Recognitions & Awards
America’s Top Colleges, 2023, Forbes
Capitol Technology University has ranked among the top 8% of the best colleges in America. Every year, Forbes’ showcases 500 of the finest U.S. colleges from a list of institutions that educate undergraduates according to their Carnegie Classification—a higher education framework that categorizes institutions based on the types of degrees they offer, their research output and specialty focus, as well as doctoral research and master’s universities, and those offering specialized programs in engineering, business, and art.
Rankings are based on specific data related to student success, return on investment, alumni influence, impressive graduation rates, high graduate salaries, great outcomes for low-income students, and additional standards of excellence.
Read our News & Events article.
Center of Academic Excellence, NSA and DoD
Capitol Technology University is recognized by the National Security Agency (NSA) and Department of Defense (DoD) as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD).
The NCAE program aims to create and manage a collaborative cybersecurity educational program with community colleges, colleges, and universities that:
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Establishes standards for cybersecurity curriculum and academic excellence,
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Includes competency development among students and faculty,
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Values community outreach and leadership in professional development,
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Integrates cybersecurity practice within the institution across academic disciplines,
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Actively engages in solutions to challenges facing cybersecurity education.
CAE-designated institutions must complete validation of a Program of Study, which is a series of courses and experiences that a student can reasonably accomplish in the course of attaining a degree or completing a certificate.
For more information, visit the NSA website.
Best Data Analytics PhD Program, 2025, TechGuide
Capitol Technology University’s online Ph.D. in Business Analytics and Data Science program has earned the #5 spot in TechGuide’s Best Data Analytics PhD Programs. These rankings are based on data from the Integrated Post-Secondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) via College Navigator, accessed in March 2025. Key factors such as tuition, student-to-faculty ratio, admission and graduation rates, and alumni success were assessed.
For more information, visit TechGuide.org
Most Affordable Master's in AI, 2025, MastersinAI.org
Capitol Technology University's Online M.Res. in Artificial Intelligence was ranked as the #12 most affordable online Master’s in AI program for 2025 by MastersinAI.org. This site conducts an annual review of every online AI master’s program in the U.S., ranking affordability based on tuition rates, program structure, and funding opportunities. To qualify, programs must be regionally accredited, offered fully or primarily online, and have a total cost below $30,000.
For more information, visit our program page.
Military Friendly School, 2024-2025, VIQTORY
MilitaryFriendly.com has designated Capitol Tech as a Gold Level Military Friendly institution for several consecutive years. The Military Friendly® Schools survey is the longest-running most comprehensive review of college and university investments in serving military and veteran students. This list covers institutions offering certificate programs to doctoral degrees as well as benefits and tuition discounts to military professionals and their families.
For more information, visit our Military and Veterans page.
Military Supportive College, 2024, MilitarySupportiveColleges.com
For several consecutive years, Capitol Tech has been named one of the Top Military-Supportive Colleges in the Northeast. Colleges and universities are chosen based on how they genuinely offer the best place for any veteran, active-duty service member, or anyone from their families using military educational benefits to earn a degree, in addition to the institution’s partnership with the Yellow Ribbon Program.
For more information, visit our Military and Veterans page.
Top Online Master’s Program in Maryland, 2024, OnlineMastersColleges.com
Capitol Technology University ranked #4 in the Top Online Master’s Program in Maryland for 2024 by OnlineMastersColleges.com. Rankings are based on high graduation rates, competitive tuition prices, and opportunities for internships and networking within the DMV area.
Best Online Ph.D. in Cyber Security, 2024, FindBestDegrees.com
Capitol Technology University’s online Ph.D. in Cybersecurity has earned recognition as Best Online Ph.D. by Find Best Degrees. Rigorously evaluated across various criteria including graduation and retention rates, affordability, and program accreditation, FBD finds our university demonstrates academic distinction and innovation in online Ph.D. degree offerings. Students receive a comprehensive and enriching educational experience tailored to their individual aspirations and career goals. This esteemed accolade underscores our commitment to excellence in online higher education and unwavering dedication to delivering top-tier Ph.D. degree programs to students worldwide.
