OVERVIEW
Design, Build, and Secure Infrastructures with an Online Networking Degree
Systems security and network engineering professionals are in high demand. With WGU’s online bachelor’s degree in network engineering and security, you’ll gain the knowledge, skills, hands-on experience, and certifications you need to take advantage of that demand and begin a successful career in the field. You can also keep working full-time while earning your degree. Earning your B.S. in Network Engineering and Security will help you increase your earning potential, job security, and opportunities for advancement. You’ll develop the latest skills in:
- Network engineering
- Network operations
- Security management skills
Choose Your Focus Area
WGU’s bachelor’s in network engineering and security is the industry’s only truly competency-based undergraduate degree program in network engineering. The program offers two tracks to allow you pursue your career goals, either by specializing in Cisco technologies and earning Cisco certifications or by generalizing and earning additional CompTIA certifications that are vendor agnostic.
Unsure Which Focus Area is Right for You?
The right program for you depends on your career goals. Each program focus area is streamlined with certifications built- in to allow you to graduate quickly.
The general program is ideal for those who do not want to specialize in a specific vendor's technologies.
The Cisco program covers the same content as the general program but has an additional focus on Cisco technologies and offers the CCNA, CyberOps, and DevNet Associates certifications to affirm your competencies in those technologies.
61% of graduates finish within
36 Months*
WGU lets you move more quickly through material you already know and advance as soon as you're ready. The result: You may finish faster.
*WGU Internal Data
Tuition per six-month term is
$3,835
Tuition charged per term—rather than per credit—helps students control the ultimate cost of their network engineering degree. Finish faster, pay less!
Certifications in this program
8 or 11
Students earn 11 certifications in the general program, and 8 in the Cisco program. Certifications are included with tuition costs.
COURSES
Network Engineering and Security Courses
Program consists of 111 credits
Your courses will depend on the focus area (Cisco or general) you choose. At WGU, we design our curriculum to be timely, relevant, and practical—all to help you demonstrate what you know. We have streamlined the network engineering and security courses so that you can benefit from your prior coursework and your professional experience. You earn your degree by focusing on skills and competencies that employers are looking for in graduates.
Our Bachelor of Science in Network Engineering and Security degree program was designed with input from our Information Technology Program Council and other networking expert practitioners. We have also studied the job market and the program content aligns with the network engineering and security job market and skills requirements. The program covers crucial subjects, including SDN, automation, IT fundamentals, networks and security, spreadsheets, scripting and programming, data management, operating systems, interconnecting network devices, leadership and management, web development, the business of IT, and security. This networking program is built to give you the technical skills to succeed in your career.
Earning a bachelor’s degree designed by industry experts adds theoretical depth to the practical knowledge you may already have. The experts on our IT Program Council know what it takes for a graduate to be successful in the fast-paced, ever-changing world of network engineering and security.
The B.S. Network Engineering and Security program is an all-online program offering hands-on experience in a virtual environment. You’ll complete program requirements independently, with instruction and support from WGU faculty and be expected to maintain on-time progress. Each course is typically three or four units. There’s no limit on the number of units you can complete each term, so the more courses you complete in a term, the fewer terms it takes you to graduate.
Pathway To a Cybersecurity Master's Degree
The coursework that you complete in your Network Engineering and Security degree can be applied to our Master of Science in Cybersecurity program which shortens the path to a master's degree in cybersecurity by 2 courses/6 credits.
Additional Courses in General Program
Additional Courses in Cisco Program
34 or 37 Courses
Program consists of 111 credits
Your courses will depend on the focus area (Cisco or general) you choose. At WGU, we design our curriculum to be timely, relevant, and practical—all to help you demonstrate what you know. We have streamlined the network engineering and security courses so that you can benefit from your prior coursework and your professional experience. You earn your degree by focusing on skills and competencies that employers are looking for in graduates.
Hands-On Experience
Special requirements for this program
At the end of your program, you will have completed multiple courses that use labs and virtual environments to learn and demonstrate skills that are critical for success as a network engineer. You will also complete a capstone project that represents the culmination of all your hard work. This project allows you to demonstrate your mastery of network design, security, and automation—you can take it with you to show potential employers what you are capable of doing for them.
Skills For Your Résumé
As part of this program, you will develop a range of valuable skills that employers are looking for.
- Computer Network Defense: Designed and implemented access and physical security protocols, restricting user access to only necessary tasks, enhancing overall system security.
- Network Forensics: Monitored computer network traffic, detecting intrusions and gathering legal evidence, contributing to a proactive security stance.
- Network Engineering: Resolved network issues by addressing failed components, monitoring traffic patterns, recommending upgrades, blocking specified traffic, and identifying abnormal network activity.
- Information Systems Security: Analyzed collected security data to identify attack trends in systems, enhancing threat detection and response capabilities.
