Best institutions to study Intelligence
A program that focuses on the principles and techniques of intelligence acquisition, analysis and exploitation.
22 U.S. institutions graduated 1,988 Intelligence students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 29.0201, a specialization of Intelligence (CIP 29.02).
About Intelligence programs
A program that focuses on the principles and techniques of intelligence acquisition, analysis and exploitation. Includes instruction in intelligence organizations, the intelligence cycle, intelligence operations planning, intelligence analysis and reporting, intelligence methods, electronic and signals intelligence, operations and communications security, human intelligence management, intelligence chain of command, information exploitation and psychological warfare, and the relationship to national security policy and strategy.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Intelligence program, also known as Intelligence, General, focuses on the principles and techniques involved in intelligence acquisition, analysis, and exploitation. This program is designed for students interested in understanding the complexities of intelligence operations and their critical role in national security policy and strategy.
Students will gain knowledge in various areas including intelligence organizations, the intelligence cycle, operations planning, and methods such as electronic and signals intelligence. Coursework also covers human intelligence management and the relationship between intelligence and national security.
Credentials awarded
What Intelligence graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree838 graduates / yr · 12 institutions42%
- Associate's degree667 graduates / yr · 3 institutions34%
- Master's degree411 graduates / yr · 8 institutions21%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year50 graduates / yr · 5 institutions2.5%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate21 graduates / yr · 4 institutions1.1%
- Post-master's certificate1 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.1%
Graduates over time
Intelligence completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 809 |
| 2013 | 796 |
| 2014 | 817 |
| 2015 | 1,062 |
| 2016 | 954 |
| 2017 | 1,127 |
| 2018 | 1,326 |
| 2019 | 1,377 |
| 2020 | 1,982 |
| 2021 | 2,257 |
| 2022 | 2,342 |
| 2023 | 2,405 |
| 2024 | 2,200 |
| 2025 | 1,988 |
Top 22 institutions for Intelligence, 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 | American Public University System Charles Town, WVPrivate for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 678 | 57% | $10,199 | — |
| 2 | Cochise County Community College District Sierra Vista, AZPublicAssociate's | 652 | 30% | — | $48,755 |
| 3 | Georgetown University Washington, DCPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 133 | 95% | $22,242 | — |
| 4 | Citadel Military College of South Carolina Charleston, SCPublicBachelor'sMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 112 | 75% | — | $42,362 |
| 5 | Norwich University Northfield, VTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 109 | 60% | $23,982 | $73,947 |
| 6 | Mercyhurst University Erie, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 69 | 60% | $25,987 | $52,211 |
| 7 | Coastal Carolina University Conway, SCPublicBachelor's | 59 | 48% | — | $35,150 |
| 8 | Excelsior University Albany, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 40 | — | — | $64,071 |
| 9 | Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MDPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 26 | 94% | $11,888 | — |
| 10 | Utah Valley University Orem, UTPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 22 | 45% | — | — |
| 11 | Eastern Kentucky University Richmond, KYPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 21 | 50% | — | — |
| 12 | Indiana State University Terre Haute, INPublicBachelor's | 17 | 43% | — | — |
| 13 | Point Park University Pittsburgh, PAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor's | 16 | 59% | $23,704 | — |
| 14 | Naval Postgraduate School Monterey, CAPublicPost-degree cert. | 9 | — | — | — |
| 15 | Fayetteville Technical Community College Fayetteville, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 7 | 24% | — | — |
| 16 | Wayland Baptist University Plainview, TXPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 5 | 19% | $20,754 | — |
| 17 | Capitol Technology University Laurel, MDPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 4 | 43% | $27,179 | — |
| 18 | York College of Pennsylvania York, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 4 | 64% | $18,682 | — |
| 19 | Lebanon Valley College Annville, PAPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 2 | 65% | $24,925 | — |
| 20 | University of Kansas Lawrence, KSPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 69% | — | — |
| 21 | Tulane University of Louisiana New Orleans, LAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 1 | 86% | $33,106 | — |
| 22 | Gannon University Erie, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 66% | $21,409 | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Intelligence field (CIP 29.02) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 16 states
Where Intelligence graduates come from. Each state links to all Intelligence programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Virginia | 1 | 678 | American Public University System678 / yr |
| Arizona | 1 | 652 | Cochise County Community College District652 / yr |
| South Carolina | 2 | 171 | Citadel Military College of South Carolina112 / yr |
| District of Columbia | 1 | 133 | Georgetown University133 / yr |
| Vermont | 1 | 109 | Norwich University109 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 5 | 92 | Mercyhurst University69 / yr |
| New York | 1 | 40 | Excelsior University40 / yr |
| Maryland | 2 | 30 | Johns Hopkins University26 / yr |
| Utah | 1 | 22 | Utah Valley University22 / yr |
| Kentucky | 1 | 21 | Eastern Kentucky University21 / yr |
| Indiana | 1 | 17 | Indiana State University17 / yr |
| California | 1 | 9 | Naval Postgraduate School9 / yr |
| North Carolina | 1 | 7 | Fayetteville Technical Community College7 / yr |
| Texas | 1 | 5 | Wayland Baptist University5 / yr |
| Kansas | 1 | 1 | University of Kansas1 / yr |
| Louisiana | 1 | 1 | Tulane University of Louisiana1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
Graduates of the Intelligence program can pursue various careers within the military and intelligence sectors. With approximately 1,988 graduates per year from 22 colleges in the U.S., this field offers diverse opportunities, although specific growth and wage data are not provided.
Career pathways for CIP 29.0201
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
SOC 55-1017 | — | — | — | — |
SOC 55-3018 | — | — | — | — |
Other Intelligence specializations
The 7 other 6-digit CIP codes under Intelligence (CIP 29.02).
- Cyber/CIP 29.0207
Electronic Operations and Warfare 1,576 graduates / yr39 institutions - Strategic IntelligenceCIP 29.0202303 graduates / yr11 institutions
- IntelligenceCIP 29.0299limited data75 graduates / yr2 institutions
- Signal/CIP 29.0203
Geospatial Intelligence partial data35 graduates / yr7 institutions - Information/CIP 29.0206
Psychological Warfare and Military Media Relations limited data7 graduates / yr1 institutions
Show 2 more CIP codes with no U.S. programs reported+
- Command & Control (C329.0204
- Information Operations/
Joint Information Operations29.0205
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, Associate's degree, or Master's degree in Intelligence.
How many colleges offer this program in the U.S.?+
There are 22 colleges offering the Intelligence program across the United States.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in intelligence analysis, operations planning, and understanding intelligence methods.
What is the annual number of graduates in this field?+
Approximately 1,988 students graduate from the Intelligence program each year.
What is the CIP code for Intelligence?+
Intelligence is CIP 29.0201 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Intelligence (CIP 29.02). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on the principles and techniques of intelligence acquisition, analysis and exploitation. Includes instruction in intelligence organizations, the intelligence cycle, intelligence operations planning, intelligence analysis and reporting, intelligence methods, electronic and signals intelligence, operations and communications security, human intelligence management, intelligence chain of command, information exploitation and psychological warfare, and the relationship to national security policy and strategy.
How many institutions offer Intelligence programs?+
22 U.S. institutions reported Intelligence graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 16 states, awarding 1,988 credentials in the year. That is 49.9% of all Intelligence 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.
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