Homeland Security graduates earn $67,934 four years out. Related careers are growing at up to 28.5%, one of the stronger demand signals across all fields. Information Security Analyst is among the highest-growth roles in the field.
Homeland Security is a focused area of study within Criminal Justice. Graduates typically earn around $67,934 four years out, a solid return for a focused credential. The program is available at 104 colleges across the U.S., from community colleges to research universities. About 1,416 students complete this program each year, most earning a bachelor's. Coursework pairs research methods with the applied study of people and institutions.
Homeland Security graduates earn $67,934 four years out, above the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $47,381 and $91,386. Earnings typically jump significantly in the first few years. The one-year figure of $46,440 climbs to $67,934 by year four.
Starting salaries only. Earnings in this field grow substantially in the first 3 to 5 years.
Above the national median for college graduates.
Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.
There is a wide earnings spread across Homeland Security graduates. Degree level and sector drive the gap. Graduate-level government and research roles anchor the top; entry-level social services and nonprofit roles anchor the bottom.
Strong ROI. At median 4-year earnings of $67,934 against an estimated $76,960 four-year net cost, most graduates break even against baseline wages in under two years.
Based on outcomes from 36 schools. Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.
Of the 1,416 students who complete Homeland Security programs each year, the majority (52%) earn a bachelor's degree. The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.
Homeland Security connects to 8 occupations in the job market. Information Security Analyst leads at $129,180/yr median. Expand any card to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.
The 20 colleges below are ranked by how many Homeland Security students they graduate each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.
| # | College | Graduates | Acceptance | Net Price/yr | Earnings 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VA · Public | 116 | 92.6% | $23,433 | $58,128 |
| 2 | Eastern Kentucky University Richmond, KY · Public | 89 | 77.6% | $11,040 | $45,795 |
| 3 | Massachusetts Maritime Academy Buzzards Bay, MA · Public | 86 | 94.7% | $21,582 | $82,392 |
| 4 | Tiffin University Tiffin, OH · Nonprofit | 65 | 80.1% | $26,500 | $35,942 |
| 5 | Webster University Saint Louis, MO · Nonprofit | 63 | 86.2% | $27,047 | $50,876 |
| 6 | Michigan State University East Lansing, MI · Public | 57 | 84.8% | $19,680 | $67,253 |
| 7 | University of New Haven West Haven, CT · Nonprofit | 47 | 60.4% | $34,192 | $60,126 |
| 8 | Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, FL · Public | 42 | 66.1% | $8,752 | $56,746 |
| 9 | Tulane University of Louisiana New Orleans, LA · Nonprofit | 41 | 14% | $39,949 | $63,268 |
| 10 | Klamath Community College Klamath Falls, OR · Public | 40 | Open | $7,050 | $34,357 |
| 11 | Neumann University Aston, PA · Nonprofit | 34 | 81.3% | $27,804 | $57,817 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania State University-World Campus University Park, PA · Public | 23 | 91.2% | $19,550 | $63,435 |
| 13 | University of Massachusetts-Lowell Lowell, MA · Public | 20 | 83% | $17,163 | $64,874 |
| 14 | Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, IN · Public | 19 | Open | $7,258 | $37,186 |
| 15 | California State University-Long Beach Long Beach, CA · Public | 15 | 46.3% | $10,440 | $64,403 |
| 16 | Anne Arundel Community College Arnold, MD · Public | 15 | Open | $14,915 | $46,219 |
| 17 | ICPR Junior College Hato Rey, PR · For-Profit | 12 | Open | $7,096 | $18,694 |
| 18 | Catawba Valley Community College Hickory, NC · Public | 11 | Open | $10,528 | $36,977 |
| 19 | Canisius University Buffalo, NY · Nonprofit | 10 | 72.4% | $17,940 | $60,681 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus University Park, PA · Public | 5 | 60.6% | $32,875 | $63,435 |
Ranked by Homeland Security graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats. Read our methodology →
Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Homeland Security program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find schools that match your profile.
See if a Homeland Security degree pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings its graduates actually see.
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Strong earnings and positive career growth make Homeland Security a solid option. The 4 strengths and 1 trade-offs below are data-sourced from College Scorecard, BLS, and IPEDS.
The highest-earning college major out-pays the lowest by a factor of two and a half. The full ranking of all 38 fields by median graduate earnings, with job growth alongside.
A popular claim holds that the applied engineering-tech degree pays more than the theoretical one. Across every program, engineering wins by about $10,000.
Across 88 STEM programs the top one out-earns the bottom by $65,000 a year. Operations research pays $122,531; environmental design pays $57,461.
Browse our full directory: every college, major, program, and career we track, all built from verified government data.
Scout uses AI and can make mistakes. Verify important numbers on the page.
