2027 Cheapest Accredited Online Information Security & Assurance Degree Programs: Tuition, Fees, and Financial Aid

Co-Founder and Chief Data Scientist

Choosing an online information security and assurance degree is not just about finding the lowest tuition line. The real question is what you will pay after mandatory fees, transfer credits, grants, scholarships, and federal aid. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a 2024 median pay of $124,910 for information security analysts, which makes cost control especially important for students entering a high-demand but skills-driven field.

This guide is for working adults, transfer students, and first-time online learners who want accredited options, transparent pricing, and a practical way to compare true affordability.

Key Things You Should Know

The lowest advertised online tuition is often not the lowest total cost; compare tuition, mandatory online fees, course materials, transfer-credit limits, and the estimated net price after grants and scholarships.
Among widely available accredited online bachelor's options, low-cost models often include per-credit public university pricing near $199 to $260 per credit and flat-rate competency-based tuition that can be cheaper for students who finish quickly.
FAFSA-eligible accredited institutions can unlock federal grants, work-study, and Direct Loans; for the 2025-26 award year, the maximum Federal Pell Grant is $7,395, which can materially reduce net price for eligible undergraduates.

What Are the Cheapest Accredited Online Information Security & Assurance Degree Programs?

The cheapest accredited online information security and assurance degree programs are usually offered by public universities with online per-credit tuition, state e-campus systems, or competency-based universities that charge by term instead of by credit. For a fair comparison, this section focuses mainly on online bachelor's programs or bachelor's-completion programs in information security, cybersecurity, cyber operations, information assurance, or closely related computing fields because these are the most common degree paths for entry-level security analyst roles.

The table below is a cost-screening comparison, not a guarantee of your final bill. Published tuition can change by term, residency, transfer credits, military status, course load, and mandatory fees, so use these figures to identify programs worth verifying directly with the school.

School	Example online degree	Institutional accreditation	Published online tuition model	Estimated tuition before aid	Affordability notes
Kennesaw State University	BS in Cybersecurity through Georgia eMajor	SACSCOC	About $199 per credit for eMajor courses	About $23,880 for 120 credits before fees and transfer credit	One of the strongest low-tuition public options when most credits are taken at the eMajor rate; confirm program fees, proctored exam costs, and residency requirements.
Clayton State University	BS in Cybersecurity through Georgia eMajor	SACSCOC	About $199 per credit for eMajor courses	About $23,880 for 120 credits before fees and transfer credit	Comparable Georgia eMajor pricing can make this a low-cost route for online students; final cost depends on accepted transfer credits and required upper-division coursework.
Western Governors University	BS in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance	NWCCU	Flat tuition per six-month term plus a resource fee	Varies significantly by pace; faster completion lowers total cost	Can be among the cheapest options for students who complete many competency units per term; less affordable if progress is slow.
Fort Hays State University	Online cybersecurity or information networking-related bachelor's pathway	HLC	Low online undergraduate per-credit tuition	Often falls in the lower-cost public university range before fees	Worth comparing for students who want traditional course pacing and public-university pricing; verify exact catalog path and cybersecurity concentration requirements.
University of Maryland Global Campus	BS in Cybersecurity Technology or related cyber degree	MSCHE	Lower in-state and military rates; higher out-of-state rates	Moderate to high depending on residency and transfer credit	May be a strong value for Maryland residents, military-affiliated students, and transfer students, but not always the lowest sticker price for out-of-state students.
Dakota State University	Online BS in Cyber Operations or Cyber Leadership and Intelligence	HLC	Public university online tuition with course and technology fees possible	Moderate before aid and transfer credit	Often chosen for cyber-focused curriculum depth; may justify higher cost for students seeking a more technical security pathway.

A program with a slightly higher tuition rate may still be the better value if it accepts more transfer credits, includes certification preparation, has stronger student support, or offers a predictable flat-rate model. The safest approach is to request a written degree plan that shows remaining credits, tuition, mandatory fees, books, exam fees, and aid eligibility before you enroll.

