2026 Best Value Crisis/Emergency/Disaster Management Associate’s Degree Schools
[Crisis/Emergency/Disaster Management](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/homeland-security/crisis-emergency-disaster-management/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 198 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for crisis/emergency/disaster management students.
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2026 Best Value Crisis/Emergency/Disaster Management Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in crisis/emergency/disaster management, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Crisis/Emergency/Disaster Management Schools
For return on investment in crisis/emergency/disaster management, no school beat Fayetteville Technical Community College this year. Set in the city of Fayetteville, Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,628 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,772. Crisis/emergency/disaster Management graduates carry a median of $16,909 in student loans. Crisis/emergency/disaster Management graduates of Fayetteville Technical Community College earn a median of $40,584 early in their careers. Set against $16,909 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
American Public University System is a great value for students pursuing a degree in crisis/emergency/disaster management, landing the #2 spot this year. American Public University System is a very large private for-profit school located in the town of Charles Town. Students from in state pay about $8,400 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $13,125 to complete the crisis/emergency/disaster management program here. Early-career crisis/emergency/disaster management graduates make about $69,808. Set against $13,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in crisis/emergency/disaster management will find it at Caldwell Community College And Technical Institute, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Hudson, Caldwell Community College And Technical Institute is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,528, compared with $6,528 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for crisis/emergency/disaster management graduates is $8,750. Soon after graduation, crisis/emergency/disaster management degree recipients from Caldwell Community College And Technical Institute generally make around $44,734. That is a strong return on a $8,750 median debt.
Columbia Southern University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in crisis/emergency/disaster management, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the town of Orange Beach, Columbia Southern University is a very large private for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,224. Students borrow a median of $32,683 to complete the crisis/emergency/disaster management program here. Early-career crisis/emergency/disaster management graduates make about $73,839. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
American Intercontinental University Online is a great value for students pursuing a degree in crisis/emergency/disaster management, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Chandler, American Intercontinental University Online is a very large private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,397. Crisis/emergency/disaster Management graduates carry a median of $39,107 in student loans. Crisis/emergency/disaster Management graduates of American Intercontinental University Online earn a median of $43,008 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $39,107 median debt.
Idaho State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value crisis/emergency/disaster management schools. Located in the city of Pocatello, Idaho State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,610, while out-of-state students pay about $27,720. Typical student debt for crisis/emergency/disaster management graduates is $24,640. Crisis/emergency/disaster Management graduates of Idaho State University earn a median of $51,446 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Waldorf College earned the #7 position for value in crisis/emergency/disaster management this year. Located in the rural area of Forest City, Waldorf College is a mid-sized private for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $25,978. Typical student debt for crisis/emergency/disaster management graduates is $23,437. Early-career crisis/emergency/disaster management graduates make about $66,446. That is a strong return on a $23,437 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Other Crisis/Emergency/Disaster Management Degree Levels
Explore the best-value crisis/emergency/disaster management schools at other degree levels:
View All Crisis/Emergency/Disaster Management Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 198 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
