Best institutions to study Security and Loss Prevention Services
A program that prepares individuals to perform routine inspection, patrol and crime prevention services for private clients.
24 U.S. institutions graduated 497 Security and Loss Prevention Services students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 43.0109, a specialization of Criminal Justice and Corrections (CIP 43.01), and leads most directly to the Security Guards occupation (BLS SOC 33-9032).
About Security and Loss Prevention Services programs
A program that prepares individuals to perform routine inspection, patrol and crime prevention services for private clients. Includes instruction in the provision of personal protection as well as property security.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Security and Loss Prevention Services program, part of the Criminal Justice and Corrections field, prepares individuals to conduct routine inspections, patrols, and crime prevention services for private clients. This program is ideal for those interested in careers in security and law enforcement, focusing on personal protection and property security.
Students in this program will develop essential skills in active listening, critical thinking, and monitoring. Coursework also covers knowledge areas such as public safety, customer service, and basic first aid, equipping graduates with the competencies needed for effective security management.
Credentials awarded
What Security and Loss Prevention Services graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years252 graduates / yr · 9 institutions51%
- Award of less than 12 weeks100 graduates / yr · 2 institutions20%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year92 graduates / yr · 9 institutions19%
- Master's degree28 graduates / yr · 2 institutions5.6%
- Bachelor's degree19 graduates / yr · 2 institutions3.8%
- Associate's degree5 graduates / yr · 2 institutions1.0%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate1 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.2%
Graduates over time
Security and Loss Prevention Services completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 881 |
| 2013 | 700 |
| 2014 | 466 |
| 2015 | 1,087 |
| 2016 | 1,058 |
| 2017 | 808 |
| 2018 | 751 |
| 2019 | 662 |
| 2020 | 711 |
| 2021 | 475 |
| 2022 | 683 |
| 2023 | 500 |
| 2024 | 494 |
| 2025 | 497 |
Top 24 institutions for Security and Loss Prevention Services, 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 | Hillsborough College Tampa, FLPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 79 | 34% | — | $62,249 |
| 2 | Gateway Technical College Kenosha, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 66 | 51% | — | $73,818 |
| 3 | UEI College - Fresno Fresno, CAPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 58 | 61% | $30,005 | $23,849 |
| 4 | University of New Haven West Haven, CTPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor'sPost-degree cert. | 44 | 63% | $32,614 | $36,455 |
| 5 | UEI College - Bakersfield Bakersfield, CAPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 40 | 68% | $29,687 | $23,849 |
| 6 | UEI College - Ontario Ontario, CAPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 33 | 66% | $27,167 | $29,663 |
| 7 | UEI College - Huntington Park Huntington Park, CAPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 26 | 70% | $29,313 | $29,663 |
| 8 | UEI College - Chula Vista Chula Vista, CAPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 22 | 71% | $28,465 | $29,663 |
| 9 | Miami Dade College Miami, FLPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 21 | 46% | — | $34,209 |
| 10 | UEI College - Oceanside Oceanside, CAPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 21 | 69% | $26,941 | $29,663 |
| 11 | UEI College - Gardena Gardena, CAPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 18 | 60% | $28,919 | $23,026 |
| 12 | UEI College - Garden Grove Garden Grove, CAPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 18 | 63% | $26,221 | $29,663 |
| 13 | UEI College - West Covina West Covina, CAPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 16 | 67% | $27,767 | $29,663 |
| 14 | Oakton College Des Plaines, ILPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 6 | 37% | — | — |
| 15 | William Rainey Harper College Palatine, ILPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 6 | 48% | — | $38,474 |
| 16 | Kaskaskia College Centralia, ILPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 5 | 49% | — | — |
| 17 | College of Lake County Grayslake, ILPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 4 | 37% | — | — |
| 18 | Delta College University Center, MIPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 4 | 27% | — | $44,637 |
| 19 | Cuyahoga Community College District Cleveland, OHPublicAssociate's | 3 | 31% | — | $38,595 |
| 20 | Northern Michigan University Marquette, MIPublicBachelor's | 2 | 52% | — | $38,518 |
| 21 | New England College Henniker, NHPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 2 | 35% | $30,086 | $45,575 |
| 22 | Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, INPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 40% | — | $34,299 |
| 23 | Passaic County Community College Paterson, NJPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 19% | — | $23,559 |
| 24 | Westmoreland County Community College Youngwood, PAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 31% | — | — |
* 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 11 states
Where Security and Loss Prevention Services graduates come from. Each state links to all Criminal Justice and Corrections programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 9 | 252 | UEI College - Fresno58 / yr |
| Florida | 2 | 100 | Hillsborough College79 / yr |
| Wisconsin | 1 | 66 | Gateway Technical College66 / yr |
| Connecticut | 1 | 44 | University of New Haven44 / yr |
| Illinois | 4 | 21 | Oakton College6 / yr |
| Michigan | 2 | 6 | Delta College4 / yr |
| Ohio | 1 | 3 | Cuyahoga Community College District3 / yr |
| New Hampshire | 1 | 2 | New England College2 / yr |
| Indiana | 1 | 1 | Ivy Tech Community College1 / yr |
| New Jersey | 1 | 1 | Passaic County Community College1 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 1 | Westmoreland County Community College1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 33-9032, Security Guards, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Security and Loss Prevention Services program can pursue careers as security guards, with an annual median wage of $38,370. The job outlook indicates little or no change, with approximately 161,000 annual openings. Typically, a high school diploma or equivalent is required for entry-level positions.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 43.0109
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Security Guardsprimary SOC 33-9032 | $38,020 | +0.4% Little or no change | ~161,000 | High school diploma or equivalent |
First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers SOC 33-1091 | $55,940 | +2.7% About as fast as average | ~7,000 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators SOC 33-9031 | $43,370 | +0.3% Little or no change | ~1,300 | 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 |
Transit and Railroad Police SOC 33-3052 | $90,230 | +3.0% About as fast as average | ~200 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Security and Loss Prevention Services 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
- Lock doors and gates of entrances and exits to secure buildings.
- Patrol industrial or commercial premises to prevent and detect signs of intrusion and ensure security of doors, windows, and gates.
- Respond to medical emergencies by administering basic first aid or by obtaining assistance from paramedics.
- Answer alarms and investigate disturbances.
- Circulate among visitors, patrons, or employees to preserve order and protect property.
- Monitor and authorize entrance and departure of employees, visitors, and other persons to guard against theft and maintain security of premises.
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 - 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
- Protective Services OperationsCIP 43.0120partial data42 graduates / yr6 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 awards can I earn in this program?+
You can earn awards ranging from less than 12 weeks to at least 1 but less than 2 academic years, including a master's degree.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in active listening, critical thinking, monitoring, and effective communication.
What is the job outlook for security professionals?+
The job outlook shows little or no change, with about 161,000 annual openings in the field.
What is the typical education required for careers in this field?+
Most positions require at least a high school diploma or equivalent.
What is the CIP code for Security and Loss Prevention Services?+
Security and Loss Prevention Services is CIP 43.0109 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 that prepares individuals to perform routine inspection, patrol and crime prevention services for private clients. Includes instruction in the provision of personal protection as well as property security.
How many institutions offer Security and Loss Prevention Services programs?+
24 U.S. institutions reported Security and Loss Prevention Services graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 11 states, awarding 497 credentials in the year. That is 0.5% of all Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates.
How much do Security and Loss Prevention Services graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Security Guards occupation, which Security and Loss Prevention Services most directly leads to, pays a median of $38,020 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Criminal Justice and Corrections field report median earnings of $34,209 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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