2027 Best Value Critical Infrastructure Protection Master’s Degree Schools
[Critical Infrastructure Protection](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/homeland-security/critical-infrastructure-protection/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 12 schools to find the best return on investment for critical infrastructure protection students.
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2027 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
University Of South Florida Main Campus earned the #1 spot for value among critical infrastructure protection schools in the United States. Set in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,410, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for critical infrastructure protection graduates is $21,829. Soon after graduation, critical infrastructure protection degree recipients from University Of South Florida Main Campus generally make around $85,268. That is a strong return on a $21,829 median debt. University Of South Florida Main Campus admits about 43% of applicants.
University Of New Hampshire At Manchester came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value critical infrastructure protection schools. Set in the city of Manchester, University Of New Hampshire At Manchester is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,838, while out-of-state students pay about $36,418. Critical Infrastructure Protection graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Early-career critical infrastructure protection graduates make about $51,200. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Alaska Fairbanks came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value critical infrastructure protection schools. Set in the city of Fairbanks, University Of Alaska Fairbanks is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,083 in tuition and fees, compared with $25,892 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,722 to complete the critical infrastructure protection program here. Soon after graduation, critical infrastructure protection degree recipients from University Of Alaska Fairbanks generally make around $50,963. Set against $22,722 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Jacksonville State University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value critical infrastructure protection schools. Jacksonville State University is a large public school located in the suburb of Jacksonville. Students from in state pay about $12,894 in tuition and fees, compared with $23,334 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for critical infrastructure protection graduates is $24,751. Early-career critical infrastructure protection graduates make about $45,361. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Columbia Southern University earned it the #5 place for critical infrastructure protection. Set in the town of Orange Beach, Columbia Southern University is a very large private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,224. Typical student debt for critical infrastructure protection graduates is $32,683. Critical Infrastructure Protection graduates of Columbia Southern University earn a median of $85,364 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Arkansas Tech University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value critical infrastructure protection schools. Arkansas Tech University is a large public school located in the town of Russellville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,674, while out-of-state students pay about $14,668. Critical Infrastructure Protection graduates carry a median of $25,355 in student loans. Soon after graduation, critical infrastructure protection degree recipients from Arkansas Tech University generally make around $65,382. That is a strong return on a $25,355 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
George Mason University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value critical infrastructure protection schools. George Mason University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fairfax. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,220, compared with $38,688 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,741 to complete the critical infrastructure protection program here. Soon after graduation, critical infrastructure protection degree recipients from George Mason University generally make around $138,835. That is a strong return on a $21,741 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Sam Houston State University earned the #8 position for value in critical infrastructure protection this year. Located in the town of Huntsville, Sam Houston State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,228, compared with $19,068 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for critical infrastructure protection graduates is $24,850. Critical Infrastructure Protection graduates of Sam Houston State University earn a median of $61,091 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Sam Houston State University admits about 90% of applicants.
Utica College earned the #9 position for value in critical infrastructure protection this year. Set in the city of Utica, Utica College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $26,930. Students borrow a median of $27,846 to complete the critical infrastructure protection program here. Early-career critical infrastructure protection graduates make about $86,488. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Utica College admits about 92% of applicants.
Thomas Edison State College came in at #10 for value in critical infrastructure protection this year. Thomas Edison State College is a large public school located in the city of Trenton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,838, with out-of-state students paying around $8,856. Critical Infrastructure Protection graduates carry a median of $16,149 in student loans. Critical Infrastructure Protection graduates of Thomas Edison State College earn a median of $70,792 early in their careers. Set against $16,149 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
George Washington University landed the #11 spot for critical infrastructure protection value this year. Located in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $67,710. Typical student debt for critical infrastructure protection graduates is $22,910. Soon after graduation, critical infrastructure protection degree recipients from George Washington University generally make around $111,258. That is a strong return on a $22,910 median debt. George Washington University admits about 47% of applicants.
Endicott College came in at #12 for value in critical infrastructure protection this year. Located in the suburb of Beverly, Endicott College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $40,650. Critical Infrastructure Protection graduates carry a median of $25,973 in student loans. Early-career critical infrastructure protection graduates make about $67,077. Set against $25,973 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 71% 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:
View All Critical Infrastructure Protection Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
