Moorpark College and Cal State Channel Islands will launch two cybersecurity bachelor's degree programs in spring 2027.
The complementary programs create a local pathway for Ventura County students entering one of the fastest-growing career fields. Moorpark College will offer a Bachelor of Science in Applied Cyberdefense and Network Operations, known as ACNO, focused on hands-on technical training in network security, penetration testing and digital forensics. CSUCI will offer a Bachelor of Science in Business with a Cybersecurity Management Emphasis, preparing graduates for leadership roles in cybersecurity strategy and policy, according to a Ventura County Community College District press release.
The two programs are built to work together. Students can start at Moorpark College at community college tuition rates, complete their general education and prerequisite coursework, then transfer to CSUCI to finish a business-cybersecurity degree in two additional years. Students who want a fully technical credential can complete the four-year ACNO degree at Moorpark and enter the workforce directly.
Moorpark College President Julius Sokenu called cybersecurity "a business imperative and a matter of national security" in the announcement. He said the two schools are "giving Ventura County students access to world-class cybersecurity education without leaving the region."
Moorpark College's cybersecurity program builds on its Computer Network Systems Engineering department, which holds a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense designation from the National Security Agency. The ACNO degree is Moorpark's second bachelor's program, joining a Biomanufacturing degree that launched in fall 2024 with 14 students, according to a Moorpark College board report.
Both of Moorpark College's bachelor's degrees cost under $11,000, the board report states.
The job market supports the investment. Labor market data cited in the board report projects 546 annual cybersecurity job openings in Ventura and Los Angeles counties, with 66% requiring a bachelor's degree. Median annual earnings for computer occupations in the two-county region sit near $98,000.
CSUCI Interim President Susan Andrzejewski said the partnership creates pathways spanning technical preparation through business and organizational leadership, giving students an affordable education close to home, according to the VCCCD announcement.
The Moorpark College announcement describes the ACNO degree as serving place-bound, working, first-generation and veteran students who need an affordable bachelor's option close to home.
KCLU reported that campus officials expect the degrees to let students earn credentials without leaving the region.
The ACNO program was expected to open applications later in 2026, according to the Moorpark College announcement. Students can enroll in Moorpark's existing associate degree pathway in cybersecurity, which feeds into the new bachelor's program.
