2026 Best Value Crisis/Emergency/Disaster Management Schools in the Southeast Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the crisis/emergency/disaster management degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Crisis/Emergency/Disaster Management Schools
Leading the list is Wayne Community College, our #1 best value for crisis/emergency/disaster management in the Southeast Region. Set in the city of Goldsboro, Wayne Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,566, with out-of-state students paying around $8,710. Typical student debt for crisis/emergency/disaster management graduates is $5,500. Soon after graduation, crisis/emergency/disaster management degree recipients from Wayne Community College generally make around $33,116. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
Fayetteville Technical Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value crisis/emergency/disaster management schools. Set in the city of Fayetteville, Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,628, with out-of-state students paying around $8,772. Typical student debt for crisis/emergency/disaster management graduates is $16,909. Soon after graduation, crisis/emergency/disaster management degree recipients from Fayetteville Technical Community College generally make around $40,584. That is a strong return on a $16,909 median debt.
A rank of #3 makes Caldwell Community College And Technical Institute one of the best values for crisis/emergency/disaster management. Caldwell Community College And Technical Institute is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Hudson. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,528, compared with $6,528 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,750 to complete the crisis/emergency/disaster management program here. Early-career crisis/emergency/disaster management graduates make about $44,734. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
American Public University System is a great value for students pursuing a degree in crisis/emergency/disaster management, landing the #4 spot this year. American Public University System is a very large private for-profit school located in the town of Charles Town. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,400. Students borrow a median of $16,339 to complete the crisis/emergency/disaster management program here. Crisis/emergency/disaster Management graduates of American Public University System earn a median of $69,808 early in their careers. Set against $16,339 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Florida International University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in crisis/emergency/disaster management, landing the #5 spot this year. Florida International University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Miami. Students from in state pay about $6,565 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,964. Typical student debt for crisis/emergency/disaster management graduates is $19,349. Crisis/emergency/disaster Management graduates of Florida International University earn a median of $78,638 early in their careers. Set against $19,349 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
Elizabeth City State University landed the #6 spot for crisis/emergency/disaster management value this year. Set in the town of Elizabeth City, Elizabeth City State University is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,536, while out-of-state students pay about $10,536. Crisis/emergency/disaster Management graduates carry a median of $26,992 in student loans. Crisis/emergency/disaster Management graduates of Elizabeth City State University earn a median of $28,300 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Elizabeth City State University admits about 64% of applicants.
Palm Beach State College placed #7 among the best values for crisis/emergency/disaster management. Palm Beach State College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Lake Worth. Students from in state pay about $3,050 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,910. Students borrow a median of $12,518 to complete the crisis/emergency/disaster management program here. Early-career crisis/emergency/disaster management graduates make about $42,501. That is a strong return on a $12,518 median debt.
University Of Central Florida landed the #8 spot for crisis/emergency/disaster management value this year. Located in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,368 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,467. Students borrow a median of $21,620 to complete the crisis/emergency/disaster management program here. Early-career crisis/emergency/disaster management graduates make about $51,790. Set against $21,620 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 40%.
Savannah State University earned the #9 position for value in crisis/emergency/disaster management this year. Located in the city of Savannah, Savannah State University is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,750, while out-of-state students pay about $19,043. Crisis/emergency/disaster Management graduates carry a median of $31,576 in student loans. Soon after graduation, crisis/emergency/disaster management degree recipients from Savannah State University generally make around $34,489. Set against $31,576 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Western Kentucky University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value crisis/emergency/disaster management schools. Set in the city of Bowling Green, Western Kentucky University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,652 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $27,000. Crisis/emergency/disaster Management graduates carry a median of $24,499 in student loans. Early-career crisis/emergency/disaster management graduates make about $44,778. That is a strong return on a $24,499 median debt. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Eastern Kentucky University earned the #11 position for value in crisis/emergency/disaster management this year. Set in the town of Richmond, Eastern Kentucky University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,320 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,230 for out-of-state students. Crisis/emergency/disaster Management graduates carry a median of $28,343 in student loans. Crisis/emergency/disaster Management graduates of Eastern Kentucky University earn a median of $38,307 early in their careers. Set against $28,343 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Eastern Kentucky University admits about 78% of applicants.
