2026 Best Value Homeland Security Schools in Alabama

[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.
College Factual analyzed 6 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value homeland security schools.
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2026 Best Value Homeland Security Schools in Alabama
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in homeland security, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Homeland Security Schools
Auburn University At Montgomery earned the #1 spot for value among homeland security schools in Alabama. Located in the city of Montgomery, Auburn University At Montgomery is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,700, while out-of-state students pay about $20,668. Homeland Security graduates carry a median of $29,746 in student loans. Soon after graduation, homeland security degree recipients from Auburn University At Montgomery generally make around $44,249. That is a strong return on a $29,746 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Jacksonville State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in homeland security, landing the #2 spot this year. Jacksonville State University is a large public school located in the suburb of Jacksonville. In-state tuition and fees average $12,894, compared with $23,334 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,751 to complete the homeland security program here. Early-career homeland security graduates make about $45,361. Set against $24,751 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Students looking for strong value in homeland security will find it at Columbia Southern University, which ranked #3. Set in the town of Orange Beach, Columbia Southern University is a very large private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $6,224 in tuition and fees. Homeland Security graduates carry a median of $32,683 in student loans. Soon after graduation, homeland security degree recipients from Columbia Southern University generally make around $73,839. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
More Homeland Security Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.