Table of contents

How Were the Cheapest Online Information Security & Assurance Degree Programs Ranked?

A useful affordability ranking should start with accreditation and end with net price, not just tuition. For online information security and assurance degrees, the best comparison method is to rank programs by the lowest plausible total cost for a typical student while noting when that cost depends on residency, transfer credits, military benefits, or accelerated pacing.

The ranking logic below helps separate genuinely affordable programs from programs that only look cheap on an advertisement.

Confirm that the institution is accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
Identify the exact online degree, including whether it is information security, information assurance, cybersecurity, cyber operations, information technology, or computer science with a security concentration.
Calculate tuition for the credits a student is likely to complete at that school, not necessarily the full 120 credits if transfer credit is expected.
Add mandatory online learning, technology, student services, graduation, assessment, proctoring, lab, and course fees where published.
Separate in-state, out-of-state, military, employer-partner, and transfer-student pricing because these can produce very different bills.
Review FAFSA eligibility, institutional scholarships, employer tuition benefits, and whether grants are renewable.
Compare outcomes indicators such as retention, completion support, career services, certification alignment, and curriculum relevance before choosing the lowest-cost option.

This method also avoids a common mistake: treating a $199-per-credit rate and a flat six-month tuition term as directly comparable. Per-credit programs reward students who transfer in many credits, while flat-rate programs reward students who can complete a heavy course load in each term.

How Can You Verify the Accreditation of an Online Information Security & Assurance Degree Program?

Accreditation is the first affordability filter because an unaccredited or poorly recognized program can limit financial aid access, credit transfer, graduate-school admission, and employer recognition. For federal student aid purposes, the institution must participate in Title IV aid programs, and students should verify that status before assuming FAFSA will apply.

Use the following checks before comparing cost. These steps are especially important for cybersecurity and information assurance programs because some schools market career-focused credentials that are not equivalent to accredited degrees.

Search the institution in the U.S. Department of Education's Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs or the accreditor's official directory.
Confirm that the accreditation applies to the institution offering the online program, not just to a different campus, training division, or partner provider.
Ask whether the online degree appears on the same transcript as the campus degree and whether the diploma names the online modality.
Check whether the program has specialized recognition, such as ABET accreditation for some computing programs or designation as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity, when that matters for your career goals.
Verify Title IV participation with the financial aid office before relying on federal grants or loans.
Ask whether credits from prior colleges, military training, industry certifications, or exams can be evaluated before admission deposit deadlines.

Students comparing highly regulated or accreditation-sensitive online fields can use the same verification mindset used for ABA-approved paralegal programs: do not rely on marketing language alone. Always confirm the accreditor, program scope, and whether the credential supports your next academic or career step.

How Much Does an Accredited Online Information Security & Assurance Degree Really Cost?

The real cost of an accredited online information security and assurance degree is the amount you pay after subtracting grants, scholarships, employer benefits, and accepted transfer credits from tuition and mandatory expenses. Tuition is only one part of the equation; net price is usually the more useful number for deciding what you can afford.

The table below explains the cost terms schools use and why each one matters. Understanding these terms prevents you from comparing one school's tuition-only estimate with another school's full cost estimate.

Cost term	What it means	Why it matters for online information security students
Tuition	The amount charged for instruction, usually per credit, per course, or per term	This is the easiest number to compare, but it may exclude online, technology, assessment, and graduation fees.
Mandatory fees	Required charges such as technology, student services, online learning, lab, proctoring, or graduation fees	Security courses may require virtual labs, exam proctoring, or specialized platforms that raise total cost.
Total program cost	Tuition plus required fees and estimated course materials for all remaining credits	This shows the likely sticker cost before grants, scholarships, or employer support.
Financial aid	Grants, scholarships, work-study, federal loans, private loans, military benefits, or employer tuition assistance	Aid can reduce upfront cost, but loans must be repaid and scholarships may have renewal rules.
Net price	Total cost minus grants and scholarships that do not have to be repaid	This is often the best affordability measure because it reflects what you may actually need to pay or finance.

