Cybersecurity

Georgia Tech online master's in cybersecurity: cost, tracks, and review

Real total cost with fees, the three tracks, admission rules, deadlines, and who the program fits.

Georgia Tech's Online Master of Science in Cybersecurity is a 32-credit, 10-course degree that costs about $11,936 to $12,992 in tuition, depending on residency, and usually takes two to three years part-time. You choose one of three tracks: Information Security, Cyber-Physical Systems, or Policy. Classes are fully online and mostly on your own schedule, and the diploma is the same one on-campus students earn.

Georgia Tech online cybersecurity master's at a glance

DetailWhat Georgia Tech publishes
DegreeMaster of Science in Cybersecurity (same diploma and transcript as on campus)
Length10 courses, 32 credit hours; 2 to 3 years part-time, up to 6 years allowed
TracksInformation Security, Cyber-Physical Systems, Policy
Tuition per creditGeorgia $373 · other U.S. $387 · international $406
Online learning fee$212 per term under 4 credits · $531 per term at 4 or more credits
Format100% online; mostly asynchronous, with some live office hours or group meetings
Application fee$95 U.S. · $105 international
Test scoresGRE or GMAT optional

Figures from Georgia Tech's program page and degree requirements, checked October 2026. Georgia Tech notes that tuition and fees can change without notice.

How much does Georgia Tech's online cybersecurity master's cost?

Georgia Tech advertises total tuition "around $12,000." That is accurate for tuition alone: 32 credits at $387 per credit comes to $12,384 for a U.S. student outside Georgia. Lists that quote that figure leave out the online learning fee, which Georgia Tech charges every term you enroll.

The fee depends on your pace. Taking one 3-credit course a term costs $212 in fees per term, so you pay the fee ten times. Taking two courses a term costs $531 per term, but you finish in about five terms. Our estimates below assume nine 3-credit courses plus the 5-credit practicum.

ResidencyPer creditTuition (32 credits)Tuition + fees, one course a termTuition + fees, two courses a term
Georgia resident$373$11,936$14,375$14,591
Other U.S. resident$387$12,384$14,823$15,039
International$406$12,992$15,431$15,647

So plan on roughly $14,375 to $15,647 all-in before books. Georgia Tech bills each term as you go and does not let you pay the full program up front. Education loans (for U.S. citizens and permanent residents), employer tuition reimbursement, and the Post-9/11 GI Bill can all help.

For comparison, the median published total across 284 cybersecurity master's programs in our catalog is about $20,205, so Georgia Tech lands below the middle of the market but is not the cheapest option. Several public universities on our cheapest online cybersecurity master's list publish lower totals.

The three tracks and what you take

Every student takes the same core, then 18 credits in one track. The core is Introduction to Information Security (CS 6035), Information Security Policies and Strategies (6725), a 5-credit Cyber Security Practicum (6727), and one elective from another track.

TrackRun byFocusSample courses
Information SecuritySchool of Cybersecurity and PrivacySecurity for software, computer systems, and networksApplied Cryptography, Network Security, Secure Computer Systems
Cyber-Physical SystemsSchool of Electrical and Computer EngineeringSecurity for physical and embedded systems, especially in energySmart Grids, Power System Protection, Cyber-Physical Systems Security
PolicySchool of Public PolicyPolicy, law, and the management of cybersecurity and privacyInternet and Public Policy, Challenge of Terrorism, Privacy, Technology, Policy and Law

Information Security fits software engineers and computer science grads moving into technical security. Cyber-Physical Systems fits electrical and computer engineers in energy or embedded devices. Policy fits managers, analysts, and government or military staff.

You must pick a track when you apply, and each track has its own admission rules.

Admission requirements by track

No one is admitted automatically; a faculty committee reviews every file. There is no hard cap on class size. All tracks ask for a 3.0 GPA, three references, a personal statement, a resume, and transcripts.

