Best institutions to study Signal/Geospatial Intelligence
A program that focuses on the theory, technology and operational aspects of collecting, processing and exploiting remote-sensed, radar, acoustic and other forms of signals intelligence.
7 U.S. institutions graduated 35 Signal/Geospatial Intelligence students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 29.0203, a specialization of Intelligence (CIP 29.02), and leads most directly to the First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives occupation (BLS SOC 33-1012).
About Signal/Geospatial Intelligence programs
A program that focuses on the theory, technology and operational aspects of collecting, processing and exploiting remote-sensed, radar, acoustic and other forms of signals intelligence. Includes instruction in applied physics, wave propagation and capture, radar systems, acoustics and underwater systems, infrared systems, synthetic aperture systems, collection and processing systems, signal phenomenology, signal analysis and exploitation, and applications to specific intelligence problems.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Signal/Geospatial Intelligence program focuses on the theory, technology, and operational aspects of collecting and processing various forms of signals intelligence, including remote-sensed and radar data. This program is designed for students interested in military technologies and applied sciences, providing them with the skills necessary to analyze and exploit signals for intelligence purposes.
Students in this program will develop core skills in reading comprehension, critical thinking, and active listening. Coursework covers applied physics, wave propagation, radar systems, and signal analysis, equipping graduates with the knowledge to tackle specific intelligence challenges effectively.
Credentials awarded
What Signal/Geospatial Intelligence graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Master's degree20 graduates / yr · 3 institutions57%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate9 graduates / yr · 2 institutions26%
- Bachelor's degree5 graduates / yr · 1 institution14%
- Post-master's certificate1 graduates / yr · 1 institution2.9%
Graduates over time
Signal/Geospatial Intelligence completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 32 |
| 2013 | 6 |
| 2014 | 47 |
| 2015 | 44 |
| 2016 | 19 |
| 2017 | 16 |
| 2018 | 25 |
| 2019 | 34 |
| 2020 | 19 |
| 2021 | 46 |
| 2022 | 45 |
| 2023 | 53 |
| 2024 | 52 |
| 2025 | 35 |
Top 7 institutions for Signal/Geospatial 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MDPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 12 | 94% | $11,888 |
| 2 | Naval Postgraduate School Monterey, CAPublicPost-degree cert. | 6 | — | — |
| 3 | University of Maryland - College Park College Park, MDPublicMaster's | 6 | 89% | — |
| 4 | Brigham Young University Provo, UTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 5 | 81% | $13,712 |
| 5 | University of Alaska Fairbanks Fairbanks, AKPublicPost-degree cert. | 3 | 38% | — |
| 6 | University of Idaho Moscow, IDPublicMaster's | 2 | 57% | — |
| 7 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 1 | 92% | $26,873 |
Offered in 5 states
Where Signal/Geospatial Intelligence graduates come from. Each state links to all Intelligence programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 2 | 18 | Johns Hopkins University12 / yr |
| California | 2 | 7 | Naval Postgraduate School6 / yr |
| Utah | 1 | 5 | Brigham Young University5 / yr |
| Alaska | 1 | 3 | University of Alaska Fairbanks3 / yr |
| Idaho | 1 | 2 | University of Idaho2 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 33-1012, First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Signal/Geospatial Intelligence program can pursue careers as First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives, among other roles. The job outlook for related occupations shows a growth rate of 2.9%, with approximately 10,900 annual openings and a median wage of $105,980. Typical education for these roles is a high school diploma or equivalent.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 29.0203
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectivesprimary SOC 33-1012 | $106,040 | +2.9% About as fast as average | ~10,900 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Detectives and Criminal Investigators SOC 33-3021 | $93,790 | -0.7% Little or no change | ~7,800 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Cartographers and Photogrammetrists SOC 17-1021 | $81,390 | +6.4% Faster than average | ~1,000 | Bachelor's degree |
SOC 55-1017 | — | — | — | — |
SOC 55-3018 | — | — | — | — |
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 Signal/Geospatial Intelligence 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
- Supervise and coordinate the investigation of criminal cases, offering guidance and expertise to investigators, and ensuring that procedures are conducted in accordance with laws and regulations.
- Prepare work schedules and assign duties to subordinates.
- Direct collection, preparation, and handling of evidence and personal property of prisoners.
- Investigate and resolve personnel problems within organization and charges of misconduct against staff.
- Explain police operations to subordinates to assist them in performing their job duties.
- Maintain logs, prepare reports, and direct the preparation, handling, and maintenance of departmental records.
Tools and technology used
Other Intelligence specializations
The 7 other 6-digit CIP codes under Intelligence (CIP 29.02).
- IntelligenceCIP 29.02011,988 graduates / yr22 institutions
- 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
- 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 Master's degree, Postbaccalaureate certificate, Bachelor's degree, or Post-master's certificate.
How many colleges offer this program in the U.S.?+
There are 7 colleges in the U.S. offering this program.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, active listening, and writing, among others.
What is the job outlook for careers in this field?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with 2.9% growth and 10,900 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Signal/Geospatial Intelligence?+
Signal/Geospatial Intelligence is CIP 29.0203 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 theory, technology and operational aspects of collecting, processing and exploiting remote-sensed, radar, acoustic and other forms of signals intelligence. Includes instruction in applied physics, wave propagation and capture, radar systems, acoustics and underwater systems, infrared systems, synthetic aperture systems, collection and processing systems, signal phenomenology, signal analysis and exploitation, and applications to specific intelligence problems.
How many institutions offer Signal/Geospatial Intelligence programs?+
7 U.S. institutions reported Signal/Geospatial Intelligence graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 5 states, awarding 35 credentials in the year. That is 0.9% of all Intelligence graduates.
How much do Signal/Geospatial Intelligence graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives occupation, which Signal/Geospatial Intelligence most directly leads to, pays a median of $106,040 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
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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