2027 Best Value Critical Infrastructure Protection Schools in the Southeast Region
[Critical Infrastructure Protection](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/homeland-security/critical-infrastructure-protection/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 6 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 Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in critical infrastructure protection, balancing cost against outcomes.
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. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Students borrow a median of $21,829 to complete the critical infrastructure protection program here. 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. The acceptance rate is 43%.
Arkansas Tech University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value critical infrastructure protection schools. Set in the town of Russellville, Arkansas Tech University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,674, with out-of-state students paying around $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 $54,236. Set against $25,355 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Arkansas Tech University admits about 96% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Jacksonville State University earned it the #3 place for critical infrastructure protection. Set in the suburb of Jacksonville, Jacksonville State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,894, with out-of-state students paying around $23,334. Critical Infrastructure Protection graduates carry a median of $24,751 in student loans. Soon after graduation, critical infrastructure protection degree recipients from Jacksonville State University generally make around $45,361. That is a strong return on a $24,751 median debt. Jacksonville State University admits about 78% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Columbia Southern University earned it the #4 place for critical infrastructure protection. Columbia Southern University is a very large private for-profit school located in the town of Orange Beach. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,224. Critical Infrastructure Protection graduates carry a median of $32,683 in student loans. Early-career critical infrastructure protection graduates make about $73,839. That is a strong return on a $32,683 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in critical infrastructure protection will find it at George Mason University, which ranked #5. 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, compared with $38,688 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for critical infrastructure protection graduates is $21,741. Critical Infrastructure Protection graduates of George Mason University earn a median of $114,896 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Cambridge Institute Of Health And Technology landed the #6 spot for critical infrastructure protection value this year. Set in the city of Delray Beach, Cambridge Institute Of Health And Technology is a mid-sized private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,652. Students borrow a median of $21,787 to complete the critical infrastructure protection program here. Critical Infrastructure Protection graduates of Cambridge Institute Of Health And Technology earn a median of $34,748 early in their careers. Set against $21,787 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.
