Best Online Doctorate in Information Systems Security Programs

Updated November 28, 2023

Best Online Doctorate in Information Systems Security Programs

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Earning an online doctorate information systems security degree prepares managers and executives for the ever-evolving challenges of protecting data and sensitive information from cybercriminals. A study from the Online Trust Alliance found that the rate of business-related cyberattacks doubled from 2016 to 2017; over 159,000 attacks were reported. Most of these attacks could have been prevented with better information security policies and employee training.

Professionals in computer information systems management earn a median salary of $139,220. As companies store more sensitive information in connected databases and cloud servers, the need for executives who understand how to protect that information continues to grow. The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) anticipates a 12% growth in employment through 2026.

For more degree and career information, jump to:

Choosing an Online Doctorate in Information Systems Security Program
What Else Can I Expect From an Online Doctorate in Information Systems Security Program?
Careers With a Doctorate in Information Systems Security

Accredited Online Schools

The Best Online Doctorates in Information Systems Security Degrees Programs

We use trusted sources like Peterson's Data and the National Center for Education Statistics to inform the data for these schools. TheBestSchools.org is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site. from our partners appear among these rankings and are indicated as such.

#1 Best Online Doctorate in Information Systems Security Programs

Liberty University

Lynchburg, VA
4 years
Online + Campus

The DBA in information systems program at Liberty University appeals to doctoral students seeking an online route to their doctoral degree. Degree-seekers benefit from flexible course options through the private institution. Doctoral students receive library access, research support, and career services.

During the online information systems program, learners take 60 credits of doctoral coursework to earn their degree. After completing coursework, doctoral candidates conduct research for their dissertation or doctoral project. Graduates with a information systems doctorate pursue roles in research, academia, and leadership.

Doctoral students qualify for fellowships, scholarships, and federal financial aid programs at the accredited institution. Prospective applicants can contact the program to learn more about financial aid opportunities and the admissions process.

Liberty University at a Glance:

Online Student Enrollment: 78,511

Online Master's Programs: 67

Online Doctoral Programs: 9

Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 17-to-1

Graduate Tuition Rate: $7,980

Accepts Transfer Credits: Accepted

Average Undergrad Tuition

In-state

$15,417

Out-of-state

$15,417

Average Graduate Tuition

In-state

$7,980

Out-of-state

$7,980

Retention Rate

81%

Acceptance Rate

51%

Students Enrolled

85,586

Institution Type

Private

Percent Online Enrollment

92% Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.

Accreditation

Yes Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

#2 Best Online Doctorate in Information Systems Security Programs

University of the Cumberlands

Williamsburg, KY
4 years
Online + Campus

The University of the Cumberlands offers an online Ph.D. in information technology program for doctoral students. The private university helps degree-seekers complete a doctorate in a flexible format. Doctoral students receive library access, research support, and career services.

The online information technology program incorporates doctoral coursework. After completing coursework, doctoral candidates conduct research for their dissertation or doctoral project. A doctorate in information technology prepares graduates for careers in academia, research, and leadership.

Doctoral students qualify for fellowships, scholarships, and federal financial aid programs at the accredited institution. Prospective applicants can contact the program for more about financial aid and admission requirements.

University of the Cumberlands at a Glance:

Online Student Enrollment: 15,449

Online Master's Programs: 25

Online Doctoral Programs: 4

Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 20-to-1

Graduate Tuition Rate: $5,670

Average Undergrad Tuition

In-state

$9,875

Out-of-state

$9,875

Average Graduate Tuition

In-state

$5,670

Out-of-state

$5,670

Retention Rate

69%

Acceptance Rate

80%

Students Enrolled

16,966

Institution Type

Private

Percent Online Enrollment

91% Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.

Accreditation

Yes Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

#3 Best Online Doctorate in Information Systems Security Programs

Dakota State University

Madison, SD
4 years
Online + Campus

The Ph.D. in information systems program at Dakota State University enrolls online learners. The public university offers flexible enrollment options for degree-seekers. Doctoral students participate in career counseling and benefit from research support.

Learners take doctoral classes in the information systems program. After completing coursework, doctoral candidates conduct research for their dissertation or doctoral project. A information systems doctorate leads to job opportunities in research, academia, and leadership.

Online doctoral students can pay for their degree with scholarships, fellowships, and other forms of financial aid. Contact the information systems program to learn more about the enrollment process and start dates.

