Campus Launches Online Associate Degree in Cybersecurity Built for AI-Driven Threats

The two-year college's new degree includes preparation for CompTIA Security+, CEH, and AWS certifications, with live classes taught by experienced practitioners and university faculty that also teach at some of the nation's top colleges.

NEW YORK, October 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Campus, a two-year accredited college built for a generation of learners frustrated by the cost and pace of higher education, today announced the launch of its Associate of Science in Cybersecurity degree program. The program is designed to give students an affordable path into a four-year degree or a career in cybersecurity, equipping them with the skills they'll need to defend against increasingly sophisticated, artificial intelligence-driven threats.

AI is reshaping both how cyberattacks are carried out and the skills security teams need to respond. According to ISC2's 2025 Cybersecurity Workforce Study, 95% of cybersecurity professionals surveyed reported at least one skills gap on their team, and 73% said AI will create more specialized cybersecurity skills. In the new program, students learn the foundations of network security, threat detection, and ethical hacking, along with how to use AI in that work and defend against it when attackers do the same.

"Today's threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Attackers are already using AI to write phishing emails or make phone calls that sound exactly like a manager or family member," said Kaari Casey, Vice President of Academic Operations at Campus. "Entry-level IT professionals today must be able to catch that kind of deception quickly, and recognize when an AI tool's recommendation is wrong. Our students will develop the knowledge, skills, and judgment it takes to navigate this new world."

Building on the cybersecurity concentration Campus introduced within its Associate of Science in Information Technology in July, the program offers live, synchronous instruction taught by veteran cybersecurity practitioners and professors at top universities such as UC Davis, St. John's University, and University of Notre Dame. Over eight quarters, students move from introductory coursework in IT, cybersecurity, and AI to networking, cloud foundations, and IT ethics, then to network security, security operations and threat detection, and ethical hacking. AI runs through the curriculum: students learn to spot AI-generated deception in early security scenarios, validate AI-assisted recommendations in network-defense labs, and study how AI is used on both sides of an attack.

"Students in this program will build and test network defenses, work step by step through simulated incidents, and have to justify every decision they make. That rigor is what prepares students for the day-to-day work of an entry-level security role" said Casey.

Students also leave prepared for the high-value, industry-recognized certifications employers often look for in entry-level hires. Preparation for certification exams is built directly into students' coursework, which includes the content needed for students to sit for CompTIA's A+, Network+, Security+, and CySA+ exams, as well as the EC-Council Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) and AWS Cloud Practitioner and Solutions Architect certifications. Students who earn a B or higher in both their final course grade and final exam for a qualifying course are eligible for a Campus-funded certification exam voucher.

Students can apply starting now at campus.edu/online-cybersecurity-associate-degree. Classes will start in January 2027, with tuition set at $2,440 per quarter or $7,320 per academic year, including books and supplies.

As the first college built in the AI era, Campus is backed by entrepreneurs and investors including Sam Altman, Shaquille O'Neal, General Catalyst, Founders Fund, and 8VC, and is led by a board of respected former college presidents including John Wilson of Morehouse College and Gail Mellow of LaGuardia Community College. Campus delivers live, online classes taught by faculty who also teach at top colleges like Stanford and Howard. Campus' unique approach is grounded in a pioneering tech platform and a heavily-researched student success model proven to double two-year college graduation rates. Campus provides students with dedicated advisors, on-demand tutoring, and personalized coaching. Upon completion, students take skills learned in the program into the workforce or transfer to a growing number of four-year institution transfer partners.

About Campus
Campus is a new way to go to college, built for students looking for a lower-cost, faster launchpad into a career – or a four-year degree. Campus delivers live, online classes taught by professors who also teach at leading universities like Stanford and Howard University. The college's unique approach is grounded in a pioneering technology platform and a heavily-researched student success model that offers students dedicated advisors and on-demand tutoring and coaching to ensure their academic access. Campus was named one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies. To learn more, visit campus.edu.

SOURCE Campus.edu