2026 Best Value Homeland Security Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Homeland Security](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/homeland-security/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 38 schools to find the best return on investment for homeland security students.
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2026 Best Value Homeland Security Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in homeland security, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Homeland Security Schools
Our analysis ranked College Of Dupage the best value for a degree in homeland security in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,560, compared with $12,750 for out-of-state students. Homeland Security graduates carry a median of $12,492 in student loans. Early-career homeland security graduates make about $43,025. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Harper College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in homeland security, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,894, while out-of-state students pay about $11,874. Typical student debt for homeland security graduates is $10,963. Homeland Security graduates of Harper College earn a median of $44,523 early in their careers. Set against $10,963 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value homeland security schools. Located in the rural area of Marion, Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,648. Students borrow a median of $32,807 to complete the homeland security program here. Homeland Security graduates of Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global earn a median of $53,752 early in their careers. Set against $32,807 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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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 · 38 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.
