Best Online Cybersecurity Programs in Columbus, MS (2026)

Columbus, Mississippi has 5 accredited schools offering cybersecurity programs, with tuition ranging from $3,932 to $33,200 per year for indexed programs. Columbus has a population of about 23,616. Median household income is $40,588 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 25.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Mississippi, the top-earning cybersecurity-related role is Computer and Information Systems Manager at a median $124,280 annually (BLS, May 2025).


Closest Cybersecurity Schools to Columbus

The 5 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 5 schools in our directory that offer cybersecurity programs near Columbus. Distances are calculated from Columbus city center.

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 Columbus. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

#1

Mississippi State University

Mississippi State, MS 22.0 miles from Columbus BOC Score61.5
Published tuition$9,815 - $26,922
Online programsYes

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#2

East Mississippi Community College

Scooba, MS 47.0 miles from Columbus BOC Score57.7
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes

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#3

The University of Alabama

Tuscaloosa, AL 54.2 miles from Columbus BOC Score69.7
Published tuition$11,900 - $33,200
Online programsYes

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#4

Meridian Community College

Meridian, MS 80.9 miles from Columbus BOC Score50.6
Published tuition$3,932 - $13,402
Online programsYes

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#5

East Central Community College

Decatur, MS 84.2 miles from Columbus BOC Score46.5
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programs--

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


Cybersecurity Wages Near Columbus

OccupationMedian Annual Wage (Mississippi, statewide)
Information Security Analyst$87,690
Network and Computer Systems Administrator$79,990
Computer Network Architect$90,990
Computer Systems Analyst$86,280
Computer and Information Systems Manager$124,280
Computer Network Support Specialist$63,410
Computer User Support Specialist$52,230

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.


Columbus at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population23,616Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$40,588Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+25.8%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Cybersecurity-related employment in Lowndes County66 workers, 18 establishmentsBLS QCEW 2024 annual

Other Columbus-Area Cities With Cybersecurity Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited cybersecurity schools are near Columbus, MS?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering cybersecurity programs near Columbus. The closest is Mississippi State University in Mississippi State, MS (22.0 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is East Central Community College (84.2 miles). 4 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying cybersecurity roles in Mississippi?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying cybersecurity-related roles in Mississippi are: Computer and Information Systems Manager ($124,280), Computer Network Architect ($90,990), Information Security Analyst ($87,690). Wages for Columbus workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Starkville instead of Columbus?

Starkville, MS is 24.2 miles from Columbus 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 Columbus an affordable place to study cybersecurity?

Columbus’s median household income of $40,588 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Columbus while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Mississippi 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 Columbus

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

Data verified: June 11, 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.