Best Homeland Security Programs in the United States (2026)
Updated
This page ranks the 21 Homeland Security programs in the United States by the median earnings of Homeland Security graduates four years after completing, highest first. George Mason University leads the list with median earnings of $143,972 for its Homeland Security graduates four years after completing.
Across the listed programs, the figure ranges from $143,972 to $32,382, with a median of $63,759. For 3 of the 21 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.
Public institutions account for 16 of the 21 programs, or 76% of the list. George Mason University ranks 33rd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, the best on the page. Oakland University posts the lowest average net price, at $9,120.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | George Mason University · Fairfax, VA | $143,972 | $17,915 | $11,942 | 87.5% |
| George Mason University reports median earnings of $143,972 for its Homeland Security graduates four years after completing, and ranks 33rd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 2 | Barry University · Miami, FL | $103,746 | $22,613 | $20,804 | 77.2% |
| Barry University, a private nonprofit university in Miami, admits 77% of applicants and shows an average net price of $22,613. | |||||
| 3 | Utica University · Utica, NY | $82,733 | $19,108 | $13,290 | 92.0% |
| Utica University posts median earnings of $82,733 for its Homeland Security graduates four years after completing, alongside a median federal debt of $25,000 among Homeland Security completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 4 | Bethel University · Mckenzie, TN | $79,079 | $12,595 | $11,871 | 60.2% |
| Bethel University admits 60% of applicants, and its Homeland Security completers who borrowed left with a median federal debt of $28,709. | |||||
| 5 | Columbia College · Columbia, SC | $71,888 | $18,408 | $17,541 | 93.9% |
| Columbia College reports median earnings of $71,888 for its Homeland Security graduates four years after completing, from a cohort of 10 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 6 | University of New Hampshire-Main Campus · Durham, NH | $71,129 | $23,805 | $16,523 | 88.2% |
| University of New Hampshire-Main Campus shows an average net price of $23,805, and graduates across all fields who borrowed left with a median of $26,814 in federal loans. | |||||
| 7 | University at Albany · Albany, NY | $69,365 | $17,167 | $11,112 | 69.1% |
| With an admission rate of 69%, University at Albany reports median earnings of $69,365 for its Homeland Security graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 8 | Eastern Kentucky University · Richmond, KY | $67,096 | $11,040 | $8,591 | 77.6% |
| Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond shows an average net price of $8,591 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 9 | University of Nebraska at Omaha · Omaha, NE | $64,061 | $13,441 | $10,534 | 87.0% |
| University of Nebraska at Omaha reports median earnings of $64,061 for its Homeland Security graduates four years after completing, and a median federal debt of $20,060 among Homeland Security completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 10 | Oakland University · Rochester Hills, MI | $63,858 | $9,120 | $4,422 | 87.8% |
| Oakland University admits 88% of applicants and shows an average net price of $9,120. | |||||
| 11 | SUNY College of Technology at Canton · Canton, NY | $63,759 | $15,268 | $10,908 | 92.2% |
| SUNY College of Technology at Canton reports median earnings of $63,759 for its Homeland Security graduates four years after completing, from a cohort of 32 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 12 | University of North Texas · Denton, TX | $63,622 | $15,649 | $12,311 | 72.2% |
| University of North Texas ranks 41st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Homeland Security completers who borrowed left with a median federal debt of $17,023. | |||||
| 13 | New Jersey City University · Jersey City, NJ | $63,137 | $16,053 | $14,005 | 98.4% |
| New Jersey City University admits 98% of applicants and reports median earnings of $63,137 for its Homeland Security graduates four years after completing, from a cohort of 61. | |||||
| 14 | Rowan University · Glassboro, NJ | $62,846 | $22,408 | $15,305 | 77.7% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed at Rowan University left with a median of $20,500 in federal loans, while its Homeland Security completers earned a median of $62,846 four years after graduating. | |||||
| 15 | Campbell University · Buies Creek, NC | $62,695 | $24,516 | $20,751 | 87.2% |
| A private nonprofit university in Buies Creek, Campbell University ranks 862nd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and posts an average net price of $24,516. | |||||
| 16 | North Dakota State University-Main Campus · Fargo, ND | $62,649 | $15,543 | $9,370 | 95.0% |
| North Dakota State University-Main Campus reports median earnings of $62,649 for its Homeland Security graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $9,370 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 17 | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania · Slippery Rock, PA | $60,458 | $19,608 | $12,555 | 71.5% |
| Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania ranks 17th on this list, with a median of $60,458 for its Homeland Security graduates four years after completing and a cohort of 35. | |||||
| 18 | Arkansas State University · Jonesboro, AR | $58,242 | $12,366 | $10,098 | 82.3% |
| With a cohort of 6 graduates in the earnings cohort, Arkansas State University reports median earnings of $58,242 for its Homeland Security program four years after completing. | |||||
| 19 | University of Central Missouri · Warrensburg, MO | $54,595 | $14,462 | $10,965 | 63.8% |
| University of Central Missouri admits 64% of applicants, and its Homeland Security graduates earned a median of $54,595 four years after completing. | |||||
| 20 | Northwest Missouri State University · Maryville, MO | $37,208 | $16,244 | $13,176 | 86.1% |
| Northwest Missouri State University posts an average net price of $16,244, and its Homeland Security graduates earned a median of $37,208 four years after completing. | |||||
| 21 | Angelo State University · San Angelo, TX | $32,382 | $15,091 | $12,008 | 83.0% |
| Angelo State University ranks 645th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $32,382 for its Homeland Security graduates four years after completing. | |||||
How this list is ordered
Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their Homeland Security graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in the United States appear. The figure covers federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled four years after finishing. For 3 of the 21 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The spread from George Mason University to the bottom of the list is $111,590, and the gap between George Mason University and Barry University alone is $40,226.
Job market context in the United States
The occupations linked to Homeland Security in the United States include roles such as First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives and Postsecondary Teachers, All Other. The median annual wage across those occupations is $91,503; a quarter of workers in those occupations earn less than $72,771. Projections for 2024 to 2034 show about 131,100 openings a year, or about 4,861 openings a year for every hundred graduates, with more projected openings than graduates. Projections for 2024 to 2034 put employment in those occupations about 3.8% higher. Wages and top occupations exclude management occupations; openings include them. The ranking above uses graduate earnings four years after completing, which is a different measure from the occupational wage and demand figures described here.
Related rankings
- Criminal Justice Colleges
- Criminal Justice Colleges for Social Mobility