For more information, visit FindBestDegrees.com
Best Online Ph.D. and Doctoral Programs, 2024, Open Education Database (OEDb)
Capitol Technology University ranked in the top 3 of the Best Online Ph.D. and Doctoral Programs by Open Education Database (OEDb).
Capitol is recognized for our 60-credit Ph.D. programs that develop professionals in areas of evolving industry interest and prepares them for the dynamic workplace through hands-on skills, research, and expertise, making our graduates some of the most sought-after and highly respected researchers, leaders, and educators to contribute to their fields.
Best Accredited Online Ph.D. Programs, 2024, AccreditedSchoolsOnline.com
Capitol Technology University ranked #1 in the Best Accredited Online Ph.D. Programs 2024 by AccreditedSchoolsOnline.com.
Capitol is recognized for our online Ph.D. programs that provide students with flexible schedules and an affordable tuition, and are accredited by the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC).
Best Ph.D. in Business Analytics Degree Program, 2024, TechGuide.org
Capitol Technology University’s Ph.D. in Business Analytics and Data Science ranked #1 in TechGuide's 2024 list of best Ph.D. in Business Analytics degree programs. This recognition highlights the excellence of our program and our unwavering commitment to academic excellence. By earning a place among the top 7 institutions providing exceptional educational opportunities, our university reaffirms its dedication to delivering outstanding education.
TechGuide's ranking process involves a thorough evaluation, considering various factors such as tuition, student-to-faculty ratio, admission and graduation rates, and alumni success. Data is analyzed from reputable sources such as the National Center for Education Statistics, including IPEDS and the College Navigator, to ensure the accuracy and reliability of their rankings.
#1 Best Online Cybersecurity PhD, 2023-2024, Cybersecurity.org
Capitol Technology University has been ranked #1 for Best Online Cybersecurity Ph.D. by Cybersecurity.org. This ranking is based on school reputation, course quality and availability, our online dissertation research options and outstanding faculty, as well as our longstanding recognition as a Center for Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (NCAE-CD).
We have also received recognition for several other of our programs as well:
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#1 Best online cybersecurity PhD programs
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#5 Best cybersecurity bachelor’s degree programs
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#8 Best online master’s in cybersecurity programs
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#10 Best online cybersecurity bachelor’s degree programs
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#16 Most affordable cybersecurity bachelor’s degree programs
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#23 Most affordable online cybersecurity bachelor’s degree programs
For more information, visit the Cybersecurity.org page.
Best Online Master's Programs, 2024, OnlineMastersDegrees.org
Capitol Technology University has been recognized as one of the best schools for online learning at the master’s level by OnlineMastersDegrees.org (OMD), as well as one of the most affordable. Capitol Tech’s programs earned top honors for overall quality, affordability and commitment to student success. This year's considerations were focused on schools making it easier for students to compete in today’s increasingly difficult job market. Top-ranked schools also had competitive tuition rates and/or scholarships to help drive costs down. Capitol Tech was recognized as one of the top 30 universities, out of 7,700 considered, for our best online master's program offerings.
Primary data points for qualifying schools included:
- Academic counseling services
- Career placement services
- Student/faculty ratio
- Tuition
- Percent of students receiving school-based aid
- Amount of school-based aid per student
To be eligible for ranking, a university must hold active regional accreditation and have at least one partially online master’s program in the ranking subject. Just 8 percent of U.S. postsecondary institutions earned a ranking position.
For more information, visit the OMD website.
Top NCAE- C Public and Private Four-Year Institution for Cyber Bachelor’s Graduates from 2010 to 2020, 2023, CSET
The Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET) recognizes Capitol Technology University as one of the top NCAE- C Public and Private Four-Year Institutions for Cyber Bachelor’s Graduates from 2010 to 2020. CSET performed a high-level study of the National Centers of Academic Excellence and Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) and determined that NCAE-C-designated institutions are graduating cyber talent at a higher rate than schools without the designation.
Capitol Technology University ranked at the top of the list with the largest share of cyber graduates at 48%, almost half of our graduates, being in the field of cybersecurity. Additionally, our university was identified as one doing outstanding work in cyber education based on a review of structure, degree and course offerings, and broader context of efforts within our region and education sector. CSET noted that: “Capitol Technology University and its programs are an example of a successful pipeline for cyber talent into the private and public sectors. Leveraging their location and the connection to government partners forged by the NCAE-C program, they have developed a long list of cyber-related programs that provide in-demand skills to employers in the area. They also use their expertise to help build the training ecosystem for both K–12 and postsecondary institutions.”
