Best colleges for Security Science and Technology in California
Ranked by graduates a year
National University, East Los Angeles College and San Jose State University award the most Security Science and Technology degrees and certificates in California: 171, 104 and 67 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 28 California colleges offer Security Science and Technology and award 717 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Security Science and Technology program focuses on the intersection of science, technology, and society as it pertains to homeland security, law enforcement, and related protective services. This interdisciplinary field prepares…
28 institutions offering Security Science and Technology in California
Graduate earnings are not yet reported for these institutions; ordered by graduates a year.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | National University San Diego Private not-for-profit | — | 171 | 43% | $31,817 | — |
| 2 | East Los Angeles College Monterey Park Public | — | 104 | 37% | — | — |
| 3 | San Jose State University San Jose Public | — | 67 | 69% | — | — |
| 4 | University of Southern California Los Angeles Private not-for-profit | — | 51 | 92% | $26,873 | — |
| 5 | Grossmont College El Cajon Public | — | 47 | 37% | — | — |
| 6 | University of San Diego San Diego Private not-for-profit | — | 44 | 84% | $26,035 | — |
| 7 | Rio Hondo College Whittier Public | — | 33 | 25% | — | — |
| 8 | Moreno Valley College Moreno Valley Public | — | 26 | 34% | — | — |
| 9 | Long Beach City College Long Beach Public | — | 20 | 30% | — | — |
| 10 | California Baptist University Riverside Private not-for-profit | — | 18 | 62% | $26,940 | — |
| 11 | University of California-Davis Davis Public | — | 18 | 86% | — | — |
| 12 | Riverside City College Riverside Public | — | 16 | 37% | — | — |
| 13 | California State University - San Bernardino San Bernardino Public | — | 12 | 55% | — | — |
| 14 | Diablo Valley College Pleasant Hill Public | — | 12 | 49% | — | — |
| 15 | Norco College Norco Public | — | 12 | 42% | — | — |
| 16 | Fullerton College Fullerton Public | — | 10 | 34% | — | — |
| 17 | California State University - Los Angeles Los Angeles Public | — | 9 | 53% | — | — |
| 18 | San Diego Miramar College San Diego Public | — | 9 | 48% | — | — |
| 19 | Mt San Jacinto Community College District San Jacinto Public | — | 7 | 36% | — | — |
| 20 | San Diego State University San Diego Public | — | 7 | 76% | — | — |
| 21 | CET-San Jose San Jose Private not-for-profit | — | 6 | 81% | $17,257 | — |
| 22 | De Anza College Cupertino Public | — | 5 | 68% | — | — |
| 23 | Southwestern College Chula Vista Public | — | 4 | 35% | — | — |
| 24 | El Camino Community College District Torrance Public | — | 3 | 42% | — | — |
| 25 | Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey Monterey Private not-for-profit | — | 2 | — | — | — |
| 26 | Palomar College San Marcos Public | — | 2 | 38% | — | — |
| 27 | City College of San Francisco San Francisco Public | — | 1 | 40% | — | — |
| 28 | Feather River Community College District Quincy Public | — | 1 | 35% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Security Science and Technology degrees in California
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | National University San Diego Private not-for-profit | 171 | Not reported |
| 2 | East Los Angeles College Monterey Park Public | 104 | Not reported |
| 3 | San Jose State University San Jose Public | 67 | Not reported |
| 4 | University of Southern California Los Angeles Private not-for-profit | 51 | Not reported |
| 5 | Grossmont College El Cajon Public | 47 | Not reported |
| 6 | University of San Diego San Diego Private not-for-profit | 44 | Not reported |
| 7 | Moreno Valley College Moreno Valley Public | 26 | Not reported |
| 8 | Long Beach City College Long Beach Public | 20 | Not reported |
| 9 | California Baptist University Riverside Private not-for-profit | 18 | Not reported |
| 10 | University of California-Davis Davis Public | 18 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 18 California colleges offering Security Science and Technology
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rio Hondo College | Whittier | Public | 33 |
| Riverside City College | Riverside | Public | 16 |
| California State University - San Bernardino | San Bernardino | Public | 12 |
| Diablo Valley College | Pleasant Hill | Public | 12 |
| Norco College | Norco | Public | 12 |
| Fullerton College | Fullerton | Public | 10 |
| California State University - Los Angeles | Los Angeles | Public | 9 |
| San Diego Miramar College | San Diego | Public | 9 |
| Mt San Jacinto Community College District | San Jacinto | Public | 7 |
| San Diego State University | San Diego | Public | 7 |
| CET-San Jose | San Jose | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| De Anza College | Cupertino | Public | 5 |
| Southwestern College | Chula Vista | Public | 4 |
| El Camino Community College District | Torrance | Public | 3 |
| Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey | Monterey | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Palomar College | San Marcos | Public | 2 |
| City College of San Francisco | San Francisco | Public | 1 |
| Feather River Community College District | Quincy | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Forensic Science Technicians (SOC 19-4092).
Top skills
What Forensic Science Technicians earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Security Science and Technology programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Security Science and Technology degrees?+
National University (171 graduates a year), East Los Angeles College (104 graduates a year) and San Jose State University (67 graduates a year) award the most Security Science and Technology degrees and certificates in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 28 California colleges offer Security Science and Technology.
How much do Forensic Science Technicians earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Forensic Science Technicians in California is $104,960 (median $102,100), across about 2,800 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Security Science and Technology program?+
The Security Science and Technology program focuses on the intersection of science, technology, and society as it pertains to homeland security, law enforcement, and related protective services. This interdisciplinary field prepares…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, writing, speaking, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Forensic Science Technicians?+
The national job outlook is about +12.8% growth with around 2,900 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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