In New Jersey, there are seven institutions that have been recognized as National Centers of Academic Excellence (CAE). Most of them are in cyber defense, which includes some of the more popular universities such as Fairleigh Dickinson and Rutgers.

Here is a list of New Jersey cybersecurity degrees that are from NSA CAE Designated Institutions:

Brookdale Community College
County College of Morris
Fairleigh Dickinson University
New Jersey City University
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Stevens Institute of Technology

Click to jump to the full list of New Jersey cybersecurity schools.

NSA CAE Designated Institutions for Cyber Security in New Jersey

Locations for education opportunity in the state are in Newark, New Brunswick, Hoboken, Jersey City, Lincroft, Randolph, and Teaneck. Some campuses do offer an online learning experience to make it easier for working professionals to pursue a degree.

These designations are a combined effort from the National Security Agency (NSA) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to designate specific programs that will best prepare those that are looking for a career in cybersecurity.

They oversee many different kinds of programs, from certifications and two-year academic plans to higher-level graduate options. Categories include cyber defense, cyber research, and cyber operations.

Online Cyber Security Programs in New Jersey

At Rutgers, they provide the convenience of an eight-week cybersecurity certification program, which serves as an alternative to their on-campus format.

Weekly modules will consist of eight different categories, such as learning the basics of cybersecurity, legal and ethical cases, how to respond to data breaches, and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). There is also a capstone project that can be utilized at the student's own company they work for and they will receive further resources and mentoring even after the program is completed.

Many programs that are online-based will feature virtual classrooms and labs that will provide education in the latest developments in the field and how to stabilize networks and prevent further attacks with the newest software.

Master's in Cyber Security Degrees in New Jersey

One of the state's graduate programs is available at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. The Master of Science in Cyber Security and Privacy is offered through the Department of Computer Science.

There are three different pathways to complete this program: coursework only, or culminating the program with a capstone project or a thesis.

A concentration in Cyber Defense is also available and is geared toward those that already have established a professional career and are looking for certification in this area. It also requires 36 total credits to graduate, with 21 of those being the traditional core courses and the remainder being elective options for the student to customize their curriculum.

In order to get into Master's programs, students should be able to demonstrate competence in computer science with other work experience or a Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. Holding at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA is recommended, but students can also submit GMAT or GRE scores to improve their chances (in some cases, these are also required for admittance).

Getting Started Working in Cyber Security in New Jersey

Whether prospective students need to gain foundational education in cybersecurity or seasoned workers in information technology are looking to break into the field, New Jersey has a wide variety of accredited options.

Many of the higher-level options have online course access or night sessions to provide flexibility for professionals that would rather continue working while obtaining a degree. For those looking for advanced positions, New Jersey is one of the higher-paying states for security analysts.

• Undergraduate Degrees:
  The Brookdale Cyber Center has been designated as one of the CAEs in cyber defense and has a focus to eliminate the shortage of workers in the cybersecurity industry. Two grants have given the college an ability to give scholarships and stipends to students that are pursuing a cybersecurity degree, and there is a specialized lab that provides valuable hands-on experience so students are more prepared when entering their career. An Associate of Applied Sciences in Network Information Technology can be obtained to gain abilities to create, maintain, and optimize a company’s network regardless of what vendor is used, and there is a certification that is geared toward students that have IT experience but are looking to transition into a cybersecurity job.

  The Schaefer School of Engineering and Science at Stevens Institute of Technology has a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity. This program consists of various computer science and mathematics courses mixed in with network security education, and it is available on-campus only. The curriculum will also feature five electives that are divided up with two in computer science, two are related to cybersecurity, and there is a free option that is approved by the program advisor. Students that have taken this program have gone on to become security analysts, information security engineers, and senior IT auditors.

• Masters and Continuing Education:
  A graduate certificate in Information Assurance and Cyber Security is available at New Jersey City University for those that are looking for an alternative to a Master’s program. This requires four courses to complete: a general overview of Cyber Security, Computer Security Topics, Security and Privacy of Information and Information Systems, and Information Security Strategy and Policy Development. Those that wish to pursue a Master’s degree at a later time can use these credits toward the Master of Science in National security Studies offered by the university.

  If the certification is not enough at Rutgers, their Master of Business and Science degree has a concentration in Cybersecurity. This is a unique blend of cybersecurity courses along with business administration and computer science courses. There are additional pathways that students can take within Cybersecurity, which includes Digital Forensics, Technical Cybersecurity, Cybersecurity Management, Computer Forensics and Big Data, and Cybersecurity Management and Policy. All of these specializations will require an undergraduate degree with specific coursework based on the option selected. It is recommended that all students have some IT and computer programming experience before taking this program.

• Cyber Security Employment Options:
  Jersey City, Florham Park, and Princeton are some of the cities in the state of New Jersey that have plenty of cybersecurity opportunities for those that are looking to break into the industry, with companies such as Deloitte, Verizon, and BNY Mellon all in the area. Example job positions include security analysts, network security engineers, IT associates, project managers in the cybersecurity sector, and risk management consultant.

New Jersey Cyber Security Careers

While New Jersey is a bit lower in tech occupation representation when compared to other states in the Northeast, they still have the 14th-most employed and it represents 7.9 percent of the entire state workforce according to CompTIA.

Cyber security occupations are on the lower end when compared to software development and network architecture. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, New Jersey is the second-highest state for annual salary for information security analysts at over $121,000, and that is only lower than New York.

New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell

One of the best governmental organizations in the state that provides awareness in cybersecurity activity is the New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell (NJCCIC).

Their bureau protects the state government networks with their own risk analysis, penetration testing, and auditing, and they provide security information to all citizens, businesses, and institutions in real-time through their website and social media. Those in the state are also encouraged to report any hazards to their officers to help identify the attack and prevent further intrusions.