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Dakota State University · The Beacom College of Computer & Cyber Sciences

Master of Science in Cyber Defense

Master'sMSMaster of Science in Cyber Defense

Overview

A 30-credit cyber defense master's with technical and security-management-and-compliance specializations, available fully online or on campus. The NSA has designated the program a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense.

Official program name
Master of Science in Cyber Defense
Awarded degree
Master of Science in Cyber Defense
Source: dsu.edu · verified October 10, 2026
Degree level
Master's
University
Source: dsu.edu · verified October 10, 2026
Administering location
Madison, SDWhere the university or its administering campus is located. Study is online; this is not a residency requirement and does not decide whether you may enroll from your state.
Subject
Specializations
Technical specialization · Security management and compliance specialization
Source: dsu.edu · verified October 10, 2026
Required credits
30 credits
Source: dsu.edu · verified October 10, 2026
Duration
Not verified
Start terms
Fall, Spring, Summer
Source: dsu.edu · verified October 10, 2026
Teaching language
English (not separately stated)
Why this program is listed

Master's that can be completed fully online or on campus.

Source: dsu.edu · verified October 10, 2026

We list online bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees from institutionally accredited US universities. Eligibility rules

Online format and attendance

“Online” is not one format. Delivery, campus visits, practical placements and class schedule are shown separately, each only as the university states it.
Academic delivery
Fully onlineAll coursework is online and the institution states no required on-site activity for this program.All coursework is online and the institution states no required on-site activity for this program.
Source: dsu.edu · verified October 10, 2026
Campus visits
Campus visits: not verified
Practical placement
Placement requirement: not verified
Class schedule
Not verified
Study intensity
Not verified

The program page does not say whether campus visits or placements are required. Ask the university before you apply — missing information is not “no requirement”.

Curriculum

Other

  • Designated by the NSA as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD).
    Source: dsu.edu · verified October 10, 2026

Specializations, concentrations and tracks

  • Technical specialization
    Source: dsu.edu · verified October 10, 2026
  • Security management and compliance specialization
    Source: dsu.edu · verified October 10, 2026

Admissions

Required, optional, waived and not-required items are shown exactly as the university states them. Anything not listed is not verified — not “not required”.
Prior degree
RequiredBachelor's in computer science, computer engineering, software engineering or a closely related field; foundational courses may be required otherwise.
Source: dsu.edu · verified October 10, 2026
Minimum GPA
RequiredMinimum 3 — Minimum 3.0 GPA.
Source: dsu.edu · verified October 10, 2026
International applicants
RequiredInternational applicants need a degree equivalent to a U.S. four-year degree.
Source: dsu.edu · verified October 10, 2026

Tests

GRE General Test
Not required
Source: dsu.edu · verified October 10, 2026

We do not publish acceptance rates or estimate admission chances.

Start dates and deadlines

Dates are shown with the term the university printed. A past date is marked passed and is never carried into a new cycle.

  • Application deadline

    August 15 · for Fall

    The university does not print a year with this date.

    Source: dsu.edu · verified October 10, 2026
    Year not printed

  • International applicants

    April 15 · for Fall

    The university does not print a year with this date.

    Source: dsu.edu · verified October 10, 2026
    Year not printed

  • Application deadline

    November 30 · for Spring

    The university does not print a year with this date.

    Source: dsu.edu · verified October 10, 2026
    Year not printed

  • Application deadline

    April 30 · for Summer

    The university does not print a year with this date.

    Source: dsu.edu · verified October 10, 2026
    Year not printed

Tuition and fees

Each amount keeps its student category, academic year and basis. Per-credit, per-term and whole-program figures are not comparable with each other, and tuition is not the full cost of attendance.
CategoryAmountBasis and year
All online students — Online master's, per credit hourFrom the university's online tuition table$495.70per credit · 2026-2027Estimated tuition$14,871 = 30 credits × $495.70 per credit. Excludes mandatory fees, books, travel for any required visits or placements, transfer credit reductions and rate changes. Not the full cost of attendance.Source: dsu.edu · verified October 10, 2026
Non-resident students, graduate CSC courses (per credit hour)From the university's online tuition table$613.40per credit · 2026-2027Estimated tuition$18,402 = 30 credits × $613.40 per credit. Excludes mandatory fees, books, travel for any required visits or placements, transfer credit reductions and rate changes. Not the full cost of attendance.Source: dsu.edu · verified October 10, 2026

Scholarships and financial aid

Awards published by the university for this program or for online students at this level. Loans must be repaid and are not scholarships; financial aid availability does not make a program “fully funded”. Scholarships & funding guide

  • South Dakota State Employee Tuition Benefit Tuition discount

    Reduction equal to 50% of the resident undergraduate on-campus rate, up to six credits a semester

    Eligibility: Eligible employees of the state of South Dakota

    How to apply: Contact Admissions

    Source: dsu.edu · verified October 10, 2026

Institution-wide awards are listed because they cover online students at this level; eligibility conditions apply.

Accreditation, authorization and licensure

Three separate questions: is the university accredited, can it enroll students from your state online, and does the program meet licensure requirements where you live?

Institutional accreditation

  • Higher Learning Commission (HLC) — accreditedSource: ope.ed.gov · verified October 10, 2026

Programmatic accreditation

No programmatic accreditation verified for this program. Institutional accreditation does not imply it.

State authorization

  • Dakota State University is an approved SARA institution and has participated in NC-SARA since February 2015. Official pageSource: dsu.edu · verified October 10, 2026

International applicants

Not verified for this online program.

Sources and verification

Every fact on this page comes from the official pages below. Last verified October 10, 2026.
  1. dsu.edu/academics/online/sara.html — Official disclosure page, verified October 10, 2026
  2. dsu.edu/admissions/online/cost-aid/index.html — Official tuition and fees page, verified October 10, 2026
  3. dsu.edu/programs/mscd/index.html — Official program page, verified October 10, 2026
  4. dsu.edu/programs/phdcd/index.html — Official program page, verified October 10, 2026
  5. DAPIP — HLC institutional accreditation record (data files downloaded 2026-10-10) — U.S. Department of Education dataset (IPEDS / DAPIP), verified October 10, 2026

Something out of date? Request a correction · Represent this university? Claim the profile

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Online Universities is independent and not affiliated with Dakota State University. Information is collected from official pages and can change; confirm requirements, costs and deadlines with the university.