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Comparing IT Master's Degrees
Ready to Level Up In Your IT Career?
Get started on a master's program of your choice from WGU.
Ready to Level Up In Your IT Career?
If you’re an IT or business professional looking to advance your career in this high-demand field, a master’s degree from WGU can help. We offer specialized master’s degrees in cybersecurity and information assurance, data analysis, and IT management to help you become an expert in your field. This guide compares WGU’s M.S. Cybersecurity and Information Assurance, M.S. Data Analytics, and M.S. IT Management degrees, their courses, and career outcomes, so you can decide which degree to pursue.
Technology
Cybersecurity and Information Assurance – M.S.
Become the authority on keeping infrastructures and information safe....
Become the authority on keeping infrastructures and information safe.
- Time: 63% of graduates finish within 18 months.
- Tuition: $4,655 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 9 total courses in this program.
Certifications in this program at no additional cost include:
- CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+)
- CompTIA PenTest+
- CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+) Optional Voucher
- ISACA Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) Optional Voucher
- (ISC)² Certified in Cybersecurity (CC)
Skills for your résumé that you will learn in this program:
- Cybersecurity Strategy
- Information Assurance
- Incident Response
- Penetration Testing
The curriculum is closely aligned with the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) Workforce Framework. The program was designed in collaboration with national intelligence organizations and IT industry leaders, ensuring you'll learn emerging technologies and best practices in security governance.
Technology
Data Analytics – M.S.
Lead businesses with strong analysis skills:...
Lead businesses with strong analysis skills:
- Time: 61% of graduates finish within 20 months.
- Tuition: $4,520 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 11 total courses in this program.
This program consists of three specialization areas which allow you to gain specific experience and skills that will benefit your future career. You can choose from data science, data engineering, and decision process engineering specializations to enhance your degree.
Skills for your résumé that you will learn in this program:
- Data Modeling
- Big Data
- Business Intelligence
- Data Quality
- SQL
- Python
Technology
Information Technology Management – M.S.
A degree for experienced IT professionals ready to lead....
A degree for experienced IT professionals ready to lead.
- Time: 60% of graduates finish within 18 months.
- Tuition: $4,040 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 10 total courses in this program.
Included in your program—at no extra cost—is the opportunity to earn the valuable PMI Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) certification.
- Technology operations and integration
- Sourcing and planning
- Risks and influence
- Solutions development
- Project management
Maximize the opportunities that your IT career path has afforded you—earn your master's and keep moving up.
Technology
Accelerated Information Technology Bachelor's and Master's Degree
Earn both your bachelor’s in IT and master’s in IT management at a faster...
Earn both your bachelor’s in IT and master’s in IT management at a faster pace with fewer courses.
- Time: Approximately 5 years.
- Tuition: $3,835 per 6-month term for the bachelor's degree; $4,040 per term for the master's portion.
- Courses: 42 total courses in this program.
Certifications included in this program at no additional cost:
- CompTIA A+
- CompTIA Network+
- CompTIA Security+
- CompTIA IT Operations Specialist
- CompTIA Secure Infrastructure Specialist
- Amazon AWS Cloud Practitioner
- ITIL®*^ Foundation Certification
- PMI CAPM
- LPI Linux Essentials
Skills for your résumé that you will learn in this program:
- Scripting and programming
- Networking and security
- Systems and services
- Data management
- Business of IT
This program allows students to earn their bachelor's degree in IT and move directly into a master's degree in IT management, cutting down on the total number of courses to complete.
Business
MBA Information Technology Management
Earn the online college degree that can move your career into IT upper...
Earn the online college degree that can move your career into IT upper management:
- Time: Graduates can finish in 12 months
- Tuition: $4,755 per 6-month term
- Courses: 11 total courses in this program
Sample careers and jobs this business degree will prepare you for:
- Management
- Project Management
- Leadership
- Innovation
- Communications
- Information Systems Security
Learn to navigate emergencies, execute strategies, and optimize systems with the competencies within this specialty MBA.
Which IT Master's Degree is Right for You?
With WGU's online IT degree programs, you have the opportunity to earn your degree as well as top industry certs for one price.
M.S. Cybersecurity and Information Assurance
Cybercrimes have become increasingly sophisticated, costing the global economy trillions of dollars each year. WGU’s online Master of Science in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance degree prepares you with an arsenal of knowledge to outsmart cyber criminals on the front lines, even before they have a chance to attack.
This master’s degree program was designed with input from cybersecurity experts and leading IT employers to meet the most recent U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and National Security Agency (NSA) guidelines. You'll be equipped with real-world solutions to become a leader in the cybersecurity and information assurance fields, plus earn valuable industry certifications at no additional cost.
Program Details
The M.S. Cybersecurity and Information Assurance degree includes two résumé-boosting industry certifications at no additional cost. Test preparation, rigorous coursework, and exam fees are covered by your low, flat-rate tuition.
- CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+)
- CompTIA PenTest+
- CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+) Optional Voucher
- ISACA Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) Optional Voucher
- (ISC)² Certified in Cybersecurity (CC)
Career Paths
Career paths you can take with a cybersecurity master’s degree include:
- Forensic Computer Analyst
- CIO
- Cybersecurity Analyst
- Information Security Manager
- Risk Manager
- Information Security Analyst
- Digital Forensic Investigator
- Security Architect
- Chief Technology Officer (CTO)
Who Should Apply?
