Information Security Engineer Education Requirements

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become an information security engineer. Information security engineers usually study computer science, computer information systems, or information technology. 67% of information security engineers hold a bachelor's degree, and 15% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 1,171 real information security engineer resumes to see exactly what information security engineer education sections show.

The most common colleges for information security engineers are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.

There are also many online information security engineer courses to help get the education required to be an information security engineer.

There are certain information security engineer certifications that you should consider. These information security engineer certifications include Certified Information Systems Security Professional - Architecture (CISSP) and Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP).

What education do you need to become an information security engineer?

What degree do you need to be an information security engineer?

The most common degree for information security engineers is bachelor's degree, with 67% of information security engineers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 15% and associate degree degree at 15%.

Bachelor's, 67%

Associate, 15%

Master's, 15%

Diploma, 1%

Other Degrees, 2%

What should I major in to become an information security engineer?

You should major in computer science to become an information security engineer. 17% of information security engineers major in computer science. Other common majors for an information security engineer include computer information systems and information technology.

Computer Science, 17%

Computer Information Systems, 13%

Information Technology, 12%

Business, 10%

Other Majors, 48%

Most common colleges for information security engineers

Information security engineers often get their degrees at University of Phoenix, Strayer University, and George Mason University. Here are the most common colleges for information security engineers in the US based on their resumes.

Information Security Engineer Common College	Percentages
University of Phoenix	16.25%
Strayer University	10.00%
George Mason University	10.00%
DeVry University	7.50%
University of Maryland - College Park	6.88%

Show more common information security engineer colleges

Best majors for information security engineers

Rank	Major	Percentages
1	Computer Science	16.9%
2	Computer Information Systems	12.7%
3	Information Technology	11.9%
4	Business	10.0%
5	Electrical Engineering	6.9%

Show more common information security engineer majors

Best colleges for information security engineers

The best colleges for information security engineers are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and Vanderbilt University.

An information security engineer with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for information security engineers. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become information security engineers.

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-State Tuition

$51,832

Enrollment

4,550

2. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

3. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-State Tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

4. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

In-State Tuition

$55,695

Enrollment

6,596

5. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-State Tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

6. Georgia Institute of Technology

Atlanta, GA • Private

In-State Tuition

$12,424

Enrollment

15,201

7. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$55,188

Enrollment

15,105

8. Georgetown University

Washington, DC • Private

In-State Tuition

$54,104

Enrollment

7,089

9. Dartmouth College

Hanover, NH • Private

In-State Tuition

$55,453

Enrollment

4,312

10. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-State Tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

20 best online courses for information security engineers

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1. Ethical Hacker

Meet the growing demand for cybersecurity professionals by gaining the offensive security skills to protect an organization’s computer networks and systems...

2. Security Engineer

Gain the highly sought-after skills to protect an organization’s computer networks and systems from security threats or attacks...

3. Information Systems Auditing, Controls and Assurance

The course is awarded The Best Free Online Courses of All Time, and Best Online Courses of the Year (2021 Edition) by Class Central (http://www.classcentral.com). --- Information systems (IS) are important assets to business organizations and are ubiquitous in our daily lives. With the latest IS technologies emerging, such as Big Data, FinTech, Virtual Banks, there are more concerns from the public on how organizations maintain systems’ integrity, such as data privacy, information security, the...

4. Managing Network Security

Almost every organization uses computer networks to share their information and to support their business operations. When we allow network access to data it is exposed to threats from inside and outside of the organization. This course examines the threats associated with using internal and external networks and how to manage the protection of information when it’s accessible via networks. In this course, a learner will be able to: ● Describe the threats to data from information communication...

5. Certified Information Systems Security Officer (CISSO)

4.5

(656)

Certified Information Systems Security Officer (CISSO) Certification Exam Prep Course...

6. Information Security Fundamentals - Cyber Security Bootcamp

4.2

(267)

A Beginners Awareness Guide on Information Security & Cyber Security to Keep Online and Offline Devices Safe!...

7. Intro to Cybersecurity

Get your start in the high growth field of Cybersecurity by building foundational skills in how to evaluate, maintain, and monitor the security of computer systems...

8. Security Analyst

Meet the growing demand for cybersecurity professionals by gaining the skills to protect an organization’s computer networks and systems...

9. Information Systems Security for Professionals: CISSP

4.5

(2,165)

Making Next Gen Information Security Leaders...

10. Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)

4.1

(1,311)

Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)...

11. Security Architect

Meet the growing demand for security architects and learn the skills required to advance your cybersecurity career. You will master the skills necessary to become a successful security architect. Learn core strategies and implementation elements of security infrastructure design and management at an enterprise level...

