Best institutions to study Protective Services Operations
A program focusing on the principles and techniques of providing physical security protection to clients in various environments and situations.
6 U.S. institutions graduated 42 Protective Services Operations students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 43.0120, a specialization of Criminal Justice and Corrections (CIP 43.01), and leads most directly to the Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers occupation (BLS SOC 33-3051).
About Protective Services Operations programs
A program focusing on the principles and techniques of providing physical security protection to clients in various environments and situations. Includes instruction in security intelligence and information resources, operations planning and surveying, operations security, weapons and explosives, defense and offense techniques, security and surveillance systems, communications systems, perimeter and access control, weapons of mass destruction, contingency planning, crowd control, cover and evacuation, combat and vehicle techniques, and applicable legal and administrative responsibilities.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Protective Services Operations program, a subset of Criminal Justice and Corrections, prepares students to provide physical security protection in diverse environments. This program is ideal for individuals seeking a career in homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting, or related protective services.
Students will gain essential skills in security intelligence, operations planning, surveillance systems, and crowd control. Coursework covers critical areas such as weapons and explosives, communications systems, and legal responsibilities, equipping graduates with the knowledge needed to excel in protective services.
Credentials awarded
What Protective Services Operations graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year32 graduates / yr · 2 institutions76%
- Award of less than 12 weeks5 graduates / yr · 1 institution12%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years4 graduates / yr · 2 institutions9.5%
- Associate's degree1 graduates / yr · 1 institution2.4%
Graduates over time
Protective Services Operations completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 32 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 15 |
| 2020 | 16 |
| 2021 | 20 |
| 2022 | 19 |
| 2023 | 57 |
| 2024 | 56 |
| 2025 | 42 |
Top 6 institutions for Protective Services Operations, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Triton College River Grove, ILPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 22 | 29% | — | — |
| 2 | Meridian Technology Center Stillwater, OKPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 10 | 48% | — | — |
| 3 | Elgin Community College Elgin, ILPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 5 | 41% | — | — |
| 4 | Pioneer Technology Center Ponca City, OKPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 3 | 73% | — | — |
| 5 | South College Knoxville, TNPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 1 | 42% | $20,346 | $24,095 |
| 6 | EDP University of Puerto Rico Inc - San Sebastian San Sebastian, PRPrivate not-for-profitAssociate's | 1 | 29% | $7,300 | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Criminal Justice and Corrections field (CIP 43.01) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 4 states & territories
Where Protective Services Operations graduates come from. Each state links to all Criminal Justice and Corrections programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 2 | 27 | Triton College22 / yr |
| Oklahoma | 2 | 13 | Meridian Technology Center10 / yr |
| Tennessee | 1 | 1 | South College1 / yr |
| Puerto Rico | 1 | 1 | EDP University of Puerto Rico Inc - San Sebastian1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 33-3051, Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Protective Services Operations program can pursue careers as Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers, among other roles. The job outlook is positive, with an annual growth rate of 3.1% and approximately 53,700 annual openings. The median wage for these positions is $76,290, typically requiring a high school diploma or equivalent.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 43.0120
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officersprimary SOC 33-3051 | $76,210 | +3.1% About as fast as average | ~53,700 | High school diploma or equivalent |
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives SOC 33-1012 | $106,040 | +2.9% About as fast as average | ~10,900 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Private Detectives and Investigators SOC 33-9021 | $51,220 | +6.0% Faster than average | ~3,900 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1111 | $76,590 | +2.0% About as fast as average | ~1,200 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Emergency Management Directors SOC 11-9161 | $93,330 | +3.0% About as fast as average | ~1,000 | Bachelor's degree |
Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Protective Services Operations programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Identify, pursue, and arrest suspects and perpetrators of criminal acts.
- Provide for public safety by maintaining order, responding to emergencies, protecting people and property, enforcing motor vehicle and criminal laws, and promoting good community relations.
- Record facts to prepare reports that document incidents and activities.
- Render aid to accident survivors and other persons requiring first aid for physical injuries.
- Review facts of incidents to determine if criminal act or statute violations were involved.
- Investigate illegal or suspicious activities.
Tools and technology used
Other Criminal Justice and Corrections specializations
The 16 other 6-digit CIP codes under Criminal Justice and Corrections (CIP 43.01).
- Criminal Justice/CIP 43.0104
Safety Studies 40,687 graduates / yr824 institutions - Criminal Justice/CIP 43.0103
Law Enforcement Administration 26,068 graduates / yr650 institutions - Criminal Justice/CIP 43.0107
Police Science 19,975 graduates / yr540 institutions - Corrections and Criminal JusticeCIP 43.01994,734 graduates / yr94 institutions
- CorrectionsCIP 43.01023,804 graduates / yr147 institutions
- Criminal Justice and CorrectionsCIP 43.01002,344 graduates / yr75 institutions
- Securities Services Administration/CIP 43.0112
Management 678 graduates / yr28 institutions - Security and Loss Prevention ServicesCIP 43.0109497 graduates / yr24 institutions
- Law Enforcement Investigation and InterviewingCIP 43.0114310 graduates / yr14 institutions
- Corrections AdministrationCIP 43.0113partial data84 graduates / yr8 institutions
- Juvenile CorrectionsCIP 43.011056 graduates / yr15 institutions
- Critical Incident Response/CIP 43.0119
Special Police Operations limited data29 graduates / yr2 institutions
Show 4 more CIP codes with no U.S. programs reported+
- Law Enforcement Record-Keeping and Evidence Management43.0115
- Suspension and Debarment Investigation43.0121
- Maritime Law Enforcement43.0122
- Cultural/
Archaelogical Resources Protection43.0123
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
Common questions
What types of credentials can I earn?+
You can earn awards ranging from less than 12 weeks to an Associate's degree.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as a police officer, private detective, or emergency management director.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a median wage of $76,290.
What is the CIP code for Protective Services Operations?+
Protective Services Operations is CIP 43.0120 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Criminal Justice and Corrections (CIP 43.01). NCES defines it as: A program focusing on the principles and techniques of providing physical security protection to clients in various environments and situations. Includes instruction in security intelligence and information resources, operations planning and surveying, operations security, weapons and explosives, defense and offense techniques, security and surveillance systems, communications systems, perimeter and access control, weapons of mass destruction, contingency planning, crowd control, cover and evacuation, combat and vehicle techniques, and applicable legal and administrative responsibilities.
How many institutions offer Protective Services Operations programs?+
6 U.S. institutions reported Protective Services Operations graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 4 states & territories, awarding 42 credentials in the year. That is 0.0% of all Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates.
How much do Protective Services Operations graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers occupation, which Protective Services Operations most directly leads to, pays a median of $76,210 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Criminal Justice and Corrections field report median earnings of $24,095 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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