A degree in cybersecurity is more expensive than a certification and takes much longer. The degree provides a broad range of understanding that can be applied to many different industries but has fewer hands-on skills.
Employers want to see that you have the right certification. You must also meet a legal requirement (see above). All this is why, according to the recent Information Week Dark Reading salary survey 70% of cybersecurity workers said that certifications were their most important training. Only 10% said they had a bachelor’s and 5% said that they had a master’s.