2027 Best Value Critical Infrastructure Protection Schools in the Southwest Region

[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 schools below stand out for delivering a strong critical infrastructure protection education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 3 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for critical infrastructure protection students.
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2027 Best Value Critical Infrastructure Protection Schools in the Southwest Region
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 Southwest Region. Set in the city of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University Dona Ana is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,322, compared with $6,360 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,284 to complete the critical infrastructure protection program here. Soon after graduation, critical infrastructure protection degree recipients from New Mexico State University Dona Ana generally make around $39,399. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Sam Houston State University earned it the #2 place for critical infrastructure protection. 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. That is a strong return on a $24,850 median debt. Sam Houston State University admits about 90% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Texas A And M University College Station one of the best values for critical infrastructure protection. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,995, compared with $40,124 for out-of-state students. Critical Infrastructure Protection graduates carry a median of $20,031 in student loans. Soon after graduation, critical infrastructure protection degree recipients from Texas A And M University College Station generally make around $66,287. Set against $20,031 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Texas A And M University College Station admits about 57% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 3 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.