- Cyber Security: Developed and implemented security solutions to safeguard company data, ensuring the confidentiality and integrity of critical information.
- Systems Thinking: Evaluated solutions for systems problems, identifying strengths and challenges to inform effective decision-making and problem resolution.
“A flexible remote degree is too good to be true, but it actually is. WGU was much more than I thought. A supportive team, a great mentor, good content, flexibility, support, and an affordable price. WGU is transforming lives. I could get my degree and I'm so thankful to WGU and its amazing team. Thank you!”
—Fernando Avelino
WGU Graduate
WGU vs. Traditional Universities
Compare the Difference
Traditional Universities
AVG. cost
For 3RD PARTY IT CERTIFICATIONS
$350*
Included with your tuition cost
TUITION STRUCTURE
Per credit hour
Flat rate per 6-month term
SUPPORT
Schedule and wait days or even weeks to meet with one of many counselors
Simply email or call to connect with your designated Program Mentor who supports you from day one
EXAMS
Scheduled time
Whenever you feel ready
SCHEDULE
Professor led lectures at a certain time and place
Courses available anytime, from anywhere
TIME TO FINISH
Approximately 4 years, minimal acceleration options
As quickly as you can master the material, typically less than 3 years
TRANSFER CREDITS
Few accepted, based on certain schools and specific courses
A generous transfer policy that is based on your specific situation
*The cost of valuable industry certification exams can range from $150 to $400. At WGU, we offer vouchers for certification exams, so the cost is included in your tuition price. Students may have to pay additional fees for membership to complete the certification requirements.
Traditional Universities
AVG. cost
For 3RD PARTY IT CERTIFICATIONS
$350*
AVG. cost
For 3RD PARTY IT CERTIFICATIONS
Included with your tuition cost
TUITION STRUCTURE
Per credit hour
TUITION STRUCTURE
Flat rate per 6-month term
SUPPORT
Schedule and wait days or even weeks to meet with one of many counselors
SUPPORT
Simply email or call to connect with your designated Program Mentor who supports you from day one
EXAMS
Scheduled time
EXAMS
Whenever you feel ready
SCHEDULE
Professor led lectures at a certain time and place
SCHEDULE
Courses available anytime, from anywhere
TIME TO FINISH
Approximately 4 years, minimal acceleration options
TIME TO FINISH
As quickly as you can master the material, typically less than 3 years
TRANSFER CREDITS
Few accepted, based on certain schools and specific courses
TRANSFER CREDITS
A generous transfer policy that is based on your specific situation
*The cost of valuable industry certification exams can range from $150 to $400. At WGU, we offer vouchers for certification exams, so the cost is included in your tuition price. Students may have to pay additional fees for membership to complete the certification requirements.
Why WGU?
Earning Potential
According to a 2023 Harris Poll, just two years after graduation, WGU grads report earning $22,200 more per year, and that amount increases to $30,300 four years after graduation.
On Your Schedule
No class times, no assignment deadlines. You are in charge of your learning and schedule. You can move through your courses as quickly as you master the material, meaning you can graduate faster.
Entirely Online
The network engineering and security bachelor's degree at WGU is 100% online, which means it works wherever you are. You can do your coursework at night after working at your full-time job, on weekends, while you're traveling the world or on vacation—it's entirely up to you.
Accredited, Respected,
Recognized™
One important measure of a degree’s value is the reputation of the university where it was earned. When employers, industry leaders, and academic experts hold your alma mater in high esteem, you reap the benefits of that respect. WGU is a pioneer in reinventing higher education for the 21st century, and our quality has been recognized.
IT CERTIFICATIONS
3rd Party Networking Certifications Included
Industry certifications in this degree program include CCNA, CyberOps, DevNet Associates, and more, depending on which you choose.
The cost of these certifications is included in your tuition, helping you save money as you enhance your skills. Earning certifications before you’ve even finished your degree gives you the knowledge, skills, and credentials that will immediately boost your résumé.
Both tracks include the following:
- CompTIA A+
- CompTIA Project+
- CompTIA Cloud+
- ITIL®*^ Foundation Certification
*Subject to vendor availability.
^ITIL® is a registered trade mark of AXELOS Limited, used under permission of AXELOS Limited. All rights reserved.
- LPI Linux Essentials
The Cisco track also includes:
- Cisco CCNA
- Cisco DevNet Associate
- Cisco CyberOps Associate
The general track also includes:
- CompTIA Net+
- CompTIA Sec+
- CompTIA IT Operations Specialist (Stacked)
- CompTIA Secure Infrastructure Specialist (Stacked)
- CompTIA Cloud Admin Professional (Stacked)
- CompTIA Secure Cloud Professional (Stacked)
COST & TIME
An Affordable Online Network Engineering and Security Degree
By charging per six-month term rather than per credit—and empowering students to accelerate through material they know well or learn quickly—WGU helps students control the ultimate cost of their degrees. The faster you complete your program, the less you pay for your degree.
