Grad school ยท Criminal justice, security and fire
Homeland security graduate programs: earnings and debt by school
76 colleges award master's degrees in homeland security. Graduates of the typical program earned $76,538 a year after finishing, and those who borrowed left with a median of $36,942 in federal loans taken at the school.
Master's programs76
Graduates in 2023-241,850
Typical median debt$36,942
Typical earnings 1 yr after$76,538
Typical earnings 4 yrs after$93,686
Earnings to debt2.1x
Official field: Homeland Security. Admission figures such as LSAT, MCAT or GRE scores are not part of this federal data, so check each school.
| Degree level | Programs | Typical earnings 1 yr after | Typical median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master's | 76 | $76,538 | $36,942 |
| Doctoral | 6 | $115,966 | $98,795 |
Is it worth it? Debt vs first-year pay
Each dot is one master's program. Dots above the dashed line have graduates earning more in their first year than the program's median debt.
Master's programs in homeland security
Highest first-year earnings
| College | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Mason UniversityFairfax, VA | 28 | n/a | $154,158 | n/a |
| George Washington UniversityWashington, DC | 49 | $105,452 | $134,847 | $41,000 |
| Utica UniversityUtica, NY | 43 | $89,551 | $118,906 | $36,266 |
| University of South FloridaTampa, FL | 26 | $103,935 | $114,398 | $22,817 |
| Georgetown UniversityWashington, DC | 63 | $89,644 | $108,885 | $68,803 |
| National American University-Rapid CityRapid City, SD | 4 | n/a | $107,332 | n/a |
| Pennsylvania State University-World CampusUniversity Park, PA | 97 | $84,946 | $106,535 | $39,600 |
| American UniversityWashington, DC | 77 | $77,963 | $96,954 | $56,979 |
| American Public University SystemCharles Town, WV | 279 | $82,381 | $96,527 | $37,617 |
| Florida International UniversityMiami, FL | 44 | $66,090 | $96,373 | $25,491 |
| Columbia Southern UniversityOrange Beach, AL | 193 | $93,023 | $93,851 | $46,270 |
| Arizona State University Campus ImmersionTempe, AZ | 0 | $75,113 | $93,521 | $32,500 |
| Arizona State University Digital ImmersionScottsdale, AZ | 92 | $75,113 | $93,521 | $32,500 |
| Northeastern University Professional ProgramsBoston, MA | 46 | n/a | $90,323 | $41,000 |
| New Jersey City UniversityJersey City, NJ | 12 | n/a | $88,249 | n/a |
| Wilmington UniversityNew Castle, DE | 15 | n/a | $88,090 | n/a |
| Sam Houston State UniversityHuntsville, TX | 28 | $57,462 | $82,876 | $39,320 |
| Northwestern State University of LouisianaNatchitoches, LA | 13 | $50,407 | $81,715 | n/a |
| Capella UniversityMinneapolis, MN | 0 | $93,952 | $76,702 | n/a |
| National UniversitySan Diego, CA | 35 | $69,579 | $75,701 | n/a |
| Arkansas State UniversityJonesboro, AR | 41 | $56,236 | $75,019 | $24,895 |
| Millersville University of PennsylvaniaMillersville, PA | 30 | $69,280 | $71,649 | $27,500 |
| University of New Hampshire at ManchesterManchester, NH | 14 | $103,966 | n/a | n/a |
| University of New Hampshire-Main CampusDurham, NH | 1 | $103,966 | n/a | n/a |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan CampusTeaneck, NJ | 19 | $88,219 | n/a | n/a |
| CUNY John Jay College of Criminal JusticeNew York, NY | 24 | $85,873 | n/a | n/a |
| University of Central FloridaOrlando, FL | 29 | $78,318 | n/a | $53,219 |
| American InterContinental University SystemChandler, AZ | 122 | $74,078 | n/a | $33,592 |
| Saint Leo UniversitySaint Leo, FL | 5 | $73,191 | n/a | n/a |
| Upper Iowa UniversityFayette, IA | 6 | $69,594 | n/a | n/a |
| Jacksonville State UniversityJacksonville, AL | 27 | $67,330 | n/a | $32,718 |
| Angelo State UniversitySan Angelo, TX | 12 | $64,252 | n/a | n/a |
| Rider UniversityLawrenceville, NJ | 5 | $62,315 | n/a | n/a |
| Adelphi UniversityGarden City, NY | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Auburn University at MontgomeryMontgomery, AL | 12 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Bellevue UniversityBellevue, NE | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Brevard CollegeBrevard, NC | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Capitol Technology UniversityLaurel, MD | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Central Michigan UniversityMount Pleasant, MI | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Columbia International UniversityColumbia, SC | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| DeSales UniversityCenter Valley, PA | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Dickinson CollegeCarlisle, PA | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-WorldwideDaytona Beach, FL | 25 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Endicott CollegeBeverly, MA | 11 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Excelsior UniversityAlbany, NY | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Idaho State UniversityPocatello, ID | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Johnson & Wales University-OnlineProvidence, RI | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Lander UniversityGreenwood, SC | 12 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Liberty UniversityLynchburg, VA | 40 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Mississippi Christian UniversityClinton, MS | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| New England CollegeHenniker, NH | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Nichols CollegeDudley, MA | 27 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| North Dakota State University-Main CampusFargo, ND | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Nova Southeastern UniversityFort Lauderdale, FL | 17 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Pace UniversityNew York, NY | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Portland State UniversityPortland, OR | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Rosemont CollegeRosemont, PA | 10 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Rowan UniversityGlassboro, NJ | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Saint Louis UniversitySaint Louis, MO | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Sul Ross State UniversityAlpine, TX | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Texas A&M University-Central TexasKilleen, TX | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyEdinburg, TX | 16 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| The University of Texas at El PasoEl Paso, TX | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Thomas Edison State UniversityTrenton, NJ | 9 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Thomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphia, PA | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Towson UniversityTowson, MD | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Tulane University of LouisianaNew Orleans, LA | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University at AlbanyAlbany, NY | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of Alaska FairbanksFairbanks, AK | 19 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of DelawareNewark, DE | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of KansasLawrence, KS | 11 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of Maine at AugustaAugusta, ME | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of Management and TechnologyArlington, VA | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of North TexasDenton, TX | 10 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of San DiegoSan Diego, CA | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA | 17 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Doctoral programs in homeland security
| College | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capella UniversityMinneapolis, MN | 7 | $115,966 | n/a | $98,795 |
| Capitol Technology UniversityLaurel, MD | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Jacksonville State UniversityJacksonville, AL | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| National American University-Rapid CityRapid City, SD | 11 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| North Dakota State University-Main CampusFargo, ND | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of DelawareNewark, DE | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Frequently asked questions
How much do homeland security graduates earn?
Graduates of the typical master's program earned a median of $76,538 one year after finishing, in 2024 dollars.
How much debt do homeland security graduate students take on?
The typical program's graduates who borrowed left with a median of $36,942 in federal loans taken at that school. Undergraduate loans are not included.
Undergraduate: Homeland security major
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field of study file, data release of October 15, 2026. Earnings are medians for graduates who received federal aid and were working, not enrolled. One-year figures: graduates of 2020-21 and 2021-22, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. Four-year figures: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. More on the data.