Dakota State University at a Glance:

Online Student Enrollment: 2,206

Online Master's Programs: 6

Online Doctoral Programs: 2

Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 19-to-1

Graduate Tuition Rate: $5,939

Average Undergrad Tuition

In-state

$7,541

Out-of-state

$10,611

Average Graduate Tuition

In-state

$5,939

Out-of-state

$11,088

Retention Rate

66%

Acceptance Rate

77%

Students Enrolled

3,268

Institution Type

Public

Percent Online Enrollment

68% Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.

Accreditation

Yes Higher Learning Commission

#4 Best Online Doctorate in Information Systems Security Programs

Colorado Technical University

Colorado Springs, CO
4 years
Online

The online doctor of computer science program at Colorado Technical University ranks among the best in its field. With its flexible format, the private university makes a doctorate more accessible. Doctoral students participate in career counseling and benefit from research support.

In the online cybersecurity and information assurance program, learners take advanced doctoral coursework. After passing comprehensive examinations, doctoral candidates spend 1-2 years researching and writing their dissertation. As the terminal degree in computer science, the program leads to career opportunities in academia, research, and industry.

Online doctoral students at the accredited institution qualify for several forms of financial aid. Reach out to the program to learn more about financial aid opportunities, admission requirements, and start dates.

Colorado Technical University at a Glance:

Online Student Enrollment: 27,043

Online Master's Programs: 13

Online Doctoral Programs: 2

Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 31-to-1

Graduate Tuition Rate: $13,710

Average Undergrad Tuition

In-state

$11,896

Out-of-state

$11,896

Average Graduate Tuition

In-state

$13,710

Out-of-state

$13,710

Retention Rate

44%

Acceptance Rate

Not provided

Students Enrolled

27,232

Institution Type

Private

Percent Online Enrollment

99% Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.

Accreditation

Yes Higher Learning Commission

#5 Best Online Doctorate in Information Systems Security Programs

Capella University

Minneapolis, MN
4 years
Online

Doctoral students seeking an online information systems security program can pursue the doctor of information technology program at Capella University. Degree-seekers benefit from the flexible enrollment options at the private university. Doctoral students receive research support throughout the program.

During the online information technology program, learners complete advanced coursework. After passing comprehensive examinations, doctoral candidates complete an original dissertation that contributes to the IT field. Graduates with a doctorate in information technology work in academic, research, and industry positions.

Online doctoral students at the accredited institution qualify for several forms of financial aid. Contact the program for more information about research support and financial aid.

Capella University at a Glance:

Online Master's Programs: 76

Online Doctoral Programs: 60

Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 27-to-1

Graduate Tuition Rate: $14,767

Average Undergrad Tuition

In-state

$14,148

Out-of-state

$14,148

Average Graduate Tuition

In-state

$14,767

Out-of-state

$14,767

Retention Rate

40%

Acceptance Rate

Not provided

Students Enrolled

37,859

Institution Type

Private

Percent Online Enrollment

Not provided

Accreditation

Yes Higher Learning Commission

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Online Doctorates in Information Systems Security Degrees Programs Ranking Guidelines

We ranked these degree programs based on quality, curricula, school awards, rankings, and reputation.

Our Methodology

Here at TheBestSchools.org, we take the trust and welfare of our readers very seriously. When making our school and program rankings, our top priority is ensuring that our readers get accurate, unbiased information that can help them make informed decisions about online education. That's why we've developed a rigorous ranking methodology that keeps the needs of our readers front and center.

Our proprietary, multi-criteria ranking algorithm analyzes key data indicators — as collected by the federal government — for each school or program. What data we use depends on the focus of each specific ranking, but in all cases, our ranking methodology is impartial: Schools cannot buy better rankings at TBS.

While specific criteria under consideration can vary by ranking, there are a few data points that we value most highly. They are affordability, academic quality, and online enrollment. Below, we break down our algorithm to help you understand what you're getting when you use one of our rankings.

Academics
Affordability
Online Enrollment

Data Sources

The data used in TBS rankings comes primarily from the federal government, and much of it is provided by the schools themselves. We aggregate and analyze this data to build our rankings.

The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) is our primary source. Its data comes from annual surveys conducted by the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Every college, university, or technical school with access to federal financial aid must participate in these surveys, which include questions about enrollment, graduation rates, finances, and faculty qualifications. This is publicly available data, which you can access yourself through the College Navigator.

