Best colleges for Homeland Security
Any instructional program in homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting, and related protective services not listed above.
64 U.S. institutions graduated 1,185 Homeland Security students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 43.9999, a specialization of Homeland Security (CIP 43.99).
About Homeland Security programs
Any instructional program in homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting, and related protective services not listed above.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Homeland Security program focuses on the essential aspects of protecting the nation, including law enforcement, firefighting, and related protective services. This program is designed for students interested in pursuing careers that ensure public safety and national security. It encompasses a broad range of topics relevant to emergency management and response.
Students in the Homeland Security program will gain knowledge in various areas, including emergency preparedness, risk assessment, and crisis management. Coursework may also cover legal and ethical issues related to homeland security, as well as strategies for effective communication in emergency situations.
Credentials awarded
What Homeland Security graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree483 graduates / yr · 17 institutions41%
- Master's degree264 graduates / yr · 10 institutions22%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years139 graduates / yr · 8 institutions12%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year117 graduates / yr · 18 institutions9.9%
- Associate's degree112 graduates / yr · 24 institutions9.5%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate55 graduates / yr · 7 institutions4.6%
- Award of less than 12 weeks8 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.7%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship7 graduates / yr · 2 institutions0.6%
Graduates over time
Homeland Security completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 2,547 |
| 2013 | 2,334 |
| 2014 | 2,384 |
| 2015 | 2,570 |
| 2016 | 2,385 |
| 2017 | 2,044 |
| 2018 | 2,081 |
| 2019 | 1,953 |
| 2020 | 1,741 |
| 2021 | 1,641 |
| 2022 | 1,570 |
| 2023 | 1,381 |
| 2024 | 1,200 |
| 2025 | 1,185 |
Top 50 institutions for Homeland Security, 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 starting salary* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miami Dade College Miami, FLPublicBachelor's | 122 | 46% | — | $43,666 |
| 2 | Columbus State University Columbus, GAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 86 | 42% | — | — |
| 3 | University of New Haven West Haven, CTPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearPost-degree cert. | 83 | 63% | $32,614 | $42,455 |
| 4 | Eastern Kentucky University Richmond, KYPublicMaster's | 69 | 50% | — | — |
| 5 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 64 | 63% | — | $45,696 |
| 6 | Massachusetts Maritime Academy Buzzards Bay, MAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 56 | 74% | — | $55,702 |
| 7 | Michigan State University East Lansing, MIPublicMaster's | 47 | 81% | — | — |
| 8 | Klamath Community College Klamath Falls, ORPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate'sAward of less than 12 weeks | 46 | 43% | — | — |
| 9 | St Petersburg College St. Petersburg, FLPublicBachelor's | 44 | 38% | — | $49,271 |
| 10 | Tiffin University Tiffin, OHPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor's | 40 | 40% | $24,126 | $46,145 |
| 11 | Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, FLPublicBachelor's | 33 | 63% | — | $37,561 |
| 12 | Neumann University Aston, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 32 | 54% | $28,753 | $125,391 |
| 13 | Florida State College at Jacksonville Jacksonville, FLPublicBachelor's | 27 | 37% | — | $50,091 |
| 14 | Webster University Saint Louis, MOPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 27 | 64% | $25,090 | — |
| 15 | Thomas Edison State University Trenton, NJPublicBachelor's | 25 | — | — | — |
| 16 | Florida SouthWestern State College Fort Myers, FLPublicBachelor's | 24 | 39% | — | $48,873 |
| 17 | Tulane University of Louisiana New Orleans, LAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 23 | 86% | $33,106 | $46,735 |
| 18 | Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, INPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 20 | 40% | — | — |
| 19 | Pennsylvania State University - World Campus University Park, PAPublicPost-degree cert. | 19 | 34% | — | — |
| 20 | Catawba Valley Community College Hickory, NCPublicAssociate's | 18 | 35% | — | — |
| 21 | State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota Bradenton, FLPublicBachelor's | 17 | 38% | — | — |
