2026 Best Value Homeland Security Schools in Florida

[Homeland Security](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/homeland-security/) 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 22 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for homeland security students.
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2026 Best Value Homeland Security Schools in Florida
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the homeland security degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Homeland Security Schools
Leading the list is Florida International University, our #1 best value for homeland security in Florida. Florida International University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Miami. In-state tuition and fees average $6,565, with out-of-state students paying around $18,964. Homeland Security graduates carry a median of $19,349 in student loans. Early-career homeland security graduates make about $78,638. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Florida International University admits about 55% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in homeland security will find it at University Of South Florida Main Campus, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,410, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Typical student debt for homeland security graduates is $21,829. Soon after graduation, homeland security degree recipients from University Of South Florida Main Campus generally make around $85,268. Set against $21,829 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of South Florida Main Campus admits about 43% of applicants.
Palm Beach State College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in homeland security, landing the #3 spot this year. Palm Beach State College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Lake Worth. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,050, with out-of-state students paying around $10,910. Students borrow a median of $12,518 to complete the homeland security program here. Homeland Security graduates of Palm Beach State College earn a median of $42,501 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,518 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Central Florida one of the best values for homeland security. Located in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,368, compared with $22,467 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,620 to complete the homeland security program here. Early-career homeland security graduates make about $51,790. That is a strong return on a $21,620 median debt. The acceptance rate is 40%.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide is a great value for students pursuing a degree in homeland security, landing the #5 spot this year. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Daytona Beach. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,097. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the homeland security program here. Soon after graduation, homeland security degree recipients from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide generally make around $48,676. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
Lake Technical College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value homeland security schools. Lake Technical College is a small public school located in the suburb of Eustis. Typical student debt for homeland security graduates is $10,612. Homeland Security graduates of Lake Technical College earn a median of $34,319 early in their careers. Set against $10,612 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Barry University earned the #7 position for value in homeland security this year. Barry University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Miami. In-state tuition and fees average $34,350. Homeland Security graduates carry a median of $31,180 in student loans. Early-career homeland security graduates make about $64,906. That is a strong return on a $31,180 median debt. Barry University admits about 77% of applicants.
Cambridge Institute Of Health And Technology came in at #8 for value in homeland security this year. Cambridge Institute Of Health And Technology is a mid-sized private for-profit school located in the city of Delray Beach. Students from in state pay about $15,652 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for homeland security graduates is $21,787. Soon after graduation, homeland security degree recipients from Cambridge Institute Of Health And Technology generally make around $34,748. Set against $21,787 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Nova Southeastern University came in at #9 for value in homeland security this year. Located in the suburb of Fort Lauderdale, Nova Southeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $38,700 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,021 to complete the homeland security program here. Soon after graduation, homeland security degree recipients from Nova Southeastern University generally make around $70,595. That is a strong return on a $25,021 median debt. The acceptance rate is 73%.
Keiser University Ft Lauderdale ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value homeland security schools. Keiser University Ft Lauderdale is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fort Lauderdale. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $25,056. Students borrow a median of $39,866 to complete the homeland security program here. Homeland Security graduates of Keiser University Ft Lauderdale earn a median of $54,837 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach came in at #11 for value in homeland security this year. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Daytona Beach. Students from in state pay about $44,074 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for homeland security graduates is $20,500. Homeland Security graduates of Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach earn a median of $48,676 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
More Homeland Security Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 22 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.