A student works in FTCC’s cyber lab.
Fayetteville Technical Community College has been named as a Top 25 institution nationally to earn a cybersecurity associate degree.
The recognition comes from an independent research team at Cybersecurity Guide, which reviewed 199 associate degree programs in the United States.
FTCC ranks No. 23 on the list and is one of seven schools in North Carolina to be recognized. All N.C. colleges on the list are members of the Carolina Cyber Network, a 23-member collaborative co-founded by FTCC to help strengthen the state’s education-to-workforce pipeline in cybersecurity.
“We are proud to be named in the Cybersecurity Guide’s 2026 Top 25 Cybersecurity Associate Degree Programs, a direct result of our faculty, staff, and students’ outstanding dedication and hard work,” said FTCC President Dr. Mark Sorrells. “As a co-founder of the Carolina Cyber Network, a national cybersecurity workforce ecosystem model, we’re especially pleased that seven fellow CCN members also earned this recognition. Together, we’re strengthening the pipeline of skilled cyber professionals and assisting with hardening the security posture of our state and nation.”
The Cybersecurity Guide’s Top 25 designees were evaluated based on academic quality, student-to-faculty ratios, graduation and retention rates, admission selectivity and in-state tuition affordability.
“FTCC is honored to be named one of Cybersecurity Guide’s 2026 Top 25 Cybersecurity Associate Degree Programs,” FTCC Dean of Computer Information Technology Dwayne Campbell said. “Our program combines hands-on training with industry certifications to ensure graduates are workforce-ready from day one. It further reflects the dedication and expertise of our faculty, as well as the drive and commitment of our students.”
FTCC is designated through 2028 as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security.
FTCC’s selection to the Top 25 list underscores its commitment to cybersecurity workforce development, supported by CCN’s statewide model that emphasizes affordability, practical skills, industry alignment and support for diverse learners, including military-connected students, career changers and rural communities.
The college is committed to skills-driven, industry-informed learning that prepares students for success in the workforce. A student in FTCC’s Cybersecurity program, a concentration offered by the Computer Information Technology department, will spend an average of 1,000 hours engaged in hands-on learning founded in the competencies of industry-recognized certification exams.
Additionally, through a partnership between Carolina Cyber Network and the N.C. Department of Information Technology, FTCC students are eligible for competitive internships at NCDIT to enrich their classroom experience and jumpstart their entry into the workforce.
These opportunities and resources keep FTCC students workforce-ready through changes in the cyber landscape.
“As cybersecurity threats continue to evolve,” Campbell said, “FTCC remains committed to preparing skilled professionals who are ready to protect and support our digital world.”