Arkansas State University Main Campus ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value crisis/emergency/disaster management schools. Set in the city of Jonesboro, Arkansas State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,090, with out-of-state students paying around $14,522. Crisis/emergency/disaster Management graduates carry a median of $23,399 in student loans. Early-career crisis/emergency/disaster management graduates make about $72,464. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Tennessee Technological University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value crisis/emergency/disaster management schools. Tennessee Technological University is a large public school located in the town of Cookeville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,376, with out-of-state students paying around $15,576. Crisis/emergency/disaster Management graduates carry a median of $17,580 in student loans. Soon after graduation, crisis/emergency/disaster management degree recipients from Tennessee Technological University generally make around $46,981. That is a strong return on a $17,580 median debt. Tennessee Technological University admits about 76% of applicants.
Arkansas Tech University landed the #14 spot for crisis/emergency/disaster management value this year. Arkansas Tech University is a large public school located in the town of Russellville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,674, with out-of-state students paying around $14,668. Crisis/emergency/disaster Management graduates carry a median of $25,355 in student loans. Crisis/emergency/disaster Management graduates of Arkansas Tech University earn a median of $54,236 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Lander University landed the #15 spot for crisis/emergency/disaster management value this year. Lander University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Greenwood. Students from in state pay about $11,700 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,300. Crisis/emergency/disaster Management graduates carry a median of $26,064 in student loans. Soon after graduation, crisis/emergency/disaster management degree recipients from Lander University generally make around $37,548. That is a strong return on a $26,064 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Jacksonville State University earned the #16 position for value in crisis/emergency/disaster management this year. Located in the suburb of Jacksonville, Jacksonville State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,894, compared with $23,334 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,751 to complete the crisis/emergency/disaster management program here. Early-career crisis/emergency/disaster management graduates make about $45,361. That is a strong return on a $24,751 median debt. Jacksonville State University admits about 78% of applicants.
Columbia Southern University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value crisis/emergency/disaster management schools. Located in the town of Orange Beach, Columbia Southern University is a very large private for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,224. Typical student debt for crisis/emergency/disaster management graduates is $32,683. Early-career crisis/emergency/disaster management graduates make about $73,839. Set against $32,683 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
George Mason University came in at #18 for value in crisis/emergency/disaster management this year. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,220, while out-of-state students pay about $38,688. Crisis/emergency/disaster Management graduates carry a median of $21,741 in student loans. Soon after graduation, crisis/emergency/disaster management degree recipients from George Mason University generally make around $114,896. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide placed #19 among the best values for crisis/emergency/disaster management. Set in the city of Daytona Beach, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $12,097 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for crisis/emergency/disaster management graduates is $20,500. Early-career crisis/emergency/disaster management graduates make about $48,676. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide admits about 58% of applicants.
Bethel University Tennessee came in at #20 for value in crisis/emergency/disaster management this year. Located in the town of McKenzie, Bethel University Tennessee is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $18,712 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for crisis/emergency/disaster management graduates is $31,919. Soon after graduation, crisis/emergency/disaster management degree recipients from Bethel University Tennessee generally make around $78,275. Set against $31,919 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Barry University earned the #21 position for value in crisis/emergency/disaster management this year. Set in the suburb of Miami, Barry University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $34,350. Students borrow a median of $31,180 to complete the crisis/emergency/disaster management program here. Soon after graduation, crisis/emergency/disaster management degree recipients from Barry University generally make around $64,906. Set against $31,180 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Barry University admits about 77% of applicants.
Nova Southeastern University came in at #22 for value in crisis/emergency/disaster management this year. Set in the suburb of Fort Lauderdale, Nova Southeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,700. Typical student debt for crisis/emergency/disaster management graduates is $25,021. Crisis/emergency/disaster Management graduates of Nova Southeastern University earn a median of $70,595 early in their careers. Set against $25,021 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Nova Southeastern University admits about 73% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 61 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.
[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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
