Looking Into Cyber Security Degrees (Repost)

[quigongene]

Reposting this, as I posted it a day before the forum refresh...

I've been lurking here for about 6 weeks. About everything I've read has been informational and beneficial (this is a great community). I'm former US Navy and have been out for over 20 years, and have since "risen up the ranks" in the IT field on the civilian side (help desk, sysadmin, security analyst, security engineer).

I opted out of the GI Bill when I was active duty (extremely stupid move in retrospect). I still have my JST info (62 credits if someone accepts them all) and have submitted it to 2 of the big 3 (Excelsior is out, I don't feel Calculus I&II and Statistics are needed for this degree, and COSC/TESU only require College Algebra). I have also applied to WGU and Hodges.

I am currently working as a Cyber Security Engineer for a company that has a generous tuition reimbursement program, so I figured now is as good a time as any to start back up. The reimbursement doesn't kick in until 5/15/18, so I'm trying to knock out as much as possible on the cheap before then.

I've already completed the 11 free credit hours (TEEX, NFA, Ethics, etc.) and finished Aleks' College Algebra. I also have the 6 credit English Comp CLEP scheduled for 8/4 (free...thank you Modern States!!). I was going to attempt Aleks' Intro to Stats, but there's no way I'll be able to finish it by the end of the month (when they lose their ACE accreditation). I'll circle back around to it if Aleks gets their poop in a group.

I have the CISSP and a few other certs. Work wants me to also take ISACA's CRISC cert as soon as my probation period is up (next month). I could likely take WGU's CIW exams, A+, Net+ and Security+ cold.

I know there's at least one CIO on here gunning for a degree, just wondering if he or anyone else has some input for my situation.

Thank you!!


Best answer so far from ajs1976:

I have looked into the programs at COSC, TESU, and WGU. Search for a thread by JTP on the COSC program, and there are also threads on discussion for the TESU and WGU programs. Of the three, I would put TESU last. The per credit tuition rate is higher and it doesn't look like there will be many testing options to reduce the cost. personally, I would need to have an evaluation completed before I could pick between COSC and WGU.


With already having a CISSP, I don't see much value in the certs you would get from WGU except maybe the CCSP. Does your company pay for certs? With the way COSC does PLA, you can get credit for the CISSP, CEH, CHFI, and possibly the CRISC. https://www.charteroak.edu/prior-learnin...luated.cfm