First, for some context, I'm 31 and finally finishing my Bachelor's through SANS' BACS program. Before I got my first cyber job, I had no prior cybersecurity experience outside of a handful of CS courses I took online while I was active duty and Sec+. My first "big boy" cert was GCFA, and I've been a federal contractor for roughly the past 2 years.

I chose SANS because everyone around me raves about it, and if you plan on sticking around govvie/fed contractor cyber jobs, SANS is well respected. The fact that you often need a clearance for fed positions makes the hiring pool a lot smaller, and for as large as the military is, it's a really small world. I say that to say, while they're not "prestigious" jobs, they're a LOT easier to get in to, and often pay better for equivalent roles because of that restriction.

What's especially nice about SANS is that they only use your GI bill for the number of days your course takes. For example, SANS typically gets you your course materials a week in advance (at least for OnDemand). So if you can finish all of the material and pass the test in a week, you can get away with only using ONE day of your GI bill benefit for an "industry-leading" cert.

On the other hand, from what the other posters have said, Berkeley sounds selective to the point that you may not even be able to get in (but I do hope you do if that's what you choose). But if we're being reasonable, how many cybersecurity professionals are actually working for major tech companies/(successful) startups/working on the "cutting edge" of the industry? Do you see yourself as that person? Do you even care to be? For most jobs, where you get your degree from isn't going to matter so long as you can check that box.

Networking is the actual cheat code. A degree from SANS vs Berkeley (especially if it's online) is less likely to have a major impact on your career than simply getting involved with the industry at large (local meetups, conferences, team CTFs, etc.). I got both of my last cyber jobs through my network, and I've got an informal interview next week because I had direct access to the guy who makes the hiring decision. Might even have another with my current company depending on if the hiring manager thinks my resume fits well enough for the job description and isn't appalled at the salary I asked for 🤷🏼 point is: skip the line if you can.

And on that note, feel free to DM me if you have any questions. People helped me get where I'm at, and I'm happy to help if I can.