Best institutions to study Security Science and Technology
Compare 434 U.S. colleges offering Security Science and Technology by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 52 states.
Security Science and Technology programs report a median of $39,956 one year after graduation (College Scorecard, 2024), and map to CIP 43.04 and the Forensic Science Technicians occupation (BLS SOC).
About Security Science and Technology programs
The Security Science and Technology program focuses on the intersection of science, technology, and society as it pertains to homeland security, law enforcement, and related protective services. This interdisciplinary field prepares students to understand and address the challenges posed by crime, terrorism, and public safety through a comprehensive curriculum. Designed for those interested in careers that protect communities and enhance security, this program offers various specializations, including Cybersecurity Defense Strategy and Forensic Science. Students will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate complex security issues in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
Students in the Security Science and Technology program will develop critical skills in areas such as critical thinking, writing, and active listening. Coursework covers essential knowledge in law and government, public safety, and forensic science, equipping students with the tools needed to analyze and respond to security challenges effectively.
Top 47 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard, predominant credential).
| # | Institution | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Completions | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Salve Regina University Newport, RI Private not-for-profit · Graduate degree | $91,193 | 3 | 77% | $31,899 | $27,000 |
| 2 | Champlain College Burlington, VT Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $70,586 | 89 | 65% | $32,531 | $30,666 |
| 3 | Robert Morris University Moon Township, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $69,872 | 134 | 66% | $24,175 | $27,000 |
| 4 | Rose State College Midwest City, OK Public · Associate degree | $58,988 | 128 | 20% | — | $10,286 |
| 5 | Florida State University Tallahassee, FL Public · Bachelor's degree | $58,249 | 88 | 86% | — | $20,693 |
| 6 | Embry - Riddle Aeronautical University - Prescott Prescott, AZ Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $55,259 | 27 | 68% | $38,461 | $19,500 |
| 7 | Embry - Riddle Aeronautical University - Worldwide Daytona Beach, FL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $55,259 | 25 | 21% | $21,266 | $19,500 |
| 8 | Utica University Utica, NY Private not-for-profit · Certificate degree | $53,951 | 21 | 56% | $20,237 | — |
| 9 | Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania Bloomsburg, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $52,887 | 57 | 54% | — | $25,800 |
| 10 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $51,202 | 43 | 73% | $33,454 | — |
| 11 | Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus University Park, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,782 | 68 | 86% | — | $27,000 |
| 12 | American Public University System Charles Town, WV Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $49,622 | 64 | 57% | $10,199 | $32,294 |
| 13 | Hamline University Saint Paul, MN Private not-for-profit · Certificate degree | $49,614 | 7 | 60% | $20,981 | — |
| 14 | University of Maryland Global Campus Adelphi, MD Public · Bachelor's degree | $47,496 | 518 | 33% | — | $29,200 |
| 15 | University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Milwaukee, WI Public · Certificate degree | $46,673 | 54 | 49% | — | $28,000 |
| 16 | Chestnut Hill College Philadelphia, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $46,079 | 15 | 49% | $29,887 | $35,000 |
| 17 | Indiana University - Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,718 | 54 | 54% | — | $27,000 |
| 18 | West Virginia University Institute of Technology Beckley, WV Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,255 | 10 | 33% | — | $24,324 |
| 19 | West Virginia University Morgantown, WV Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,255 | 139 | 65% | — | $24,324 |
| 20 | CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice New York, NY Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,092 | 190 | 56% | — | $14,475 |
| 21 | Miami University - Hamilton Hamilton, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,918 | 2 | 25% | — | — |
| 22 | George Mason University Fairfax, VA Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,100 | 126 | 68% | — | $25,747 |
| 23 | University of New Haven West Haven, CT Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $40,889 | 322 | 63% | $32,614 | $27,000 |
| 24 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, TN Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,956 | 27 | 54% | — | — |
| 25 | Washburn University Topeka, KS Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,252 | 39 | 53% | — | $21,638 |
| 26 | Tiffin University Tiffin, OH Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $38,994 | 42 | 40% | $24,126 | $27,000 |
| 27 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,792 | 109 | 84% | — | — |
| 28 | Farmingdale State College Farmingdale, NY Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,789 | 201 | 53% | — | $19,500 |
| 29 | University of Central Oklahoma Edmond, OK Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,710 | 166 | 37% | — | $23,350 |
| 30 | Glenville State University Glenville, WV Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,237 | 27 | 34% | — | $29,750 |
| 31 | University of Wisconsin - Platteville Platteville, WI Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,013 | 33 | 56% | — | $24,780 |
| 32 | Seattle University Seattle, WA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $37,557 | 32 | 76% | $31,900 | $20,750 |
| 33 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VA Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,501 | 71 | 63% | — | $26,000 |
| 34 | Grand Canyon University Phoenix, AZ Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $37,481 | 159 | 43% | $21,535 | $27,000 |
| 35 | Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale Fort Lauderdale, FL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $37,231 | 77 | 61% | $35,483 | $37,151 |
| 36 | Fox Valley Technical College Appleton, WI Public · Associate degree | $35,887 | 28 | 65% | — | $17,000 |
| 37 | Hilbert College Hamburg, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $32,374 | 33 | 56% | $22,690 | $27,000 |
| 38 | Bay Path University Longmeadow, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $32,326 | 10 | 44% | $16,859 | $29,113 |
