2027 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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 12 schools to find the best return on investment for homeland security students.
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2027 Best Value Homeland Security Schools in Florida
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in homeland security, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Homeland Security Schools
St Petersburg College tops our 2027 list of the best value homeland security schools in Florida. Located in the city of St. Petersburg, St Petersburg College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,682 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,286. Homeland Security graduates carry a median of $24,385 in student loans. Homeland Security graduates of St Petersburg College earn a median of $48,218 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Palm Beach State College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in homeland security, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Lake Worth, Palm Beach State College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,050, compared with $10,910 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for homeland security graduates is $12,518. 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.
Students looking for strong value in homeland security will find it at Florida International University, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,565, compared with $18,964 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for homeland security graduates is $19,349. Homeland Security graduates of Florida International University earn a median of $78,638 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Students looking for strong value in homeland security will find it at University Of South Florida Main Campus, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,410, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Students borrow a median of $21,829 to complete the homeland security program here. Homeland Security graduates of University Of South Florida Main Campus earn a median of $85,268 early in their careers. Set against $21,829 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 43% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Central Florida came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value homeland security schools. Set in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,368, compared with $22,467 for out-of-state students. Homeland Security graduates carry a median of $21,620 in student loans. Homeland Security graduates of University Of Central Florida earn a median of $51,790 early in their careers. Set against $21,620 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Central Florida admits about 40% of applicants.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide earned the #6 position for value in homeland security this year. Set in the city of Daytona Beach, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $12,097 in tuition and fees. Homeland Security graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. 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. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide admits about 58% of applicants.
Saint Leo University landed the #7 spot for homeland security value this year. Saint Leo University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the town of Saint Leo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $30,000. Students borrow a median of $32,116 to complete the homeland security program here. Soon after graduation, homeland security degree recipients from Saint Leo University generally make around $49,458. Set against $32,116 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Lake Technical College placed #8 among the best values for homeland security. Set in the suburb of Eustis, Lake Technical College is a small public institution. Homeland Security graduates carry a median of $10,612 in student loans. Soon after graduation, homeland security degree recipients from Lake Technical College generally make around $34,319. Set against $10,612 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cambridge Institute Of Health And Technology placed #9 among the best values for homeland security. Set in the city of Delray Beach, Cambridge Institute Of Health And Technology is a mid-sized private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $15,652 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $21,787 to complete the homeland security program here. Early-career homeland security graduates make about $34,748. Set against $21,787 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Nova Southeastern University placed #10 among the best values for homeland security. Nova Southeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Fort Lauderdale. In-state tuition and fees average $38,700. Typical student debt for homeland security graduates is $25,021. Homeland Security graduates of Nova Southeastern University earn a median of $70,595 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,021 median debt. The acceptance rate is 73%.
Keiser University Ft Lauderdale earned the #11 position for value in homeland security this year. Keiser University Ft Lauderdale is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fort Lauderdale. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $25,056. Typical student debt for homeland security graduates is $39,866. Early-career homeland security graduates make about $54,837. That is a strong return on a $39,866 median debt. Keiser University Ft Lauderdale admits about 97% of applicants.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach earned the #12 position for value in homeland security this year. Set in the city of Daytona Beach, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,074. Typical student debt for homeland security graduates is $20,500. Early-career homeland security graduates make about $48,676. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
More Homeland Security Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.