Cybersecurity Degree in Akron, OH — Salary & ROI 2026
Cybersecurity degree analysis for Akron, OH. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$84K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$121K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
1.7 yrs
in Akron
Cost of Living
105
index (100 = avg)
Cybersecurity in Akron, OH Overview
While Akron has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Cybersecurity students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $8,745/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. Cybersecurity has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Network Security and Ethical Hacking skills. The adjusted starting salary in Akron is approximately $84,000.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$11,330/yr
Private Tuition
$45,325/yr
Room & Board
$8,745/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,336/yr
Unemployment
3.3%
Graduation Rate
72%
Cybersecurity Salary in Akron (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Akron's cost of living index of 105 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Cybersecurity salary: $80,000 starting, $115,000 mid-career, $145,000 senior level.Akron adjustment factor: 1.05x based on the local cost of living index.
Cybersecurity ROI Calculator for Akron
Estimate your return on investment for a Cybersecurity degree using local Akron tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,330 | Private avg: $45,325
Akron avg aid: $8,336/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$80,300
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$47,250
vs HS diploma in Akron
ROI Payback Period
1.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Akron
$1,022,200
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,102,500) minus total education cost ($80,300)
Student Loan Payoff for Cybersecurity in Akron
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Akron for Cybersecurity
University of Akron
public
$11,330/yr
$45,320 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Stark State College
$4,344/yr
Top Employers for Cybersecurity in Akron
Akron offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Cybersecurity graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Akron Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Cybersecurity Job Titles
Cybersecurity in Nearby Ohio Cities
Columbus, OH
$82K starting · COL 103
31 colleges
Cleveland, OH
$77K starting · COL 96
20 colleges
Cincinnati, OH
$82K starting · COL 102
28 colleges
Toledo, OH
$86K starting · COL 108
16 colleges
Dayton, OH
$83K starting · COL 104
9 colleges
Parma, OH
$72K starting · COL 90
4 colleges
Canton, OH
$67K starting · COL 84
4 colleges
Lorain, OH
$68K starting · COL 85.2
3 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Akron
Prompt Engineering
$53K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$100K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$89K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$92K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$86K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$53K starting · 3 yr ROI
Robotics Engineering
$53K starting · 3 yr ROI
Applied Mathematics
$53K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Cybersecurity Degree in Akron — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Cybersecurity ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Akron.