As a practical benchmark, a 120-credit bachelor's degree at $199 per credit produces $23,880 in tuition before fees and aid, while the same credit total at $350 per credit produces $42,000 before fees and aid. That difference is large enough that transfer credits, residency discounts, and grants can change which school is cheapest for a specific student.

If speed matters as much as cost, compare accelerated cybersecurity programs with broader options for the fastest degree to get. A faster program is only financially better if the pace is realistic and does not force course withdrawals, repeated classes, or extra terms.

Which Tuition Models Make Online Information Security & Assurance Degree Programs More Affordable?

Online information security and assurance programs use several tuition models, and each one favors a different type of student. The cheapest model for a full-time transfer student may not be the cheapest model for a part-time working adult or a student starting with no prior credits.

The comparison below shows when each pricing structure tends to work best. Use it to match the tuition model to your schedule, transfer history, and ability to complete technical coursework consistently.

Tuition model	How it works	Best fit	Cost risk
Per-credit online tuition	You pay for each credit attempted	Students with transfer credits, part-time learners, and students who want predictable course-by-course billing.	Repeated or withdrawn courses increase cost, and fees may be added per credit or per term.
Flat-rate term tuition	You pay one price for a set term and may complete multiple courses	Self-directed students who can move quickly through material.	Slow progress raises the total number of paid terms.
In-state public tuition	Residents pay a lower rate than out-of-state students	Students who live in the state or qualify for resident pricing.	Out-of-state rates can erase the affordability advantage.
Military or employer-partner tuition	Discounted rates apply to eligible employees, service members, veterans, or dependents	Working adults with employer benefits or military-affiliated students.	Benefits may have annual caps, grade requirements, or reimbursement delays.
Competency-based tuition	Students progress by demonstrating mastery rather than only by seat time	Experienced IT professionals with existing skills, certifications, or workplace knowledge.	Students new to networking, programming, or security concepts may need more time than expected.

Working adults should also compare general low-cost online bachelor's options, including lists of the most affordable online colleges for working adults, because the cheapest cybersecurity-labeled program is not always the best match. A lower-cost information technology degree with a security concentration may be a better fit if it accepts more credits or has stronger scheduling flexibility.

What Fees and Hidden Costs Should Online Information Security & Assurance Degree Students Expect?

Online students often save on commuting and housing, but they can still face required fees that change the final bill. Information security and assurance programs may also include extra costs tied to technical labs, certification preparation, secure testing, and specialized software environments.

Before enrolling, ask each school for a written fee estimate for the exact degree plan. The most common cost categories include the following.

Online learning or distance education fees charged per credit, per course, or per term.
Technology fees for learning platforms, identity verification, cloud labs, or student systems.
Virtual lab, cybersecurity range, simulation, or software subscription fees.
Proctored exam or remote identity-verification fees.
Books, e-textbooks, access codes, and digital course materials.
Certification exam vouchers or preparation materials when certification is required or strongly encouraged.
Transfer-credit evaluation, prior-learning assessment, transcript, and graduation fees.
Hardware costs if the program requires a computer capable of virtualization, security labs, or multiple operating systems.

The biggest red flag is a program that publishes tuition prominently but makes required fees hard to find. If the school cannot provide a clear total-cost estimate for your remaining credits, compare it against programs that will.

How Does FAFSA and Federal Financial Aid Work for Online Information Security & Assurance Degree Programs?

FAFSA works for online information security and assurance degrees when the student, school, and program meet federal aid rules. Online delivery by itself does not disqualify a program, but the institution must be eligible for Title IV aid, and the student must be admitted into an eligible degree program rather than only a noncredit bootcamp or standalone training course.

The FAFSA process is not difficult, but missing one step can delay aid or create a funding gap. Use this sequence when comparing schools.

