect with our admissions team.

If you’re ready to get started, you can fill out our online application.

You don’t need work experience to pursue your master’s degree in cybersecurity at the Middlebury Institute. To review additional admission requirements, visit the program overview page.

You do not need a technical background or computer science degree to begin this online program, but it is recommended. To review this program’s admission requirements, visit the program overview page.

We accept up to six transfer credits for this online program. Request information to discuss the eligibility requirements with our admissions team.

Our application deadlines usually occur two weeks before each program’s start date. Request information to discuss our upcoming milestones with our admissions team.

There is no minimum GPA requirement for this online program. To review the admission details, visit the program overview page.

Admission to the master’s in cybersecurity program includes the following items:

• Online application
• Application fee
• Bachelor’s degree in any field (a STEM-related degree is recommended)
• Essay
• Resume/CV
• Transcripts
• Interview
• One letter of recommendation (two are recommended)

If English is not your first language, you must provide evidence of English proficiency from one of the following: 

• TOEFL preferred minimum: 80 
  • Sub-score minimum for Reading, Listening, and Speaking: 19
  • Sub-score minimum for Writing: 23
• IELTS preferred minimum: 6.5
  • Sub-score minimum for Reading, Listening, and Speaking: 6.0
  • Sub-score minimum for Writing: 6.5
• Cambridge (B2 First, C1 Advanced, or C2 Proficiency) preferred minimum: 176
  • Sub-score minimum for Reading, Listening, and Speaking: 169
  • Sub-score minimum for Writing: 176

Note that TOEFL and IELTS scores are valid for two years after the test date. Cambridge scores do not expire.

Building cybersecurity skills opens doors to careers in information security analysis, data security, and other roles in the public and private sectors. Positions in these fields are in high demand — for instance, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the employment of information security analysts will grow 32% from 2022 to 2032. To learn more about opportunities in cybersecurity, visit our careers page.

Our cybersecurity program prepares you to enter this field, and no work experience is required for admission. Explore job options for entry-level and experienced professionals by visiting our careers page.

While seeking your master’s in cybersecurity, you’ll complete courses that align with the requirements for certifications offered by ISC2 and CompTIA, including the CompTIA Security+ certification. To learn about the cybersecurity job outlook, visit our careers page.

You’ll complete 36 credits to earn your master’s degree in cybersecurity. That includes nine credits for the Cyber Defense and Intelligence track. To review each course you’ll take, visit our courses page.

You’ll complete 12 courses to earn your master’s in cybersecurity at the Middlebury Institute. That includes three Cyber Defense and Intelligence courses and a capstone. Please visit the courses page to learn more about the curriculum.

Our master’s in cybersecurity program includes a Cyber Defense and Intelligence track with courses on gathering and analyzing data to mitigate cybersecurity threats. Learn more about the curriculum on the courses page.

Instead of a cohort model, this online program offers asynchronous coursework that you can complete when and where you prefer. Additionally, you can choose the order for completing courses as long as the prerequisites are met.

To foster collaboration, we provide opportunities for our students to engage their instructors and peers via an instant message system, such as Teams or Slack. After earning your master’s degree, you’ll become part of an alumni network with professionals in numerous sectors, including tech firms in nearby Silicon Valley. Additionally, Middlebury has a significant federal government presence, including a Washington, D.C. office.

We offer each cybersecurity course online, allowing you to study when and where you prefer. While the program includes a capstone, there are no residency requirements.

Earning this master’s degree doesn’t involve a residency. While you’re invited to visit us in Monterey, California, you can complete this program without visiting campus.

This online program culminates with a capstone course. For added convenience, eligible students can meet this requirement where they currently work. To learn more about the curriculum, visit the courses page.

Our cybersecurity courses are taught by experienced faculty and practitioners with deep ties to this industry. For more details about our faculty and this program, visit the cybersecurity overview page.

The Middlebury Institute has offered cybersecurity courses within our in-person master’s degrees for many years. Our online master’s in cybersecurity program is new, with the first admissions period taking place in 2024. This recent introduction allows our faculty to design the curriculum around the most relevant technologies, cyber defense techniques, and policy issues. To learn more about the program, visit the cybersecurity overview page.

On average, students will complete our online master’s in cybersecurity program in two years. To see the curriculum, view our courses page.

We designed the online MS in Cybersecurity program for working professionals with busy lives. If something interrupts your course of study, you can take a short break without worrying about losing the credits you have accrued. We allow students to take up to five years to complete the degree.

Tailored to the needs of working professionals, this online program is only available part time. This schedule helps you balance your professional and personal responsibilities while completing the courses. To see the curriculum, view our courses page.

Yes. We offer this program part time with one course every seven weeks, helping meet the needs of working professionals. This allows you to balance your professional and personal responsibilities while completing the coursework. To see the curriculum, view our courses page.

The tuition is $850 per credit. You’ll complete 36 credits for a total tuition of $30,600. Note that our tuition and fees are subject to change each academic year. You can review the latest information on our Tuition and Fees page.

Additional fees include a $65 application fee, a student activity fee of $85 per semester, and a student resource fee of $150 per semester. Depending on the number of credits you take each semester, you may not be required to pay the student activity fee. Note that our tuition and fees are subject to change each academic year. To review the latest information, visit our Tuition and Fees page.