Master of Science in cybersecurity engineering climbs two spots to No. 5 in national rankings
Published: Sep 30, 2026 1:45 PM
By Joe McAdory
The 33-credit-hour program is available fully online, on campus or in a hybrid format, making it accessible to working professionals and full-time students.
Auburn Engineering’s Master of Science in Cybersecurity Engineering program offers advanced study in computer and network security, digital forensics, secure cloud computing and software reverse engineering, culminating in a required capstone project.
It’s also ranked among the nation's elite.
Programs.com, a New York–based education platform that evaluates top cybersecurity offerings across the U.S. based on curriculum strength, career outcomes, affordability and overall academic reputation, ranked the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering (CSSE)-based degree No. 5 nationally in its “Best Master’s in Cybersecurity Degree Programs of 2027,” two spots ahead of last year.
“This affirms Auburn University’s position among the nation’s leading institutions preparing engineers to secure increasingly complex real-world systems and networks,” said CSSE Chair Hari Narayanan. “As cyber threats continue to grow in scale and sophistication with the help of AI, the demand for engineers with deep technical cybersecurity expertise is surging across industry, government and defense, and this recognition reflects the strength and relevance of the education our M.S. program provides.”
The 33-credit-hour program is available fully online, on campus or in a hybrid format, making it accessible to working professionals and full-time students.
“Organizations across every sector are looking for professionals who can do more than just understand cybersecurity concepts or develop policies,” Narayanan said. “They need people who have the technical skills to implement those concepts and apply security policies to real-world systems. Through advanced technical coursework and a capstone project, our program gives students both theoretical and practical experience in cybersecurity engineering and prepares them to contribute to their employers immediately.”
Programs.com's rankings are based on several factors important to prospective students, including curriculum relevance, academic quality, cost, career outcomes, hands-on practice opportunities, admissions requirements and program accessibility. The methodology also considers cybersecurity-focused credentials such as National Security Agency (NSA) Center of Academic Excellence designations.
Auburn remains one of only 11 institutions nationally to hold three NSA Center of Academic Excellence designations in Cybersecurity Education: cyber operations, cyber defense and cyber research.
For more information about Auburn University’s Master of Science in Cybersecurity Engineering, visit here.
Media Contact: , jem0040@auburn.edu, 334.844.3447