Best Online Cybersecurity Programs in Waterloo, IA (2026)

Waterloo, Iowa has 5 accredited schools offering cybersecurity programs, with tuition ranging from $10,497 to $27,683 per year for indexed programs. Waterloo has a population of about 66,947. Median household income is $56,344 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 22.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area, the top-earning cybersecurity-related role is Computer and Information Systems Manager at a median $132,210 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).


Closest Cybersecurity Schools to Waterloo

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer cybersecurity programs near Waterloo, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Waterloo city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.

How We Rank Schools

Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:

  • Graduation rate 30%
  • Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
  • Average net price (lower is better) 20%
  • Retention rate 15%
  • Fully online availability 10%

Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Waterloo. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

#1

North Iowa Area Community College

Mason City, IA 60.8 miles from Waterloo BOC Score 57.1
  • 2 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Graduation rate 58%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $43,462
Avg net price $10,010/yr
Tuition
In‑state$6,653
Out‑of‑state$9,551
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 57

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Iowa State University

Ames, IA 73.5 miles from Waterloo BOC Score 76.9
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 74%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $63,386
Avg net price $18,589/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 88%
  • Programs offered: 56

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

Emmaus Bible College

Dubuque, IA 83.9 miles from Waterloo BOC Score 74.2
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 78%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $42,631
Avg net price $13,186/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 77%
  • Programs offered: 8

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Waldorf University

Forest City, IA 84.3 miles from Waterloo BOC Score 36.8
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Acceptance rate 77%
Graduation rate 24%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $51,165
Avg net price $19,693/yr
Tuition
In‑state$25,978
Out‑of‑state$25,978
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 48%
  • Programs offered: 24

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#5

Des Moines Area Community College

Ankeny, IA 84.3 miles from Waterloo BOC Score 50.0
  • 2 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 28%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $41,018
Avg net price $11,171/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 89

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Saint Ambrose University

Davenport, IA 112.2 miles from Waterloo BOC Score 62.5
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Acceptance rate 77%
Graduation rate 62%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $59,531
Avg net price $24,691/yr
Tuition
In‑state$36,658
Out‑of‑state$36,658
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 80%
  • Programs offered: 42

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#7

Iowa Western Community College

Council Bluffs, IA 195.9 miles from Waterloo BOC Score 48.3
  • 2 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 31%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $42,793
Avg net price $14,629/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 63

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Iowa schools on the Iowa cybersecurity page.


Cybersecurity Wages Near Waterloo

Waterloo is part of the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area (BLS area code 47940). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Iowa statewide.

OccupationMedian WageSourceCOL-Adjusted (US=100)
Information Security Analyst$106,350Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA$122,101
Network and Computer Systems Administrator$82,260Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA$94,443
Computer Network Architect$103,050IA statewide$118,312
Computer Systems Analyst$80,140Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA$92,009
Computer and Information Systems Manager$132,210Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA$151,791
Computer Network Support Specialist$59,410Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA$68,209
Computer User Support Specialist$59,630Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA$68,462

Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.


Waterloo at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population66,947Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$56,344Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+22.6%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)87.1 (below U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024
Cybersecurity-related employment in Black Hawk County643 workers, 121 establishmentsBLS QCEW 2024 annual

Other Waterloo-Area Cities With Cybersecurity Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited cybersecurity schools are near Waterloo, IA?

Accredited schools offering cybersecurity programs near Waterloo are listed on this page, ranked by BOC Score and distance from the city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS and College Scorecard data on every site update, so it stays current as programs open and close.

What are the highest-paying cybersecurity roles near Waterloo?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying cybersecurity-related roles near Waterloo are: Computer and Information Systems Manager ($132,210), Information Security Analyst ($106,350), Computer Network Architect ($103,050). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Iowa statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Cedar Falls instead of Waterloo?

Cedar Falls, IA is 5.5 miles from Waterloo and has its own set of local cybersecurity programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is Waterloo an affordable place to study cybersecurity?

Waterloo’s median household income of $56,344 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Waterloo while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Iowa public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.

How do I verify a program is accredited?

Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.


Learn More About Cybersecurity Programs

Other Programs Available in Waterloo

Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Waterloo:

Data verified: July 23, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.