12. Enterprise Security

Meet the growing demand for enterprise security engineers and learn the foundational skills of security engineering within an enterprise setting...

13. Information Security Basics for IT Support Technicians

4.3

(300)

Learn the basics of information security and what you need to know to be compliant with data protection regulations...

14. ISACA CISM Certified Information Security Manager

(285)

One of the highest paid certifications! Become a Certified Information Security Manager!...

15. Cybersecurity for Business Leaders

Learn to leverage the capabilities of cybersecurity best practices to protect your organization and unlock next-level results...

16. Zero Trust Security

Companies around the world are facing constant and evolving cyber attacks, so it’s imperative that they find talent with the dynamic skills to address these pressing issues...

17. Information Security Fundamentals

4.5

(589)

The very basics of Info Sec...

18. Information Security Management Fundamentals for Non-Techies

4.6

(13,166)

Learn the Fundamentals of Information Security Management for Non-Techies...

19. ISO/IEC 27002:2022. Information security controls

4.5

(770)

Learn about the comprehensive set of information security controls proposed by ISO/IEC 27002:2022...

20. Information Security Awareness: An Introduction for UK SMEs

4.4

(412)

Combating Security Threats and Cultivating Information Security Awareness...

Top 10 most affordable universities for information security engineers

The most affordable schools for information security engineers are Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, brigham young university, and hunter college of the city university of new york.

If the best universities for information security engineers are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for information security engineers.

1. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,240

Cost of Attendance

13,991

2. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-State Tuition

$5,620

Cost of Attendance

18,136

3. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,182

Cost of Attendance

13,998

4. Clayton State University

Morrow, GA • Private

In-State Tuition

$5,419

Cost of Attendance

17,697

5. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-State Tuition

$9,992

Cost of Attendance

22,430

6. Queens College of the City University of New York

Queens, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,338

Cost of Attendance

14,281

7. Brigham Young University - Hawaii

Laie, HI • Private

In-State Tuition

$5,560

Cost of Attendance

18,043

8. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Arecibo

Arecibo, PR • Private

In-State Tuition

$5,872

Cost of Attendance

13,476

9. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Ponce

Mercedita, PR • Private

In-State Tuition

$5,914

Cost of Attendance

13,564

10. Trident University International

Cypress, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$9,240

Cost of Attendance

17,912

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for information security engineers

The hardest universities for information security engineers to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and Vanderbilt University.

Some great schools for information security engineers are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for information security engineers based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

SAT Average

1,497

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions Rate

SAT Average

1,508

3. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions Rate

10%

SAT Average

1,514

4. Amherst College

Amherst, MA • Private

Admissions Rate

13%

SAT Average

1,449

5. University of Rochester

Rochester, NY • Private

Admissions Rate

29%

SAT Average

1,422

6. Tufts University

Medford, MA • Private

Admissions Rate

15%

SAT Average

1,461

7. University of Tulsa

Tulsa, OK • Private

Admissions Rate

41%

SAT Average

1,321

8. Boston College

Chestnut Hill, MA • Private

Admissions Rate

28%

SAT Average

1,429

9. Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO • Private

Admissions Rate

15%

SAT Average

1,506

10. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions Rate

SAT Average

1,520

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for information security engineers

The easiest schools for information security engineers to get into are Nyack College, saint martin's university, and oklahoma wesleyan university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an information security engineer without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for information security engineers.

1. Nyack College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions Rate

98%

SAT Average

999

2. Saint Martin's University

Lacey, WA • Private

Admissions Rate

96%

SAT Average

1,111

3. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions Rate

68%

SAT Average

964

4. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions Rate

91%

SAT Average

1,006

5. Linfield College

McMinnville, OR • Private

Admissions Rate

81%

SAT Average

1,117

6. La Roche College

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions Rate

99%

SAT Average

1,008

7. Cardinal Stritch University

Milwaukee, WI • Private

Admissions Rate

71%

SAT Average

1,035

8. Saint Xavier University

Chicago, IL • Private

Admissions Rate

74%

SAT Average

1,061

9. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

Winona, MN • Private

Admissions Rate

91%

SAT Average

1,148

10. Longwood University

Farmville, VA • Private

Admissions Rate

89%

SAT Average

1,065

Average information security engineer salary by education level

According to our data, information security engineers with a Master's degree earn the highest average salary, at $105,993 annually. Information security engineers with a Bachelor's degree earn an average annual salary of $97,683.

Information Security Engineer education level	Information Security Engineer salary
Master's Degree	$105,993
Bachelor's Degree	$97,683
Some College/ Associate Degree	$85,059

Information Security Engineer Education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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