To be considered for the M.S. Cybersecurity and Information Assurance degree program, applicants must:
1. Possess a bachelor’s degree in a STEM field or a business degree (in quantitative analysis, accounting, economics, finance), or a degree with a similar quantitative focus.
OR
2. Possess any bachelor’s degree plus one of the following:
- Two years of related work experience
- Relevant and current IT certification
- Related IT coursework
Every industry, including government, relies on cybersecurity experts to protect sensitive data, detect system vulnerabilities, and circumvent cyber crimes. Ideal candidates for the M.S. Cybersecurity and Information Assurance degree program include students who can think critically, analytically, and creatively and who possess excellent problem-solving, technical, and communication skills. This degree is for applicants that hold a bachelor’s degree in STEM or business and are looking to pivot into the cybersecurity field or for experienced IT professionals seeking management roles and career advancement.
M.S. Data Analytics
The M.S. Data Analytics degree prepares programmers, data managers, analysts, statisticians, and other business and IT professionals for rewarding careers in the high-demand field of data analytics. This degree program enables graduates to problem solve through courses in data mining, manipulation, and analysis.
Program Details
The certifications earned in this program are not industry certifications but are WGU certifications designed to demonstrate value on your résumé before graduation.
WGU certificates you will be positioned to earn in the M.S. Data Analytics degree program include:
- Data Preparation
- Data Analytics Fundamentals
- Advanced Data Modeling
Career Paths
Career paths you can pursue with a data analytics master’s degree include:
- Data Scientist
- Automation Architect
- SQL Query Builder
- R Programmer
- Statistician
- AI Trainer
- Business Analyst
- Tableau Report Developer
Who Should Apply?
To be considered for the M.S. Data Analytics program, applicants must:
1. Possess a bachelor’s degree in a STEM field, a business degree (quantitative analysis, accounting, economics, finance), or a degree with similar quantitative focus.
OR
2. Possess any bachelor’s degree plus one of the following:
- Two years of related work experience
- Relevant and current IT certification
- Related IT coursework
Ideal candidates for the M.S. Data Analytics degree program are current IT employees looking to advance into management positions, or STEM and business professionals seeking to transition into the IT field.
M.S. IT Management
WGU’s M.S. Information Technology Management degree is an IT-focused degree for students with a background in technology who want to advance their careers to leadership roles. This degree is a great fit for professionals who have a business background and want to strengthen their knowledge and execution of IT strategies and emerging technology, practices, and methodologies. This degree differs from our MBA in IT Management, which is a more business-focused program that will look more in-depth at the business-management aspect of an IT career.
Program Details
This advanced degree is a great option for professionals in the information technology or business fields or for those with a bachelor’s degree looking to transition into IT management. Business strategists and IT professionals may use this master’s degree program to advance in their careers to upper-level management positions.
The M.S. IT Management degree includes this valuable industry certification:
- PMI Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)
Career Paths
An M.S. in IT Management can lead to rewarding and challenging roles for IT professionals, including:
- IT Manager
- IT Director
- Information Systems Manager
- IT Project Manager
- Chief Information Officer
- Chief Technology Officer
- Scrum Master
- Computer Systems Manager
- Product Owner
Who Should Apply?
The M.S. in IT Management degree program is for students who already hold a bachelor’s degree and are looking to advance their IT career into management. This degree is also beneficial to professionals looking to transition to IT from another field. This program doesn’t have a requirement for IT experience, so it is a great fit for those who have not had that kind of experience or education in the past, but want to move into that field.
If you are looking to advance your career in IT, or move from a different field into a technology industry, this program could be an ideal fit.
WGU's IT Master's Programs at a Glance
A master’s degree is the right path for professionals looking to advance their careers, but which degree you choose to enroll in is largely dependent on your experience and career goals. WGU’s M.S. Cybersecurity and Information Assurance degree is designed for professionals with an analytical mindset who want to make a difference by helping prevent cyber crimes. Our M.S. Data Analytics is ideal for those who enjoy problem-solving, data mining, and analysis, while an M.S. in IT Management may be better suited for professionals looking to advance to less hands-on, upper-management careers in IT. Whatever your interest in IT, WGU offers master's degrees that could be a great fit for you.
Why WGU?
Be Career Ready
Designed with input from healthcare leaders, our accredited programs give you the skills and credentials today’s employers need. That’s why 97% of employers said they’d hire another WGU grad.1
1: 2023 Harris Poll of 300 employers of WGU grads.
Get and Keep the Job You Want to Have
85% of WGU graduates are employed in their degree fields—and 87% are employed full-time.2
2: 2023 Harris Poll of 1,655 WGU grads.
Save Money
With flat-rate tuition that is 47% lower than the national average3 and generous need-based scholarships, our degrees are an excellent investment that you can afford.
3: National rates reported by the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System in 2022. WGU average rate does not include rates for WGU Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Prelicensure program.
Work as You Need While Going to School
At WGU, you can complete courses, take tests, and graduate on your schedule. In fact, many of our healthcare students work full-time while earning their life-changing bachelor’s or master’s degrees.
COST & TIME
An Affordable Master's Degree
By charging per 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.
Prepared for Success on the Job
*From a 2023 Harris Poll of 300 employers of WGU graduates.
100% of employers said that WGU graduates were prepared for their jobs.*
97% of employers said that they would hire another WGU grad.*
98% of employers said WGU graduates met or exceeded expectations.*
