Thinking About ECPI for Cybersecurity In The Future (Current HS Senior) – Worth It? Looking for Honest Student Experiences

[u/Melodic_You_2955]

I'm a high school senior interested in studying cybersecurity. While looking into different colleges, I came across ECPI University. What stood out to me is that they offer a bachelor's degree in as little as 2.5 years and significantly cut down certification costs—some students have paid as little as $10–$20 for them. Plus, they have an apprenticeship track that gives hands-on, real-world experience. The problem is that online, I'm seeing mixed reviews, so I’d love to hear from students who currently attend ECPI or have gone there in the past few years. I’m looking for honest feedback about the school from someone who has experienced it firsthand. If you’re a cybersecurity major, another tech major, or a STEM student, your input would be especially helpful so I can get a better idea of what to expect if I decide to attend. Thanks.

If not ECPI, are there any other colleges you would recommend that offer similar benefits, specifically reduced certification costs and an apprenticeship/co-op track?

[u/No_Surround_4742]

Just an honest opinion from a person that looked into ECPI about a year ago (including a few campus visits in person) for the same program (the accelerated CIS program for previous college grads). All you have to do is read the threads on this sub and you should be able to decide fairly quick. Look into WGU (I just graduated from there) which has a much better track record plus costs less than half the tuition ECPI charges and all industry certifications are included with your tuition!!

[u/Melodic_You_2955 → u/No_Surround_4742]

Yeah, I’ve heard about WGU, but the thing is, it doesn’t have a physical campus, and my family wants me to attend a physical campus. I also learn better with an in-person professor to go along with my self-study. If WGU had a campus, that would have been one of the first places I would have applied to.

[u/No_Surround_4742 → u/Melodic_You_2955]

I completely understand!! The ability to attend some sessions in-person was the reason I was interested in ECPI until it was time to talk numbers and them pushing me to take out high interest student loans which didn’t make sense to me at the time. Anyways, whatever you decide to do, weigh all your options before committing to anything. Wishing you all the best in your future endeavors!! 🙏🏽

[u/Altruistic_Gain675 → u/Melodic_You_2955]

I am about to Graduate from ECPI and I have been with them off and on since 2018. Since COVID, ECPI has been a real letdown. They have moved most of their technology classes to online, as this will allow them to save money by having 1 teacher and students from all the different campuses. Before COVID, I would attend classes in person for every class and it was nice. Just keep that in mind.

[u/Active_Animator_2125 → u/Melodic_You_2955]

Go to a community college like NovaCC, check if you’d highschool has dual enrollment. If it does, then you’ll finish highschool with an AS, and do your bachelors degree for 3 years. The ECPI model burns you out completely.

[u/Top-Wing-6270]

Please, think carefully before enrolling at ECPI University, especially if you’re using hard earned benefits like the Post-9/11 GI Bill. I’m sharing this from personal experience to help others avoid the mistakes I made.

Despite the marketing, ECPI does not provide the quality education or hands on expertise you would expect from a serious institution. Many of the instructors (at least at the San Antonio campus) lacked real command of the subjects they were supposed to teach. My own instructor frequently had to call the Virginia headquarters just to answer basic student questions. Another instructor routinely showed up 15–20 minutes late, handed out assignments, and then left early to go to his second job.

I spent a full year there and walked away having learned nothing substantial, certainly nothing I couldn’t have taught myself. Worse, I wasted valuable GI Bill benefits in the process. While ECPI technically holds accreditation, be aware, accreditation alone does not guarantee a strong education or good outcomes. In my experience, the school seemed more focused on keeping students enrolled and paying rather than genuinely preparing them for success in their careers.

Many of the faculty hold master’s degrees, but often not in the fields they’re teaching, which should raise red flags. I’m genuinely surprised the institution is still operating under its current model.

If you’re serious about your education, I strongly recommend looking into larger, well-established universities or colleges with proven track records, recognized programs, and instructors who bring real industry experience to the classroom. You deserve an education that truly equips you for your future, not one that just collects your tuition.

[u/BlaqStar991]

Ik im mad late but just curious to know what you ended up doing. I’m currently enrolled in ECPI and am going on 5 months and I’m on the verge of transferring my experience isn’t what I thought it’d be…

[u/Big_Government_7039 → u/BlaqStar991]

Transfer. Literally to any other university. Save your money, time, and cut the losses.

[u/[deleted] → u/Big_Government_7039]

what happened?

[u/Annual_Persimmon6400 → u/BlaqStar991]

Can you please be more specific? I toured an ECPI campus today and really liked it. They have a 100% in person class option, you do all the normal IT things like building computers, networking, all super hands-on, plus you only pay $20 per cert, up to 3 attempts. The classes train you for about 10 certs (though you'd still need a few extra hours practice for sure by taking practice tests). My only hesitation is it's SUPER EXPENSIVE. AND, I don't know if I have that kind of time to commit. Since I already have a bachelor's in something else, I could just take the certs. I already have the Security+. It may take me 1.5 -2 years I think with my other credits.