2026 Best Value Critical Infrastructure Protection Master’s Degree Schools
[Critical Infrastructure Protection](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/homeland-security/critical-infrastructure-protection/) 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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 40 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for critical infrastructure protection students.
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2026 Best Value Critical Infrastructure Protection Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the critical infrastructure protection degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Critical Infrastructure Protection Schools
For return on investment in critical infrastructure protection, no school beat University Of South Florida Main Campus this year. Located in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,410 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Critical Infrastructure Protection graduates carry a median of $21,829 in student loans. Critical Infrastructure Protection graduates of University Of South Florida Main Campus earn a median of $85,268 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 43%.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Alaska Fairbanks one of the best values for critical infrastructure protection. Located in the city of Fairbanks, University Of Alaska Fairbanks is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,083, compared with $25,892 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,722 to complete the critical infrastructure protection program here. Critical Infrastructure Protection graduates of University Of Alaska Fairbanks earn a median of $50,963 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,722 median debt.
University Of New Hampshire At Manchester is a great value for students pursuing a degree in critical infrastructure protection, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Manchester, University Of New Hampshire At Manchester is a small public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,838, compared with $36,418 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the critical infrastructure protection program here. Critical Infrastructure Protection graduates of University Of New Hampshire At Manchester earn a median of $51,200 early in their careers. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Columbia Southern University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in critical infrastructure protection, landing the #4 spot this year. 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. Critical Infrastructure Protection graduates carry a median of $32,683 in student loans. Soon after graduation, critical infrastructure protection degree recipients from Columbia Southern University generally make around $85,364. Set against $32,683 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
George Mason University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value critical infrastructure protection schools. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $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. Early-career critical infrastructure protection graduates make about $138,835. That is a strong return on a $21,741 median debt. George Mason University admits about 88% of applicants.
Arkansas Tech University placed #6 among the best values for critical infrastructure protection. Arkansas Tech University is a large public school located in the town of Russellville. In-state tuition and fees average $8,674, compared with $14,668 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,355 to complete the critical infrastructure protection program here. Soon after graduation, critical infrastructure protection degree recipients from Arkansas Tech University generally make around $45,115. Set against $25,355 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Arkansas Tech University admits about 96% of applicants.
Sam Houston State University earned the #7 position for value in critical infrastructure protection this year. Set in the town of Huntsville, Sam Houston State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,228, compared with $19,068 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for critical infrastructure protection graduates is $24,850. Early-career critical infrastructure protection graduates make about $61,091. That is a strong return on a $24,850 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Utica College earned the #8 position for value in critical infrastructure protection this year. Located in the city of Utica, Utica College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $26,930 in tuition and fees. Critical Infrastructure Protection graduates carry a median of $27,846 in student loans. Early-career critical infrastructure protection graduates make about $86,488. That is a strong return on a $27,846 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.
George Washington University came in at #9 for value in critical infrastructure protection this year. Located in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $67,710 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,910 to complete the critical infrastructure protection program here. Soon after graduation, critical infrastructure protection degree recipients from George Washington University generally make around $111,258. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. George Washington University admits about 47% of applicants.
Other Critical Infrastructure Protection Degree Levels
Explore the best-value critical infrastructure protection schools at other degree levels:
View All Critical Infrastructure Protection 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 · 40 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
