Compare 22 Homeland Security. programs ranked by graduate earnings. Average earnings: $66,632. Top programs: $143,972+.
The highest-earning Homeland Security program isn't at the most prestigious school. With a $107K earnings gap across 22 ranked programs, the data confirms: program-level factors drive outcomes more than institutional brand. From a $37K floor to a $144K ceiling, where you study this field matters far more than which school's name is on your diploma.
George Mason University's Homeland Security program leads with graduates earning $144K — nearly double the $67K field average across all 22 programs. That's a public university in Fairfax, Virginia, outpacing programs at higher-ranked national institutions. Barry University (FL) lands second at $104K, followed by Utica University (NY) at $83K — two schools rarely featured in prestige-driven rankings. [Learn how to evaluate programs beyond school prestige →](https://collegeazimuth.com/blog/how-to-evaluate-programs)
George Mason doesn't just lead on earnings — it dominates on affordability. Graduates borrow $19,500 in student loans and carry just a 2.2% payment burden, earning an 'Excellent' GPS affordability rating. Even when parent loans are included, the family burden holds at 5.5% — still 'Excellent.' At $144K in earnings against $20K in debt, the payoff math is hard to argue with.
Highest program earnings: $143,972
Strong outcomes ($143,972) with 87% acceptance rate
2.2% payment burden | Excellent (under 8% of discretionary)
5.5% family burden | Excellent (under 8% of discretionary)
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | George Mason UniversityPublic | $143,972 | 122 | $19,500 | Excellent | $25,142 | Excellent |
| #2 | Barry UniversityPrivate | $103,746 | 14 | — | — | — | — |
| #3 | Utica UniversityPrivate | $82,733 | 99 | $22,500 | Excellent | $25,500 | Good |
| #4 | Bethel UniversityPrivate | $79,079 | 21 | $27,249 | Excellent | $10,872 | Good |
| #5 | Columbia CollegePrivate | $71,888 | 10 | $22,750 | Excellent | $13,551 | Good |
| #6 | $71,129 | 60 | $26,814 | Excellent | $36,545 | Challenging | |
| #7 | University At AlbanyPublic | $69,365 | 191 | $19,500 | Excellent | $22,398 | Manageable |
| #8 | $67,096 | 77 | $22,500 | Excellent | $14,685 | Manageable | |
| #9 | $64,061 | 40 | $19,000 | Excellent | $15,945 | Manageable | |
| #10 | Oakland UniversityPublic | $63,858 | 16 | $22,750 | Excellent | $17,858 | Manageable |
| #11 | $63,759 | 32 | $20,000 | Excellent | $16,771 | Manageable | |
| #12 | $63,622 | 43 | $19,250 | Excellent | $23,211 | Manageable | |
| #13 | $63,137 | 61 | $18,500 | Excellent | $13,884 | Good | |
| #14 | Rowan UniversityPublic | $62,846 | 39 | $20,500 | Excellent | $27,445 | Manageable |
| #15 | Campbell UniversityPrivate | $62,695 | 29 | $22,500 | Excellent | $40,055 | Challenging |
| #16 | $62,649 | 17 | $23,199 | Excellent | $14,621 | Manageable | |
| #17 | $60,458 | 35 | $25,000 | Good | $23,528 | Challenging | |
| #18 | $58,242 | 6 | $20,500 | Excellent | $11,000 | Manageable | |
| #19 | $54,595 | 23 | $21,000 | Good | $14,000 | Manageable | |
| #20 | $37,208 | 20 | — | — | — | — | |
| #21 | Angelo State UniversityPublic | $32,382 | 15 | — | — | — | — |
| #22 | Roberts Wesleyan UniversityPrivate | $27,387 | 24 | — | — | — | — |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on May 2026 refresh for 2026 rankings, based on Department of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
