Date: 25 July 2025
Con: Degrees Are Expensive and Time-Consuming
Even an affordable state university can cost well over $20,000 for a four-year programme. Private colleges or master’s degrees can reach six figures. That’s a major financial burden, especially if you’re already working full-time or supporting a family.
Many online bootcamps or certification programmes can get you job-ready for a fraction of the cost and time. For example, the Google Cybersecurity Certificate takes about six months and costs under $300. Security+ can be completed in a few weeks of study.
If you're looking for a fast track to your first analyst job, a degree might be more than you need.
Con: Not All Programmes Are Aligned with Real-World Tools
Some degree programmes are slow to adapt. They may still teach deprecated tools, skip cloud security, or rely on textbooks that don't reflect current threats. If the curriculum doesn’t include cloud platforms, log analysis, incident response, or scripting, it may leave you underprepared.
This is especially common in programmes that aren't closely connected to industry partners or that haven’t refreshed their courses in several years. Before enrolling, check whether a programme includes hands-on labs, real-world scenarios, and preparation for certifications like CISSP, CEH, or CISM.
Con: You Can Learn a Lot Without a Degree
Cybersecurity is one of the few industries where it’s genuinely possible to get hired without a formal degree. There are people working as SOC analysts, detection engineers, and even red teamers who are entirely self-taught.
Open-source projects, bug bounty programmes, lab platforms like TryHackMe and Hack The Box, and community resources like Sigma and Zeek all give aspiring professionals the chance to build and demonstrate skills.
If you’re already working in IT or have a background in networking, adding focused certifications and practical experience might be enough to get you in the door.
When a Degree Makes Sense
- You want to work in government, healthcare, or critical infrastructure
- You’re aiming for leadership or architecture roles in the future
- You want a structured way to learn both technical and strategic skills
- You value the career support and network a university can offer
When It Might Not Be Necessary
- You already work in IT or a technical role and just need to specialise
- You’re comfortable with self-directed learning and building your own projects
- You’re focused on hands-on roles like SOC analyst or penetration tester
- You want to get into the job market quickly with minimal upfront cost
Final Thoughts
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. A cybersecurity degree can be a strong investment if it aligns with your goals and gives you access to opportunities you wouldn’t have otherwise. But it’s not the only path.
If you’re considering a degree, ask hard questions about the curriculum, hands-on components, and job placement support. Compare it with what you could accomplish through certification, practice labs, and community involvement.
Cybersecurity rewards skills, not just credentials. Whether you earn those skills through a university, a bootcamp, or your own curiosity matters less than what you can do with them.