Homeland Security: earnings, debt, and careers
CIP 43.03. Official graduate outcomes from the U.S. Department of Education across 616 programs, and the careers this field is linked to.
Graduate earnings by credential level
| Credential | Programs | Graduates (recent year) | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Typical program median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate certificate | 144 | 964 | $51,940 | $62,995 | $23,083 3 programs |
| Associate's degree | 104 | 438 | $45,677 | $58,829 | $18,270 2 programs |
| Bachelor's degree | 142 | 2,638 | $58,220 | $70,193 | $21,601 34 programs |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 7 | 0 | $71,045 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Master's degree | 115 | 1,955 | $79,382 | $96,660 | Data unavailable |
| Doctoral degree | 7 | 29 | $106,967 | $149,417 | Data unavailable |
| Graduate certificate | 97 | 299 | $72,999 | $84,606 | Data unavailable |
National earnings are published by the Department of Education for each field and credential level Verified data. Typical program median debt is ConnectPrep's calculation: the median across programs of each program's median federal debt Calculated estimate. It covers federal loans only.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, Most Recent Field of Study Data. Varies by measure; see measure definitions. Published October 15, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Undergraduate certificate programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines Area Community College IA · Public · 30 graduates measured | $64,167 | $74,269 | Data unavailable |
| Northeastern State University OK · Public · 22 graduates measured | $49,897 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| University of Central Missouri MO · Public · 34 graduates measured | $47,683 | $58,584 | $17,368 |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion AZ · Public · 27 graduates measured | $44,010 | $64,064 | $23,083 |
| Arizona State University Digital Immersion AZ · Public · 27 graduates measured | $44,010 | $64,064 | $23,083 |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Associate's degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Public University System WV · Private, for-profit · 16 graduates measured | $52,822 | $63,213 | $11,164 |
| Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale FL · Private, nonprofit · 18 graduates measured | $45,182 | $57,706 | $25,375 |
| Lake Superior State University MI · Public · 19 graduates measured | $42,132 | $65,738 | Data unavailable |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Bachelor's degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Union Institute & University · Private, nonprofit · 59 graduates measured | $161,569 | $153,848 | Data unavailable |
| George Mason University VA · Public · 103 graduates measured | $91,928 | $143,972 | $20,750 |
| Waldorf University IA · Private, for-profit · 64 graduates measured | $76,984 | $76,520 | $16,812 |
| National University CA · Private, nonprofit · 30 graduates measured | $75,991 | $80,134 | $22,879 |
| Johnson & Wales University-Providence RI · Private, nonprofit · 33 graduates measured | $75,435 | Data unavailable | $27,000 |
| Idaho State University ID · Public · 18 graduates measured | $74,443 | Data unavailable | $35,000 |
| Excelsior University NY · Private, nonprofit · 31 graduates measured | $70,938 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Bellevue University NE · Private, nonprofit · 21 graduates measured | $68,571 | Data unavailable | $22,980 |
| Columbia College SC · Private, nonprofit · 16 graduates measured | $68,455 | $71,888 | Data unavailable |
| Bethel University TN · Private, nonprofit · 32 graduates measured | $68,233 | $79,079 | $32,434 |
| Columbia Southern University AL · Private, for-profit · 43 graduates measured | $68,183 | $73,703 | $18,466 |
| American InterContinental University System AZ · Private, for-profit · 43 graduates measured | $66,606 | Data unavailable | $13,094 |
| Post University CT · Private, for-profit · 36 graduates measured | $65,555 | $66,145 | $21,702 |
| American Public University System WV · Private, for-profit · 336 graduates measured | $65,324 | $77,122 | $12,000 |
| Grand Canyon University AZ · Private, for-profit · 184 graduates measured | $65,237 | $84,553 | $23,168 |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Master's degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| George Washington University DC · Private, nonprofit · 87 graduates measured | $105,452 | $134,847 | Data unavailable |
| University of New Hampshire-Main Campus NH · Public · 16 graduates measured | $103,966 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| University of New Hampshire at Manchester NH · Public · 16 graduates measured | $103,966 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| University of South Florida FL · Public · 122 graduates measured | $103,935 | $114,398 | Data unavailable |
| Capella University MN · Private, for-profit · 20 graduates measured | $93,952 | $76,702 | Data unavailable |
| Columbia Southern University AL · Private, for-profit · 99 graduates measured | $93,023 | $93,851 | Data unavailable |
| Georgetown University DC · Private, nonprofit · 35 graduates measured | $89,644 | $108,885 | Data unavailable |
| Utica University NY · Private, nonprofit · 125 graduates measured | $89,551 | $118,906 | Data unavailable |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus NJ · Private, nonprofit · 22 graduates measured | $88,219 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus NJ · Private, nonprofit · 22 graduates measured | $88,219 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Southern New Hampshire University NH · Private, nonprofit · 274 graduates measured | $85,895 | $102,281 | Data unavailable |
| CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice NY · Public · 23 graduates measured | $85,873 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg PA · Public · 184 graduates measured | $84,946 | $106,535 | Data unavailable |
| Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus PA · Public · 184 graduates measured | $84,946 | $106,535 | Data unavailable |
| Pennsylvania State University-World Campus PA · Public · 184 graduates measured | $84,946 | $106,535 | Data unavailable |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Doctoral degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capella University MN · Private, for-profit · 23 graduates measured | $115,966 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Careers linked to Homeland Security
| Occupation | Median wage, all workers | Change 2025 to 2035 | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emergency management directors | $93,330 | +3.9% | Bachelor's degree |
| Managers, all other | $141,900 | +4.9% | Bachelor's degree |
| Criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary | $76,590 | +1.5% | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Postsecondary teachers, all other | $77,640 | +2.0% | Doctoral or professional degree |
| First-line supervisors of police and detectives | $106,040 | +3.3% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| First-line supervisors of security workers | $55,940 | +3.7% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other | $76,400 | +1.9% | High school diploma or equivalent |
Occupations mapped to this field in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. Occupation wages describe all workers, not recent graduates.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk. CIP 2020 and SOC 2018 taxonomies. Published April 30, 2020. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, National. May 2025 reference period. Published April 30, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, Table 1.2: Occupational projections, 2025-35, and worker characteristics, 2025. Base year 2025, projected year 2035. Published August 27, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Detailed CIP codes in this field (5)
- 43.0301 Homeland Security
- 43.0302 Crisis/Emergency/Disaster Management
- 43.0303 Critical Infrastructure Protection
- 43.0304 Terrorism and Counterterrorism Operations
- 43.0399 Homeland Security, Other