A College Degree Within Reach
There is help available to make paying for school possible for you:
The average student loan debt of WGU graduates in 2022 (among those who borrowed) was less than half* the national average.
Most WGU students qualify for financial aid, and WGU is approved for federal financial aid and U.S. veterans benefits.
Many scholarship opportunities are available. Find out what you might be eligible for.
*WGU undergraduate students have approximately half the debt at graduation compared to the national average, according to the Institute for College Access and Success (2022).
FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE
A Different Way to Learn: Degree Programs Designed to Fit Your Life—and All the Demands on Your Time
Professional responsibilities. Family obligations. Personal commitments. At WGU, we understand schedules are tight and often unpredictable for adult students. That’s why we offer a flexible, personalized approach to how education should be. No rigid class schedules. Just a solid, career-focused teaching program that meshes with your current lifestyle. You'll be challenged. You'll work hard. But if you commit yourself and put in the hours needed, WGU makes it possible for you to earn a highly respected degree as a busy working adult.
"I found the competency model of WGU to be overwhelmingly superior to any previous experience of learning. Most of the CIs [course instructors] were very helpful, as was my mentor. The value of being able to complete an institutionally accredited bachelor's of science while working full-time (active duty military & then separating to civilian) was perfect for me. The certifications earned through the course allowed me to get in and progress quickly in the IT industry.”
—Michael O'Dell
WGU Graduate
CAREER OUTLOOK
A Network Engineering Degree that Helps You Stand Out from the Competition
The growing digital transformation of business functions has led to a sharp increase in demand for skilled professionals trained to manage and administer network and security systems. WGU's expertly designed network engineering bachelor’s program can help you gain the unique technical skills you need to succeed.
Every industry, from government to consulting, needs qualified network and security professionals. In addition to a résumé-boosting bachelor’s degree, students who graduate from this program will have valuable skills and several industry certifications.
Return on Your Investment
On average, WGU graduates see an increase in income post-graduation
Average income increase from all degrees in annual salary vs. pre-enrollment salary. Source: 2023 Harris Poll Survey of 1,655 WGU graduates.
Survey was sent to a representative sample of WGU graduates from all colleges. Respondents received at least one WGU degree since 2017.
13%
Employment of computer network architects is projected to grow13% through 2033.
—U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Find Success with a Highly Respected Network Security and Engineering Degree and Certifications
Some of the job titles a graduate of this network engineering and security bachelor’s degree program is qualified for include:
- Network Engineer
- Network Security Engineer
- Data Scientist
- Network Administrator
- Network Security Analyst
- Computer Network Architect
WGU Grads Hold Positions With Top Employers
ADMISSIONS
Network Engineering and Security Admissions Requirements
To be considered for enrollment into this program, you must possess a high school diploma or its equivalent AND demonstrate program readiness through one of the following:
- Option 1: Submit transcripts documenting completion of college-level coursework with a minimum of 2.75 GPA or higher.
- Option 2: Possess a bachelors or associate degree (A.A, A.S. or A.A.S. acceptable) from an accredited post-secondary institution.
- Option 3: Submit official record of completion of a transferable IT certification, some of which may provide transfer credit into various programs.
- Option 4: Submit high school transcripts with a minimum GPA of 3.0
- Option 5: Submit transcripts documenting completion of previous IT coursework. IT coursework must be 300 level or higher.
NOTE: You do not need to take the ACT or SAT to be admitted to this program. Learn why we don't require these tests.
Get Your Enrollment Checklist
Download your step-by-step guide to enrollment.
Get Your Questions Answered
Talk to an WGU Enrollment Counselor.
Transfer Credits
Get Added Support and Flexibility as You Start Your Degree
Take a course or two at your pace before committing to a full degree program. Strengthen your study habits, gain essential learning skills and, best of all, each completed course counts toward your degree requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions about Network Engineering and Security
Network engineering and security is a growing field that involves the design and administration of security systems for an organization’s networks. A network engineer understands how to build a network that can stand against cyber threats and hackers.
Not quite. Network engineering is a specialized discipline that supports nearly all aspects of the IT industry as well as the broader field of cybersecurity. A network engineer has expertise in protecting data in transit and at rest so that that it can be used to support business operations. Someone who works broadly in cybersecurity could work in networking, but could also work in any number of different focus areas. Because network engineering is such a specialized field, those working in it can often command high salaries
A networking and security major is essentially an undergraduate degree program designed to help you understand, build, and protect networks.
A network operations and security degree, or a degree in network engineering, can prepare you for a number of positions, including network engineer, network security engineer, and network administrator.
Ready to Start Your WGU Journey?