| 39 | Syracuse University Syracuse, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $31,750 | 58 | 84% | $28,851 | $27,000 |
| 40 | College of Southern Nevada Las Vegas, NV Public · Associate degree | $29,354 | 2 | 19% | — | $11,000 |
| 41 | University of Nebraska - Lincoln Lincoln, NE Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,231 | 30 | 67% | — | $26,908 |
| 42 | Florida Gulf Coast University Fort Myers, FL Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,173 | 95 | 57% | — | $19,046 |
| 43 | Jacksonville State University Jacksonville, AL Public · Bachelor's degree | $27,926 | 64 | 55% | — | $24,250 |
| 44 | Inter American University of Puerto Rico - Ponce Mercedita, PR Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $23,578 | 26 | 41% | $9,980 | $6,325 |
| 45 | The University of Texas at El Paso El Paso, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $23,495 | 32 | 50% | — | $25,432 |
| 46 | Inter American University of Puerto Rico - Bayamon Bayamon, PR Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $12,517 | 37 | 35% | $10,334 | $5,750 |
| 47 | Inter American University of Puerto Rico - Aguadilla Aguadilla, PR Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $11,973 | 30 | 43% | $8,433 | $7,750 |
Offered across 52 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-4092, Forensic Science Technicians, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Security Science and Technology program can pursue a variety of careers in law enforcement, cybersecurity, and forensic science. The job outlook for this field is much faster than average, with a projected growth rate of 12.8% and approximately 2,900 annual openings. The median wage for professionals in this area is $67,440, typically requiring a bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Security Science and Technology
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 43.04.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 43.04 (Security Science and Technology) maps to 19 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 11-9199 | Managers, All Other |
| 13-2011 | Accountants and Auditors |
| 13-2061 | Financial Examiners |
| 15-1212 | Information Security Analysts |
| 15-1299 | Computer Occupations, All Other |
| 17-1021 | Cartographers and Photogrammetrists |
| 19-3092 | Geographers |
| 19-4092 | Forensic Science Techniciansprimary |
| 19-4099 | Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other |
| 25-1064 | Geography Teachers, Postsecondary |
| 25-1111 | Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary |
| 33-1012 | First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives |
| 33-1091 | First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers |
| 33-1099 | First-Line Supervisors of Protective Service Workers, All Other |
| 33-3021 | Detectives and Criminal Investigators |
| 33-3051 | Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers |
| 33-9021 | Private Detectives and Investigators |
| 55-1017 | Special Forces Officers |
| 55-3018 | Special Forces |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Security Science and Technology programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Collect evidence from crime scenes, storing it in conditions that preserve its integrity.
- Keep records and prepare reports detailing findings, investigative methods, and laboratory techniques.
- Use photographic or video equipment to document evidence or crime scenes.
- Testify in court about investigative or analytical methods or findings.
- Use chemicals or other substances to examine latent fingerprint evidence and compare developed prints to those of known persons in databases.
- Measure and sketch crime scenes to document evidence.
Concentrations within Security Science and Technology
Specializations under this field (NCES CIP 2020).
- Security Science and Technology, GeneralCIP 43.0401
A program of study that focuses on the general application of science and technology to security.
- Criminalistics and Criminal ScienceCIP 43.0402
A program that focuses on the application of clinical and criminal laboratory science, investigative techniques, and criminology to the reconstruction of crimes and the analysis of physical evidence
- Cyber/Computer Forensics and CounterterrorismCIP 43.0403
A program focusing on the principles and techniques used to identify, search, seize and analyze digital media and to conduct cyber investigations against criminal and terrorist activity
- Cybersecurity Defense Strategy/PolicyCIP 43.0404
A program that focuses on the study of strategy, policy, and standards regarding the security of and operations in cyberspace
- Financial Forensics and Fraud InvestigationCIP 43.0405
A program focusing on the principles and techniques of conducting investigations into financial crime, terrorist activity, and the analysis and use of accounting data as evidence
- Forensic Science and TechnologyCIP 43.0406
A program that focuses on the application of the physical, biomedical, and social sciences to the analysis and evaluation of physical evidence, human testimony and criminal suspects
- Geospatial IntelligenceCIP 43.0407
A program that prepares individuals to analyze security and intelligence problems using a geographic perspective by relating human actions to cultural, political, economic, social, and physical landsc
- Law Enforcement Intelligence AnalysisCIP 43.0408
A program focusing on the preparation of law enforcement personnel to perform intelligence and surveillance operations and to analyze and use data collected via such operations
- Security Science and Technology, OtherCIP 43.0499
Any instructional program in security science and technology not listed above.
Common questions
What specializations are available in this program?+
Students can specialize in areas such as Cyber/Computer Forensics, Financial Forensics, and Geospatial Intelligence.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, writing, active listening, and monitoring.
What is the job outlook for graduates?+
The job outlook is much faster than average, with a growth rate of 12.8%.
What is the typical educational requirement?+
A bachelor's degree is typically required for careers in this field.
How much do Security Science and Technology graduates earn?+
Security Science and Technology graduates report median earnings of $39,956 one year after graduation, per College Scorecard (2024); the Forensic Science Technicians occupation pays about $79,200 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Security Science and Technology?+
Security Science and Technology maps to CIP 43.04 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
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.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card