  • Information Security: a BS in computer science or computer engineering, strong programming skills, discrete math, and comfort with operating systems and networking. Applicants with other degrees can qualify with deep work experience in areas like secure systems or cryptography.
  • Cyber-Physical Systems: a BS in computer engineering, computer science, or electrical engineering, strong programming skills, and ideally some background in energy systems or controls.
  • Policy (technical background): a BS in engineering or computer science, experience managing information security, and two to three courses in political science, law, public policy, economics, or international relations.
  • Policy (non-technical background): a bachelor's in fields like business, economics, international relations, political science, public policy, or law, hands-on experience with information systems, and at least one college course in computer science or programming.

International applicants need a TOEFL iBT score of 100 or higher (at least 20 in each section) or an IELTS score of 7.5 or higher. Because the program is fully online, Georgia Tech does not offer student visas for it.

Application deadlines

Start termStandard deadlineFinal deadline
Fall (August)February 1March 15
Spring (January)June 15August 15

Every document, including transcripts, letters of recommendation, and English test scores, must arrive by the deadline. Georgia Tech suggests allowing two to three weeks for documents to be processed.

What the online format is like

Courses are mostly asynchronous, so you watch lectures and do assignments on your own schedule. Some courses hold live virtual office hours or group project meetings, and those are often recorded. Exams usually open for a window, for example two hours to finish within a 48-hour period.

The program is part-time only. Most students take one or two courses a term while working full time. Georgia Tech asks admitted Policy-track students without a technical background to take an introductory computer science course before Introduction to Information Security.

Is Georgia Tech's online cybersecurity master's worth it?

For many working professionals, yes. It ranks #1 on our best online cybersecurity master's list. The main draws are a well-known research university, a diploma identical to the campus degree, and three tracks that let engineers, programmers, and policy professionals take the same degree.

  • Good fit: you already have a computing or engineering background (or security management experience for the Policy track), you want a respected name on your resume, and you can study steadily for two to three years.
  • Think twice: you need to finish in a year, want live classes, need a student visa, or lack the programming and math background the Information Security track expects.
  • Unknowns: Georgia Tech does not publish a separate acceptance rate or job placement data for the online program on its program page, so ask admissions if those matter to you.

For context, information security analysts earn a median of $129,180 (May 2025, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics), with 21% job growth projected from 2025 to 2035. A master's helps most for moving into senior, engineering, or leadership roles rather than a first security job.

Alternatives to compare

If the price, admission requirements, or pace do not fit, compare these lists:

Georgia Tech's other AI, machine learning, and cybersecurity programs are on our Georgia Tech school profile.

Frequently asked questions

How much does Georgia Tech's online master's in cybersecurity cost?

Tuition runs $11,936 to $12,992 for 32 credits, depending on residency. With the per-term online learning fee, plan on roughly $14,375 to $15,647 total, based on rates Georgia Tech published in October 2026.

How long does Georgia Tech's online cybersecurity master's take?

Most students finish in two to three years part-time. Georgia Tech allows up to six years for students who need more flexibility.

Is Georgia Tech good for cybersecurity?

Yes. Its online MS in Cybersecurity offers three tracks run by its cybersecurity, engineering, and public policy schools, and the degree matches the on-campus program. It ranks #1 on our best online cybersecurity master's list.

What is the acceptance rate for Georgia Tech's online cybersecurity master's?

Georgia Tech does not publish an acceptance rate for this program on its program page. It says there is no hard cap on admissions and that a faculty committee reviews every application against the track's requirements.

Do you need the GRE for Georgia Tech's online cybersecurity master's?

No. GRE and GMAT scores are optional. You need transcripts, three references, a personal statement, a resume, and a 3.0 GPA, plus English test scores if you are an international applicant.

Is the online degree the same as Georgia Tech's on-campus cybersecurity master's?

Yes. Online students earn the same degree as on-campus students, and the diploma and transcript read "Master of Science in Cybersecurity."

Can international students enroll?

Yes, without U.S. residency. International applicants pay a higher per-credit rate, need a TOEFL iBT of 100 or IELTS of 7.5, and will not receive a student visa because the program is fully online.