2027 Best Value Homeland Security Schools in the Southwest Region
[Homeland Security](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/homeland-security/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 17 schools to find the best return on investment for homeland security students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Homeland Security Schools in the Southwest Region
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
For return on investment in homeland security, no school beat Laredo Community College this year. Located in the city of Laredo, Laredo Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,300 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,748 for out-of-state students. Homeland Security graduates carry a median of $6,000 in student loans. Homeland Security graduates of Laredo Community College earn a median of $41,354 early in their careers. Set against $6,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at The University Of Texas Pan American earned it the #2 place for homeland security. The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public school located in the city of Edinburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,799, with out-of-state students paying around $19,645. Students borrow a median of $14,694 to complete the homeland security program here. Early-career homeland security graduates make about $46,404. Set against $14,694 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Texas Pan American admits about 94% of applicants.
Central New Mexico Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in homeland security, landing the #3 spot this year. Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Albuquerque. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,060, with out-of-state students paying around $8,684. Typical student debt for homeland security graduates is $10,112. Homeland Security graduates of Central New Mexico Community College earn a median of $34,751 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Rio Salado College earned it the #4 place for homeland security. Located in the city of Tempe, Rio Salado College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,358 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,958. Students borrow a median of $13,679 to complete the homeland security program here. Homeland Security graduates of Rio Salado College earn a median of $48,564 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes New Mexico State University Dona Ana one of the best values for homeland security. New Mexico State University Dona Ana is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Las Cruces. In-state tuition and fees average $2,322, while out-of-state students pay about $6,360. Homeland Security graduates carry a median of $10,284 in student loans. Homeland Security graduates of New Mexico State University Dona Ana earn a median of $39,399 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Oklahoma State University Oklahoma City earned the #6 position for value in homeland security this year. Set in the city of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma State University Oklahoma City is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,779, compared with $9,564 for out-of-state students. Homeland Security graduates carry a median of $18,726 in student loans. Homeland Security graduates of Oklahoma State University Oklahoma City earn a median of $45,580 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Arizona Western College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value homeland security schools. Set in the city of Yuma, Arizona Western College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,060, while out-of-state students pay about $9,870. Soon after graduation, homeland security degree recipients from Arizona Western College generally make around $44,895.
Central Texas College placed #8 among the best values for homeland security. Set in the suburb of Killeen, Central Texas College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,750, compared with $7,500 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,290 to complete the homeland security program here. Soon after graduation, homeland security degree recipients from Central Texas College generally make around $53,086. Set against $11,290 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lone Star College System placed #9 among the best values for homeland security. Lone Star College System is a very large public school located in the city of The Woodlands. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,664, compared with $7,512 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for homeland security graduates is $10,425. Soon after graduation, homeland security degree recipients from Lone Star College System generally make around $39,954. That is a strong return on a $10,425 median debt.
Northeastern State University placed #10 among the best values for homeland security. Northeastern State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Tahlequah. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,810, while out-of-state students pay about $17,290. Typical student debt for homeland security graduates is $23,465. Early-career homeland security graduates make about $49,353. Set against $23,465 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 100%.
Arizona State University earned the #11 position for value in homeland security this year. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. In-state tuition and fees average $12,223, with out-of-state students paying around $33,139. Homeland Security graduates carry a median of $20,843 in student loans. Early-career homeland security graduates make about $60,820. Set against $20,843 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
American Intercontinental University Online placed #12 among the best values for homeland security. Located in the city of Chandler, American Intercontinental University Online is a very large private for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,397. Homeland Security graduates carry a median of $39,107 in student loans. Soon after graduation, homeland security degree recipients from American Intercontinental University Online generally make around $43,008. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of North Texas ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value homeland security schools. Set in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,309, with out-of-state students paying around $21,149. Homeland Security graduates carry a median of $17,293 in student loans. Early-career homeland security graduates make about $44,969. Set against $17,293 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Sam Houston State University landed the #14 spot for homeland security value this year. Set in the town of Huntsville, Sam Houston State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,228, compared with $19,068 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for homeland security graduates is $24,850. Homeland Security graduates of Sam Houston State University earn a median of $61,091 early in their careers. Set against $24,850 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Sam Houston State University admits about 90% of applicants.
West Texas A And M University placed #15 among the best values for homeland security. Located in the town of Canyon, West Texas A And M University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,101 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,996. Students borrow a median of $22,333 to complete the homeland security program here. Early-career homeland security graduates make about $43,515. That is a strong return on a $22,333 median debt. West Texas A And M University admits about 99% of applicants.
Texas A And M University College Station landed the #16 spot for homeland security value this year. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,995, compared with $40,124 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for homeland security graduates is $20,031. Early-career homeland security graduates make about $66,287. That is a strong return on a $20,031 median debt. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
Grand Canyon University landed the #17 spot for homeland security value this year. Set in the city of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $18,508. Typical student debt for homeland security graduates is $28,787. Early-career homeland security graduates make about $68,503. Set against $28,787 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Grand Canyon University admits about 79% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 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.