Confirm that the online degree is offered by a Title IV-eligible institution and is itself eligible for federal student aid.
Submit the FAFSA as early as possible and list every school you are seriously considering.
Review each financial aid offer separately because grants, scholarships, loans, and out-of-pocket costs can vary by institution.
Separate gift aid from loans; grants and scholarships reduce net price, while loans lower immediate payment but must be repaid.
Ask how enrollment intensity affects aid because dropping below full-time or half-time status can change Pell Grant and loan eligibility.
Confirm satisfactory academic progress requirements, especially if you plan to study part time while working.

For the 2025-26 award year, the maximum Federal Pell Grant is $7,395 for eligible students. That amount can cover a meaningful share of tuition at low-cost online public programs, but it will not automatically cover all fees, books, or living expenses.

The same net-price logic applies across online majors. For example, students comparing a cheapest online psychology degree still need to verify accreditation, FAFSA eligibility, mandatory fees, and aid offers instead of relying only on advertised tuition.

Which Scholarships, Grants, and Tuition Benefits Can Help Pay for an Online Information Security & Assurance Degree?

Scholarships, grants, and tuition benefits can make a mid-priced accredited program cheaper than a low-tuition program with little aid. The key distinction is that grants and scholarships generally do not need to be repaid, while loans and some employer benefits may come with repayment or service conditions.

Students in information security and assurance should search beyond general university scholarships because cybersecurity is tied to workforce development, public-sector hiring, and employer upskilling. Prioritize the following funding sources.

Federal Pell Grants for eligible undergraduate students with financial need.
State grants for residents attending eligible in-state or participating online institutions.
Institutional scholarships for online, transfer, adult, military-affiliated, first-generation, or high-achieving students.
Cybersecurity workforce scholarships offered through universities, professional associations, local employers, or public-sector partnerships.
Employer tuition assistance or reimbursement for IT, information security, compliance, risk management, or cloud security employees.
Military education benefits, veteran benefits, National Guard tuition support, and spouse or dependent benefits when applicable.
Certification-related employer support for exams such as Security+, Network+, CySA+, or cloud security credentials when they align with the degree plan.

Ask whether scholarships are renewable, whether they require full-time enrollment, and whether they can be combined with employer reimbursement. A one-time scholarship may reduce the first term's bill but will not necessarily make the full degree affordable.

Can Transfer Credits, Prior Learning, and Competency-Based Study Lower the Cost of an Online Information Security & Assurance Degree?

Transfer credit is often the fastest way to reduce the cost of an online information security and assurance degree because it lowers the number of credits you must buy from the new school. For adults with previous college coursework, military training, professional certifications, or IT experience, the difference can be thousands of dollars.

Before committing to a program, request a preliminary transfer evaluation and ask how each credit applies to the degree. A large transfer total is less valuable if credits count only as electives and do not reduce major, general education, or residency requirements.

Regional college credits may satisfy general education, math, writing, computing, or elective requirements.
Community college associate degrees may reduce lower-division requirements if the receiving school has a strong transfer pathway.
Military training may be evaluated through ACE recommendations or institutional military credit policies.
Industry certifications may count toward selected IT or cybersecurity requirements at some competency-based or career-focused institutions.
Prior-learning assessment may award credit for documented workplace learning, portfolios, exams, or professional training.
Competency-based programs can reduce cost when students already know networking, operating systems, security fundamentals, scripting, or risk management concepts.

Students comparing flexible online pathways in other applied fields, such as a degree in human services, face a similar issue: the cheapest listed tuition matters less than how many credits the school accepts and how quickly the student can finish the remaining requirements.

How Should Students Compare the Net Price, Quality, and Return on Investment of Online Information Security & Assurance Degree Programs?

The best-value online information security and assurance degree is the accredited program that offers the strongest combination of affordable net price, realistic completion path, recognized curriculum, and career relevance for your goals. The lowest sticker price is attractive, but it can be a poor value if the program lacks support, accepts few credits, or does not teach the technical and analytical skills employers expect.

Use the table below to balance cost and quality. It highlights the comparison factors that should influence your final shortlist after you confirm accreditation and published tuition.