Best Online Colleges in Maryland, 2023, BestColleges.com
Capitol Technology University ranked #6 as one of the top colleges in Maryland offering online programs by BestColleges.com.
Among numerous higher education institutions, Capitol Technology University emerged as a standout due to our exceptional academic standards and emphasis on student success.
Rankings are based on statistical data and consistent principles such as academic quality, affordability, and online competency. BestColleges.com provides an objective assessment of relative quality, considering academic outcomes, affordability, and the breadth and depth of online learning opportunities offered by academic institutions that meet their ranking standards.
Most Affordable Master's in AI, 2023, MastersinAI.org
Capitol Technology University has ranked #6 in a list developed by MastersinAI.org, for offering one of the most affordable Master's in AI programs in 2023. The ranking method considered factors such as total cost, financial aid options, and course modality. They found that our Master of Research in Artificial Intelligence was within the top 10 affordable programs in this rapidly evolving field.
2023 Best U.S. Colleges, 2023, Research.com
Research.com ranked Capitol Technology University as one of the 2023 Best U.S. Colleges. In this survey, rankings were determined according to cost of attendance, acceptance and enrollment rates, and graduation rates. Over 6,000 institutions were initially assessed, then narrowed down to the top 1,700 for the final list.
For more information, visit the Research.com page.
Top 500 National Colleges, 2023, Washington Monthly
Capitol Technology University has been ranked as one of the top 500 national universities by the Washington Monthly. This recognition focuses on colleges that contribute to the public good in three categories: social mobility, research, and promoting public service.
According to Washington Monthly’s rankings, colleges that are recognized show excellence across the full breadth of measurable areas, using an average of the three most recent years of data in an effort to gain a complete scope of a college’s overall performance. Metrics considered were 8-year graduation rates, number of Pell graduates and Pell performance rank, earnings performance, service, research, social mobility, and net price of attendance for families below $75k income.
For more information, visit the Washington Monthly website.
ROI Rankings, 2022, Georgetown University
Capitol Tech is featured in Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce ROI Rankings List, which conducts a yearly ranking of 4,500 colleges and universities based on return on investment (ROI). The rankings use data from College Scorecard and include a metric that measures the share of students at an institution whose earnings 10 years after enrollment are higher than those of workers with a high school diploma as their highest level of education.
10 Prominent Colleges in the USA, 2022, CIO Views
Capitol Tech was listed as one of the 10 Prominent Colleges in the USA in 2022 by CIO Views, a publication dedicated to highlighting leaders in business, education, technology, and innovation.
Educator Ally of the Year, 2021, Inteligenca
The Inteligenca’s Educator Ally of the Year (AYA) recognized the university’s efforts to support women in technology and educate the technology community on gender equality issues. As part of the university’s allyship, Capitol Tech has developed more programs to support female students in their majors, their overall education, and their STEM-related extracurricular activities including providing women in STEM visibility, a voice, and connections with fellow female STEM professionals. Over the last 25 years, Capitol Tech has graduated over 1,000 female students who have pursued careers in the STEM fields of engineering, computer science, cybersecurity, and more.
For more information, visit the Inteligenca website.
For more information on opportunities for Capitol’s women in STEM, visit the Center for Women in Cyber (CWC) page.
America’s Best Cybersecurity Program, 2020, SC Media
Capitol Technology University is honored to receive the prestigious SC Media 2020 Award for Best Cybersecurity Higher Education Program. Established in 1989, SC Media is highly regarded in the cybersecurity community for its longstanding dedication to the industry. Honoring the best in cybersecurity, the SC Awards recognize the people, products and companies that are forging the industry’s future. Capitol Tech is cited for our numerous undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees, innovative programs, hands-on teaching methods, award-winning labs, the employability of our students, and our partnerships with top industry agencies as reasons why the university stands out among other cybersecurity education programs.
For more information, visit our website.
