2026 Best Value Critical Infrastructure Protection Associate’s Degree Schools
[Critical Infrastructure Protection](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/homeland-security/critical-infrastructure-protection/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 40 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value critical infrastructure protection schools.
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2026 Best Value Critical Infrastructure Protection Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in critical infrastructure protection, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Critical Infrastructure Protection Schools
Our analysis ranked New Mexico State University Dona Ana the best value for a degree in critical infrastructure protection in the United States. Located in the city of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University Dona Ana is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,322 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,360. Critical Infrastructure Protection graduates carry a median of $10,284 in student loans. Early-career critical infrastructure protection graduates make about $39,399. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Columbia Southern University earned it the #2 place for critical infrastructure protection. Set in the town of Orange Beach, Columbia Southern University is a very large private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,224. Typical student debt for critical infrastructure protection graduates is $32,683. Soon after graduation, critical infrastructure protection degree recipients from Columbia Southern University generally make around $73,839. That is a strong return on a $32,683 median debt.
Idaho State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in critical infrastructure protection, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Pocatello, Idaho State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,610, while out-of-state students pay about $27,720. Critical Infrastructure Protection graduates carry a median of $24,640 in student loans. Early-career critical infrastructure protection graduates make about $51,446. That is a strong return on a $24,640 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in critical infrastructure protection will find it at Waldorf College, which ranked #4. Set in the rural area of Forest City, Waldorf College is a mid-sized private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $25,978. Typical student debt for critical infrastructure protection graduates is $23,437. Critical Infrastructure Protection graduates of Waldorf College earn a median of $66,446 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Other Critical Infrastructure Protection Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Critical Infrastructure Protection rankings across degree levels:
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 40 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