Decision factor	What to compare	Why it affects value
Net price	Cost after grants, scholarships, and tuition benefits.	This is closer to what you may actually pay or borrow than advertised tuition.
Transfer fit	Accepted credits, residency rules, and remaining degree requirements.	A school with higher tuition can be cheaper if it accepts more applicable credits.
Curriculum	Networking, systems administration, cloud, risk, governance, incident response, scripting, and security operations content.	Information security roles require both technical and risk-management skills.
Career alignment	Internships, projects, labs, career services, certification preparation, and employer partnerships.	Relevant experience can matter as much as the degree title for entry-level security jobs.
Student support	Advising, tutoring, course availability, tech support, and online student services.	Weak support can extend time to graduation and raise total cost.
Completion timeline	Full-time, part-time, accelerated, and competency-based options.	Time affects tuition terms, opportunity cost, and the ability to keep working.

Labor-market data should inform, not decide, your choice. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects much faster-than-average employment growth for information security analysts over the 2024-34 period, but a degree alone does not guarantee a job; employers may also look for hands-on labs, internships, certifications, portfolios, clearance eligibility, or prior IT experience.

Before enrolling, ask each finalist school these questions and compare the answers side by side.

What is my total estimated cost for the remaining credits after transfer evaluation?
Which fees are mandatory, and which are optional?
What grants and scholarships am I eligible for, and are they renewable?
Will my federal aid change if I enroll part time?
How many students in this online program complete the degree, and how long do they usually take?
Which certifications, labs, projects, or internships are built into the curriculum?
Can I get the total-cost estimate, aid offer, and transfer evaluation in writing before committing?

The right choice is usually the program that leaves you with the lowest manageable net cost while still giving you a credible credential, relevant technical practice, and a realistic path to completion.

Other Things You Should Know About Information Security & Assurance

Is information security and assurance the same as cybersecurity?

They overlap, but they are not always identical. Cybersecurity often emphasizes protecting systems, networks, and data from digital threats, while information assurance can also include governance, risk, compliance, privacy, continuity planning, and controls that protect information in broader organizational settings.

Do I need a certification in addition to an online information security degree?

Not always, but certifications can help demonstrate specific skills. Entry-level or early-career students often consider credentials such as CompTIA Security+, Network+, or cloud security certifications, while more experienced professionals may pursue advanced credentials after gaining work experience.

Can I get an information security job with an online degree and no IT background?

It is possible, but many students need to build practical experience alongside the degree. Help desk work, networking labs, internships, security projects, capture-the-flag exercises, and certifications can strengthen an entry-level profile.

Is a bachelor's or master's degree better for information security and assurance?

A bachelor's degree is usually the more common entry path for students who do not already have a degree. A master's degree may be a better fit for professionals who already have a bachelor's degree and want to move into leadership, risk management, security architecture, or specialized technical roles.

References

How to Pay for a Degree in Cybersecurity | CyberDegrees.org https://www.cyberdegrees.org/resources/how-to-pay-for-a-degree/
Top Computer Science Degree with an Emphasis in Cybersecurity Programs (2025) - Programs.com https://programs.com/programs/cs-degree-cybersecurity/
What to Expect from a Cybersecurity Degree Program https://www.coloradotech.edu/degrees/studies/information-systems-and-technology/articles/what-to-expect-from-a-cybersecurity-degree-program
Top affordable online cybersecurity master degree programs https://cybersecurityguide.org/rankings/most-affordable-online-masters/
Accreditation - ABET https://www.abet.org/accreditation/
Scholarships | Nurturing the future of cybersecurity https://www.fsisac.com/scholarships
Discover Scholarships for Computer Science Majors https://www.computerscience.org/scholarships-overview/
SFS https://sfs.opm.gov/
Scholarships for Cybersecurity Students | SANS Technology Institute https://www.sans.edu/external-cybersecurity-scholarships
Scholarship Sources | NCyTE Center https://www.ncyte.net/career-seekers/career-seeker-resources/scholarship-sources