Towson University

Towson University appears in our ranking of the 10 Most Affordable Master's in Information Systems Security Online.

Towson University originated on January 15, 1866, when Irish immigrant McFadden Alexander Newell welcomed an inaugural class of 16 to Red Men's Hall for the Maryland State Normal School. Moved three times after, it settled a permanent 88-acre Towson campus near Goucher College in 1915. Enrollment doubled in 1924 by acquiring the Baltimore City Training School for Teachers. One decade later, it began four-year education for the first Bachelor of Science. Accredited in 1949, the Teachers College transitioned to Towson State College in 1963. By 1983, Towson had university status and a Department of Computer & Information Sciences. The University System of Maryland welcomed Towson as its largest public branch in 1988. Budgeting $459.7 million, Towson University now inspires 22,343 Tigers, including Information Technology D.Sc. students, from 90+ nations in the Baltimore suburbs or online. Linked to 96,790 LinkedIn alumni, TU has trained Mark Nottingham, Brian Stelter, Amy Schumer, and more.

The U.S. News & World Report ranked Towson the 50th best Northern university, 30th best for vets school, and 68th top value with the 131st best online graduate education nationally. On Niche, TU boasts America's 158th top public education, 207th best student life, and 210th most liberal academics. Times Higher Education placed Towson University 484th overall. Forbes picked Towson for the 100th best public college. Money magazine crowned TU the 147th best investment for 20-year PayScale ROI of $327,000. In 2018, Diverse Issues in Higher Education named Towson 43rd for African Americans. College Factual designated TU the country's 37th best information technology school. WalletHub noticed Towson University for the 200th top career outcomes and 355th best financing. The Economist also proclaimed TU the 366th most value-added choice.

Towson University Accreditation Details

On November 17, 2016, Towson University underwent the extensive self-study evaluation process with the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) to renew the Level VI accreditation for 10 more years under its 14th president, Dr. Kim Schatzel, who earned the 2017 Champion for More in the Middle Award. Based 101 miles northeast via Interstate 95 in Philadelphia, this superb six-state DC Metro accreditator is authorized by the U.S. Education Department to ensure the quality of Towson's 64 baccalaureate, 42 master's, and five doctoral offerings. The Department of Computer & Information Sciences was reaffirmed by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) through 2024. Towson also has Maryland's only NSA National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations status.

Towson University Application Requirements

Starting at Towson University is considered "moderately difficult" by Peterson's because 9,854 of the 12,747 Fall 2017 applicants were okayed for selective 77 percent acceptance. Post-grad Tigers preying on the Information Technology D.Sc. must hold at least an STEM bachelor's degree. Relevant majors like Computer Science, Information Assurance, Cyber Security, and Computer Engineering are preferred, especially at ABET-accredited colleges. Up to 33 units of technical master's study would transfer. Prerequisite courses include C++ Programming, Algorithms, and Calculus. Full admission relies on cumulative GPAs of 3.5 or greater. On average, admitted graduates present a 3.8 GPA and 306 GRE score. English language learners need to reach a minimum 6.5 IELTS, 80 TOEFL iBT, 57 PTE, or 61 Duolingo mark.

Towson University has rolling Information Technology D.Sc. admission, but priority deadlines are November 1st for Spring and May 1st for Fall. Non-U.S. students must apply earlier by October 1st or April 15th respectively. Use the Online Application Menu to submit account profiles with the $45 non-refundable fee or waiver. Submit email addresses for two references at academic institutions. Have bachelor's and master's transcripts sent electronically or mailed to 8000 York Road in Towson, MD 21252. Optional GRE scores are sent directly with code 5404. Other attachments include the technical résumé, personal strengths statement, research paper sample, and English proficiency verification. Please contact (410) 704-2113 or [email protected] for further instructions.

Tuition and Financial Aid

For 2018-19, Towson University is charging traditional Maryland graduate students $10,062 annually full-time. Non-resident doctoral candidates pay $18,108 per year. Half-time enrollment incurs $6,708 to $12,072. Living at the Baltimore County campus' housing like Fellowship Court adds $12,464 for room and board. Budgets include $900 for textbooks, $2,400 for transport, $250 for loan fees, and $1,500 for personal supplies. Annual traditional post-grad attendance equals $27,576 in-state and $35,622 out-of-state. However, online learning is priced quite differently. The Information Technology D.Sc. bills Marylanders $418 and non-residents $865 per unit. Completing the 75-unit doctorate would total $31,350 or $64,875. Notice Towson has a $100 technology fee and $36 Graduate Student Association fee each term too.

According to the NCES College Navigator, the Enrollment Services Center has 49 percent of full-time TU Tigers share $80.99 million yearly for median financial aid worth $8,676 each. Information technology funds include the Mary Hudson Scarborough Award, Doris Lidtke Excellence in Service Award, James W. Smith Scholarship, Wendy & Larry Letow Scholarship, CyberCorps Scholarship for Service, Mid-Atlantic CIO Forum Scholarship, and Association of Old Crows Chapter Scholarship. The $1,000 Alumni Association Graduate Fellowship has a January 3rd deadline. Maryland residents pursue the Graduate & Professional Scholarship, Delegate Scholarship, Senatorial Scholarship, or Veterans of Afghanistan & Iraq Conflicts Scholarship. Teaching and research assistantships are available with $5,500 to $11,000 stipends. Federal Direct Unsubsidized and Grad Plus loans are borrowed using FAFSA code 002063. External programs like the IBM Fellowship, AISES Scholarship, and UNCF Merck Fellowship also help.

Online Degree(s) Available

The Off-Campus & Online Division of Towson University logs into Blackboard to confer 17 bachelor's, seven master's, and two doctoral programs wholly or partly online. Each seven- or 14-week term, asynchronous online courses stimulate active discussions among engaged students and tenured faculty at a 17:1 ratio. Other benefits include the SCS Service Desk, Gear2Go Loan, Multimedia Support Studio, TU Mobile App, Cook Library databases, Lynda.com tutoring, Webex accounts, eBill statements, Bridges to the Doctorate workshop, and CBE Connect job boards. Here's one excellent Towson post-grad example.

Information Technology, D.Sc.

Chaired by Dr. Chao Lu, the 2001 Federal Excellence in Technology Transfer Award winner, Towson's Information Technology D.Sc. gives scientists the advanced computer skills to lead initiatives developing state-of-the-art systems. The 75-unit, post-bachelor's program provides a hybrid format mixing Baltimore Metro sessions with online learning in three tracks: Computer Security, Database Management Systems, or Software Engineering. Finishing the Doctor of Science takes 36-60 months with a qualifying IT exam and dissertation defense included.

Find similar online offerings, such as the Applied Information Technology M.S., Information Technology B.S., Information Security & Assurance Certificate, Networking Technologies Certificate, and Database Management Systems Certificate, at the Towson University website.