| 22 | University of Massachusetts-Lowell Lowell, MAPublicPost-degree cert. | 17 | 65% | — | — |
| 23 | ICPR Junior College Hato Rey, PRPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 17 | 51% | $6,450 | — |
| 24 | Madonna University Livonia, MIPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 16 | 60% | $16,904 | — |
| 25 | Cape Fear Community College Wilmington, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 16 | 34% | — | — |
| 26 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach, CAPublicMaster's | 15 | 69% | — | — |
| 27 | Truckee Meadows Community College Reno, NVPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 15 | 32% | — | — |
| 28 | Franklin University Columbus, OHPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sAssociate's | 14 | 11% | $22,280 | — |
| 29 | Anne Arundel Community College Arnold, MDPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 12 | 31% | — | — |
| 30 | Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College Asheville, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 10 | 40% | — | — |
| 31 | University of West Alabama Livingston, ALPublicBachelor's | 9 | 35% | — | — |
| 32 | Seminole State College of Florida Sanford, FLPublicBachelor's | 9 | 41% | — | — |
| 33 | Frederick Community College Frederick, MDPublicAssociate's | 8 | 37% | — | — |
| 34 | Salve Regina University Newport, RIPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 8 | 77% | $31,899 | — |
| 35 | Charlie's Guard-Detective Bureau and Academy Inc Aguadilla, PRPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 8 | 100% | $5,478 | — |
| 36 | Western Illinois University Macomb, ILPublicBachelor's | 7 | 45% | — | — |
| 37 | Gaston College Dallas, NCPublicAssociate's | 7 | 63% | — | — |
| 38 | ICPR Junior College - Mayaguez Mayaguez, PRPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 7 | 67% | $6,374 | — |
| 39 | Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant, MIPublicBachelor'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 6 | 59% | — | — |
| 40 | ICPR Junior College - Arecibo Arecibo, PRPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 6 | 60% | $5,052 | — |
| 41 | Durham Technical Community College Durham, NCPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 5 | 45% | — | — |
| 42 | Vance-Granville Community College Henderson, NCPublicAssociate's | 5 | 53% | — | — |
| 43 | New Jersey City University Jersey City, NJPublicDoctoral | 4 | 34% | — | — |
| 44 | Montgomery County Community College Blue Bell, PAPublicAssociate's | 4 | 28% | — | — |
| 45 | Capitol Technology University Laurel, MDPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 3 | 43% | $27,179 | — |
| 46 | South Piedmont Community College Polkton, NCPublicAssociate's | 3 | 38% | — | — |
| 47 | Owens Community College Perrysburg, OHPublicAssociate's | 3 | 35% | — | — |
| 48 | Pennsylvania State University - Penn State Great Valley Malvern, PAPublicPost-degree cert. | 3 | — | — | — |
| 49 | Rio Salado College Tempe, AZPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 2 | 9% | — | — |
| 50 | St. Thomas University Miami Gardens, FLPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 2 | 48% | $25,464 | — |
* Field starting salary (1 yr): median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Homeland Security field (CIP 43.99) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 25 states & territories
Where Homeland Security graduates come from. Each state links to all Homeland Security programs offered there.
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, or shorter academic awards.
How many colleges offer this program?+
There are 64 colleges offering the Homeland Security program in the U.S.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in emergency preparedness, risk assessment, and crisis management.
What is the career outlook for graduates?+
The program prepares graduates for careers in public safety, with 1,185 graduates annually.
What is the CIP code for Homeland Security?+
Homeland Security is CIP 43.9999 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Homeland Security (CIP 43.99). NCES defines it as: Any instructional program in homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting, and related protective services not listed above.
How many institutions offer Homeland Security programs?+
64 U.S. institutions reported Homeland Security graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 25 states & territories, awarding 1,185 credentials in the year. That is 100.0% of all Homeland Security graduates.
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. This specialization accounts for nearly all Homeland Security graduates, so its figures match the Homeland Security program page.
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