Additionally, because we value a personal touch and the professional experience of our staff and Academic Advisory Board, we vet all results and adjust rankings as necessary based on our collected knowledge of schools and degree programs. Depending on the ranking, we may obtain additional input from AcademicInfluence.com, subject matter experts, prior TBS ranking lists, or other sources we deem relevant to a particular ranking.

Breakdown of Our Rankings Methodology

About Our Ranking Factors

Here at TBS, we value what you value: quality education, affordability, and the accessibility of online education. These factors guide all of our program rankings.

Each of these factors are further broken down into weighted subfactors. For example, retention rates are weighted more heavily than availability of program options because they are a better indicator of student success.

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Choosing an Online Doctorate in Information Systems Security Program

50 Best Online Colleges & Universities

An information security systems degree integrates technical skills with policy creation and organizational leadership. Many schools require applicants to complete a graduate entrance exam (such as the GRE) and demonstrate professional experience in computer programming or information systems management. Most schools also require applicants to have a master’s degree; however, some schools do offer integrated master’s and doctoral programs.

The Ph.D. curriculum focuses on applied research in data security, which provides practical solutions to real-world problems. Students study advanced computer programming fieldwork, data analytics, and both quantitative and qualitative research methods. Many schools offer concentrations for specific careers, like healthcare information, human-computer interaction design and information assurance. One should expect to spend three to seven years completing upwards of 60 credits (this varies by program). Online programs often offer flexibility for working professionals, though some require on-campus or fieldwork components.

The dissertation provides a comprehensive evaluation of what students have learned and their ability to apply independent research to organizational challenges. Students often work with a team of mentors to develop a topic in their area of interest as well as conduct research and data analysis. It can take several terms to complete the dissertation, which is typically capped by an oral defense of a student’s research methodology, conclusions and communication skills.

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Accredited Online Schools

What Else Can I Expect From an Online Doctorate in Information Systems Security Program?

While exact course requirements vary, earning an information systems security degree online builds upon one’s prior training in computer science and programming. Expect to study theoretical principles and demonstrate the practical application of those principles through projects, a dissertation and an oral defense.

Curriculum for an Online Doctoral Degree in Information Systems Security

Governance, Quality, Compliance, and Ethics:
Students study information security regulations and the impact these regulations have on organizational processes. This course also delves into how organizations govern the use of their data, how they recognize when individuals undermine those policies an ethical issues of trust and privacy.
Cryptography:
In this course, students learn about encryption protocols and the mathematical foundations of modern cryptography. Students also learn to build secure encryption protocols from cryptographic primitives.
Information Retrieval:
Students in this class study the technology that powers internet search engines, which includes text analysis, ranking algorithms and data retrieval. They learn to establish metrics to determine effectiveness, classification and data clustering.

Security Management:
In security management courses, students learn to create data security frameworks for organizations. In addition to data security, the course also examines risk mitigation for internal or external security breaches.
Information Assurance:
Students in information assurance courses learn to audit organizational security plans and network architectures. They learn how to identify potential risks and develop mitigation strategies by aligning information security with business goals. Students often create a plan that incorporates policy, security standards and information compliance.

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Careers With a Doctorate in Information Systems Security

An online information security degree prepares graduates for careers developing secure data networks and instituting proper security protocols for organizations like banks, federal agencies and technical consulting firms. Graduates with these advanced technical skills and data analytics knowledge take on leadership roles in any organization by leading technology security efforts.

Chief Information Officer:
These executives focus on data processing, information networks and long-term information technology purchasing priorities. They often develop organization-wide policies to protect sensitive information from phishing or malware attacks and institute ongoing training to ensure that all staff understand how to prevent security breaches.
- Median Annual Salary: $139,220
- Projected Growth Rate: 12%
Computer Network Architect:
Network architects determine the hardware and software needs of an organization and provide ongoing support to their company. They analyze data traffic and determine how to best meet both short-term and long-term information technology needs; they often present their findings to top-level executives. They provide training for staff and troubleshoot technical problems.
- Median Annual Salary: $104,650
- Projected Growth Rate: 6%
Network and Computer Systems Administrator:
Systems administrators install and maintain hardware and software across internal networks. They implement network security policies and set up monitoring that provides early warnings of data breaches. They help determine future network needs and train employees to use new software.
- Median Annual Salary: $81,100
- Projected Growth Rate: 6%

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

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Best Online Doctorate in Information Systems Security Programs

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Academics - 75%

Affordability - 15%

Online Enrollment - 10%

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