Homeland Security
What graduates really earn, where the degree pays off most, and whether the numbers add up for you.
Earnings Range (4 Years After Graduation)
Best Schools for Homeland Security by Earnings
School-by-school analysis: Homeland Security
Editorial breakdowns of how homeland security graduates fare at the top-earning programs in our dataset.
Homeland Security (139 graduates) earns $90,956 year-one and $143,972 at year four, debt-to-earnings ratio 0.239 (ROI grade A). Median debt of $21,741 is low against these earnings. GMU's location adjacent to Northern Virginia's federal contractor and intelligence agency ecosystem makes this program uniquely well-positioned nationally. Homeland Security and intelligence analysts, program managers, and IT security professionals command premium salaries in this corridor. The A grade is well-earned.
Homeland Security produces 76 graduates with $57,215 year-one and $82,733 at year four, C+ ROI grade, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.487 with $27,846 median debt. Utica has a well-established homeland security and cybersecurity reputation built around its Center for Identity Management and Information Protection. The four-year trajectory to $82k is strong for this career track. Year-one of $57k against $27,846 in debt is a workable early outcome. This program reflects Utica's most differentiated niche.
Homeland Security produces 65 graduates per year with $78,275 year-one earnings (the highest in the catalog) and $79,079 at four years, B grade (debt-to-earnings 0.408, $31,919 median debt). The career trajectory is unusually flat - year-one earnings barely grow by year four, suggesting graduates enter at near-peak rates in federal/state law-enforcement and security roles. Fast initial payback but limited career growth runway. Students should plan for the salary plateau.
Homeland Security is APUS's second-largest by volume at 516 graduates, reflecting its core law enforcement and federal civilian market. First-year earnings of $62,340 and four-year earnings of $77,122, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.314 (ROI grade B+), indicate this population is credential-stacking on top of existing employment. Median debt of $19,552 is low. This is a purpose-built program for a specific professional population, and the earnings data reflects that alignment.
Homeland Security graduates 107 students with $66,446 first-year and $76,520 four-year earnings. Debt is $23,437 and debt-to-earnings is 0.353 for a B grade. Strong outcomes driven by working DHS, TSA, and federal contractor personnel using the program for promotion.
Homeland Security is Columbia College's strongest financial program, with graduates earning $67,338 one year out and $71,888 at four years. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41 earns a B grade - the best ratio at the institution. With 8 graduates annually, the cohort is small, but outcomes are consistent with placement in federal and state security roles. This program stands apart from the institution's general profile and merits serious attention from career-focused students.
Is Homeland Security Worth It?
Worth It - With the Right School
Homeland Security sits in the middle on money. The average $53,319 four years out is right around what bachelor's graduates earn across the board - so the math works at an affordable school and gets tight as tuition climbs. Pick your school with that in mind.
This is a more specialized field, offered at 33 schools in our data. Fewer options means less room to optimize on cost, so weigh each aid offer closely.
The top earner here is George Mason University, where graduates pull $90,956 four years out. But an average hides a wide spread - where you go, and what you do with the degree, matter as much as the major itself.
Earnings data represents median earnings 4 years after graduation for graduates of bachelor's programs, as reported by the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Individual outcomes vary significantly based on career path, location, and other factors.