Security Science and Technology: earnings, debt, and careers
CIP 43.04. Official graduate outcomes from the U.S. Department of Education across 826 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 | 212 | 1,908 | $45,055 | $54,296 | $17,500 7 programs |
| Associate's degree | 151 | 1,036 | $39,731 | $43,839 | $18,580 5 programs |
| Bachelor's degree | 225 | 3,518 | $46,655 | $57,805 | $24,998 61 programs |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 10 | 0 | $60,081 | $106,875 | Data unavailable |
| Master's degree | 138 | 2,205 | $65,667 | $82,399 | Data unavailable |
| Doctoral degree | 6 | 34 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Graduate certificate | 84 | 472 | $77,961 | $112,169 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salisbury University MD · Public · 18 graduates measured | $62,715 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Utica University NY · Private, nonprofit · 18 graduates measured | $62,305 | $82,049 | Data unavailable |
| Rose State College OK · Public · 22 graduates measured | $58,976 | Data unavailable | $11,500 |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs CO · Public · 38 graduates measured | $56,342 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee WI · Public · 22 graduates measured | $52,726 | Data unavailable | $27,569 |
| Madonna University MI · Private, nonprofit · 16 graduates measured | $41,624 | Data unavailable | $28,000 |
| Miami Dade College FL · Public · 18 graduates measured | $40,997 | $47,662 | Data unavailable |
| Caribbean Forensic and Technical College PR · Private, for-profit · 37 graduates measured | $17,741 | $21,460 | $3,195 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| College of Southern Nevada NV · Public · 23 graduates measured | $52,205 | $63,730 | $10,625 |
| Rose State College OK · Public · 39 graduates measured | $51,107 | $67,780 | $18,580 |
| Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale FL · Private, nonprofit · 37 graduates measured | $33,559 | $40,374 | $23,938 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kennesaw State University GA · Public · 75 graduates measured | $75,724 | Data unavailable | $28,141 |
| National University CA · Private, nonprofit · 48 graduates measured | $74,992 | Data unavailable | $16,875 |
| Champlain College VT · Private, nonprofit · 89 graduates measured | $68,425 | $101,401 | $32,373 |
| Regent University VA · Private, nonprofit · 34 graduates measured | $65,273 | Data unavailable | $25,471 |
| State University of New York at Plattsburgh NY · Public · 17 graduates measured | $64,213 | $69,321 | Data unavailable |
| Robert Morris University PA · Private, nonprofit · 66 graduates measured | $64,104 | $90,206 | $26,000 |
| American Public University System WV · Private, for-profit · 37 graduates measured | $63,383 | $57,237 | $17,970 |
| Florida State University FL · Public · 41 graduates measured | $60,178 | $93,841 | $16,250 |
| Charter Oak State College CT · Public · 19 graduates measured | $58,784 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott AZ · Private, nonprofit · 40 graduates measured | $58,252 | $98,996 | $20,500 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach FL · Private, nonprofit · 40 graduates measured | $58,252 | $98,996 | $20,500 |
| University of Alabama at Birmingham AL · Public · 24 graduates measured | $57,236 | Data unavailable | $26,000 |
| Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania PA · Public · 125 graduates measured | $56,620 | $73,289 | $25,000 |
| Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus PA · Public · 34 graduates measured | $54,657 | $66,084 | $27,000 |
| University of Maryland Global Campus MD · Public · 51 graduates measured | $51,750 | $62,022 | $22,000 |
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.
Post-baccalaureate certificate programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Syracuse University NY · Private, nonprofit · 23 graduates measured | $53,801 | 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.
Master's degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Arizona AZ · Public · 16 graduates measured | $148,352 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| University of San Diego CA · Private, nonprofit · 46 graduates measured | $128,784 | $137,533 | Data unavailable |
| Capella University MN · Private, for-profit · 30 graduates measured | $126,214 | $105,757 | Data unavailable |
| Champlain College VT · Private, nonprofit · 53 graduates measured | $115,967 | $134,853 | Data unavailable |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott AZ · Private, nonprofit · 23 graduates measured | $112,694 | $145,240 | Data unavailable |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach FL · Private, nonprofit · 23 graduates measured | $112,694 | $145,240 | Data unavailable |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide FL · Private, nonprofit · 23 graduates measured | $112,694 | $145,240 | Data unavailable |
| Utica University NY · Private, nonprofit · 44 graduates measured | $98,711 | $108,561 | Data unavailable |
| Kennesaw State University GA · Public · 72 graduates measured | $96,978 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Excelsior University NY · Private, nonprofit · 35 graduates measured | $95,979 | $144,427 | Data unavailable |
| CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice NY · Public · 22 graduates measured | $89,436 | $93,984 | Data unavailable |
| Sacred Heart University CT · Private, nonprofit · 18 graduates measured | $86,373 | $113,199 | Data unavailable |
| University of Charleston WV · Private, nonprofit · 18 graduates measured | $79,587 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Regent University VA · Private, nonprofit · 42 graduates measured | $77,055 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| George Mason University VA · Public · 87 graduates measured | $77,022 | $92,064 | 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.
Graduate certificate programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of New Haven CT · Private, nonprofit · 23 graduates measured | $52,014 | 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 Security Science and Technology
| Occupation | Median wage, all workers | Change 2025 to 2035 | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|
| Managers, all other | $141,900 | +4.9% | Bachelor's degree |
| Accountants and auditors | $83,680 | +5.0% | Bachelor's degree |
| Financial examiners | $94,160 | +9.3% | Bachelor's degree |
| Information security analysts | $129,180 | +21.0% | Bachelor's degree |
| Computer occupations, all other | $116,580 | +5.1% | Bachelor's degree |
| Cartographers and photogrammetrists | $81,390 | +7.4% | Bachelor's degree |
| Geographers | $102,040 | -2.1% | Bachelor's degree |
| Forensic science technicians | $72,060 | +13.3% | Bachelor's degree |
| Life, physical, and social science technicians, all other | $62,280 | +4.4% | Associate's degree |
| Geography teachers, postsecondary | $97,590 | +2.7% | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary | $76,590 | +1.5% | 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 |
| Detectives and criminal investigators | $93,790 | +0.2% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Police and sheriff's patrol officers | $76,210 | +3.5% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Private detectives and investigators | $51,220 | +5.5% | 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 (9)
- 43.0401 Security Science and Technology, General
- 43.0402 Criminalistics and Criminal Science
- 43.0403 Cyber/Computer Forensics and Counterterrorism
- 43.0404 Cybersecurity Defense Strategy/Policy
- 43.0405 Financial Forensics and Fraud Investigation
- 43.0406 Forensic Science and Technology
- 43.0407 Geospatial Intelligence
- 43.0408 Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysis
- 43.0499 Security Science and Technology, Other