Jan. 22, 2025
Ferris State’s Master of Information Security and Intelligence program among nation’s elite in US News and World Report rankings
Ferris State University’s Information Security and Intelligence program is one of the best in the nation according to rankings from U.S. News and World Report.
Ferris State’s Master of Science in Information Security and Intelligence is ranked No. 6 of 97 in the United States, including No. 1 for Engagement, No. 5 for faculty credentials and training, No. 3 for Services and Technology, and No. 8 for student excellence in the publications annual Best Online Programs rankings, released this week.
Ferris State’s online nursing program was in the top 100 in its category, ranked No. 93 out of 198 in the Best Online Master’s in Nursing Programs.
“These rankings reflect Ferris State's strong commitment to cybersecurity, a collaborative effort driven by high-achieving students, faculty, staff, and administration,” said professor Greg Gogolin, director of Ferris State’s Center for Cybersecurity and Data Science. This dedication to excellence is a hallmark of the Ferris community, evident in academics, athletics, and beyond.”
Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Columbia University in New York, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Virginia Tech in Falls Church, Virginia, and University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona are the only universities with programs ranking higher than Ferris State, which is tied with Pennsylvania State University for the No. 6 slot. No other Michigan university is in the top 40.
Ferris State University's cybersecurity programs have consistently achieved national recognition as a preferred institution for students pursuing advanced education in cybersecurity, data science and artificial intelligence. This success is attributable to the nationally and internationally respected faculty who integrate their extensive industry experience into the curriculum.
Ferris State is rapidly rising in the standings, ranked No. 14 of 92 programs a year ago, and No. 41 two years ago.
The publication noted that all Ferris State faculty work in field, hold relevant certifications and are doctorally qualified. The Information Security and Intelligence program is ABET accredited and designated by the National Security Agency as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense.
It salutes Ferris State for its $32 million Center for Virtual Learning with double nested Faraday rooms, secured working cybercrime lab, dedicated pen testing and space satellite cybersecurity research labs, segmented networks, full synchronous online and face-to-face classrooms, and dedicated cyber competition arena with streaming broadcast capability.
Students pursuing a Ferris State master’s degree in Information Security and Intelligence strengthen their knowledge in areas such as Cybersecurity, Business Intelligence, Incident Response, Project Management and Cyber Risk Management. Graduates often pursue careers as analysts, forensic experts, project managers, security officers and technical managers.
Among Michigan peers, Ferris State was followed by the University of Michigan-Dearborn, No. 41; Central Michigan University, at No. 55; Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, also at No. 55; and Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, at No. 72.
For the Masters of Nursing program, University of Detroit Mercy, at No. 58, was the only Michigan university to top Ferris State. Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, at No. 118; Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, at No. 128; Michigan State University in East Lansing, at No. 143; and Siena Heights University in Adrian, at No. 150; were the only other Michigan programs to be ranked.
The Ferris State program ranked No. 26 in the Faculty Credentials and Training category.
The publication noted that Ferris State’s online nursing classes are recorded and archived so students can access lecture material at their convenience, and that all students are already employed when they first enroll.