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UNO's Cybersecurity Program Ranked No. 11 in the Country by Programs.com

UNO's Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity program has been listed among the Top 25 in the country by Programs.com.

  • published: 2026/03/17
  • contact: Yahya Shema - College of Information Science and Technology
  • email: yshema@unomaha.edu
Students study in the Peter Kiewit Institute at the University of Nebraska Omaha

Two students studying in the College of Information Science & Technology workspace

➡️ What's Happening

The University of Nebraska Omaha's (UNO) Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity program, offered through the College of Information Science & Technology (IS&T), has been ranked No. 11 in the nation by Programs.com in its 2026 Top 25 Cybersecurity Bachelor's Degree Programs list.

The ranking places UNO among an elite group of institutions nationwide and highlights the program's strengths in curriculum flexibility, academic quality, and affordability.

🔎 Zoom In

UNO's cybersecurity program is available both on campus and online. The program holds dual NSA National Center of Academic Excellence (NCAE-C) designations — in both Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) and Cyber Operations (CAE-CO) — a distinction held by a few institutions nationwide.

Beyond the classroom, students gain hands-on experience by working with local companies and participating in UNO-led initiatives such as the Nebraska Cyber Matrix — a state-of-the-art cybersecurity training facility in the Peter Kiewit Institute that connects students with local businesses to address real cybersecurity threats.

💡 Why It Matters

This recognition adds to a growing list of national accolades for UNO's academic programs and student experience. Military Times ranked UNO No. 1 for Traditional and Online Education.

🌎 The Big Picture

As demand for qualified cybersecurity professionals continues to outpace available talent, UNO's nationally ranked program serves as a critical pipeline for Nebraska and the broader region.

💬 What People Are Saying:

Matt Hale, Ph.D., Professor of Cybersecurity, and Director of the School of Interdisciplinary Informatics: "Rankings are great, but they don't make a program great — they just show the world what we already know to be true. And what's true here is this: doors are opening. If you open a door for a smart young person with potential, they will walk through it. UNO's cybersecurity program and related initiatives like Nebraska Cyber Matrix are building that kind of proving ground, where students don't just study cybersecurity in a textbook — they practice it and leave ready to defend the systems we all rely on.”

Martha Garcia-Murillo, Ph.D., Dean, College of Information Science & Technology: “Our cybersecurity program is ahead of its time by transitioning its labs to include AI-guided assignments. The program continues to build stronger ties with industry, so students gain real-world experience while interning in our student-run Security Operations Center. The ranking thus reflects all the hard work the faculty does to provide state-of-the-art education.”