MS in Digital Forensics and Cyber Investigation
A 30-credit online master's with one flat tuition rate regardless of residency, no specific undergraduate major required, and a heavily discounted military rate.
Type: Degree & academicWorking practitionersCareer changersLaw enforcement & investigators
Offered by University of Maryland Global Campus
The facts
- Cost
- $694 per credit for 2026-27, charged at the same rate in-state and out-of-state because UMGC prices online study flat. The military rate is $336 per credit. 30 credits, of which up to 12 are transferable.Figure read 2026-09-12 from www.umgc.edu/online-degrees/masters/digital-forensics-cyber-investigation
- Prerequisites
- No specific undergraduate major is required. UMGC recommends a background in computing and programming, and strong writing skills.
- Format
- Online. 30 credits — 15 core, 12 elective and a 3-credit capstone. UMGC estimates about 18 months at two courses per term.
- Length
- About 18 months at two courses per term.
- Renewal
- No renewal or recertification requirement is published for this entry.
- Accreditation
- UMGC describes itself as an accredited state university and a member of the University System of Maryland. No NSA CAE-CD claim appeared on this programme page.
- Who it suits
- A working adult or service member changing careers who needs an accredited master's with no computing-degree prerequisite and no residency penalty.
- Audience
- Working practitioners · Career changers · Law enforcement & investigators
Strengths
- One flat per-credit rate regardless of residency, which removes the out-of-state penalty that dominates most public-university comparisons.
- No specific undergraduate major required, so it is genuinely open to career changers — unusual among the graduate programmes here.
- Up to 12 of 30 credits transferable, which can materially cut the cost and time.
- The $336 military rate makes it one of the cheapest accredited master's routes available to service members.
- UMGC is built around working adults, so the scheduling assumptions match a full-time job.
Limitations
- $694 per credit is roughly double UCF's in-state rate, so a Florida resident should compare carefully.
- No NSA CAE-CD designation stated on the programme page, unlike several competitors.
- A cyber-investigation framing means some coursework is investigative process rather than technical examination.
- Fully online with no cohort residency, which suits some learners and leaves others unsupported.
Sources
Costs, prerequisites and exam formats in this field change often, and several providers price by region, cohort or employer agreement. Every figure on this page carries the date it was read and a link to the page it was read from. Confirm current terms with the provider before you spend anything.