by our College Data Analytics Team
[Homeland Security](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/homeland-security/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. The highest-paying schools turn a homeland security degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 38 schools on the early-career earnings of their homeland security graduates.
What’s on this page:
Where you study homeland security affects what graduates go on to earn. That is why we built our Highest Paid Homeland Security Graduates ranking. It looks at the median early-career salaries graduates earn, so you can find the schools whose homeland security degrees pay off the most.
Learn more about our methodology
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Highest Paid Homeland Security Graduates list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Read more about College Factual’s methodology
If you want to know which schools send homeland security graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Des Moines Area Community College tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying homeland security schools in the United States. Set in the suburb of Ankeny, Des Moines Area Community College is a public institution. After graduating, homeland security degree recipients from Des Moines Area Community College typically earn about $54,209 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at George Mason University earned it the #2 place for homeland security. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a public institution. Early-career homeland security graduates from George Mason University make a median of around $90,956 per year.
Oakland University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying homeland security schools. Oakland University is a public school located in the suburb of Rochester Hills. Early-career homeland security graduates from Oakland University make a median of around $81,891 per year.
Bethel University Tennessee produces some of the highest-paid graduates in homeland security, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the town of McKenzie, Bethel University Tennessee is a private not-for-profit institution. Homeland Security graduates of Bethel University Tennessee earn a median of about $70,497 a year early in their careers.
Bellevue University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in homeland security, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Bellevue, Bellevue University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, homeland security degree recipients from Bellevue University typically earn about $73,896 annually.
Grand Canyon University placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for homeland security. Set in the city of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University is a private for-profit institution. Early-career homeland security graduates from Grand Canyon University make a median of around $79,207 per year.
American Public University System earned the #7 position for homeland security graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Charles Town, American Public University System is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the homeland security program here go on to a median salary of roughly $75,928.
Columbia College South Carolina placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for homeland security. Columbia College South Carolina is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Columbia. Early-career homeland security graduates from Columbia College South Carolina make a median of around $67,338 per year.
Waldorf College earned the #9 position for homeland security graduate earnings this year. Set in the rural area of Forest City, Waldorf College is a private for-profit institution. Early-career homeland security graduates from Waldorf College make a median of around $66,446 per year.
National University earned the #10 position for homeland security graduate earnings this year. National University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. Students who complete the homeland security program here go on to a median salary of roughly $61,254.
Columbia Southern University landed the #11 spot for homeland security salaries this year. Columbia Southern University is a private for-profit school located in the town of Orange Beach. Early-career homeland security graduates from Columbia Southern University make a median of around $62,313 per year.
Utica College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying homeland security schools. Located in the city of Utica, Utica College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, homeland security degree recipients from Utica College typically earn about $65,308 annually.
Saint Leo University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying homeland security schools. Set in the town of Saint Leo, Saint Leo University is a private not-for-profit institution. Homeland Security graduates of Saint Leo University earn a median of about $59,876 a year early in their careers.
Husson University placed #14 among the highest-paying schools for homeland security. Located in the city of Bangor, Husson University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career homeland security graduates from Husson University make a median of around $46,281 per year.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach came in at #15 for homeland security graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Daytona Beach, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career homeland security graduates from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach make a median of around $71,085 per year.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide placed #16 among the highest-paying schools for homeland security. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Daytona Beach. Students who complete the homeland security program here go on to a median salary of roughly $71,085.
Keiser University Ft Lauderdale placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for homeland security. Located in the city of Fort Lauderdale, Keiser University Ft Lauderdale is a private not-for-profit institution. Homeland Security graduates of Keiser University Ft Lauderdale earn a median of about $56,521 a year early in their careers.
University Of North Texas came in at #18 for homeland security graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a public institution. Students who complete the homeland security program here go on to a median salary of roughly $68,149.
Post University earned the #19 position for homeland security graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Waterbury, Post University is a private for-profit institution. Homeland Security graduates of Post University earn a median of about $53,772 a year early in their careers.
Suny College Of Technology At Canton placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for homeland security. Located in the town of Canton, Suny College Of Technology At Canton is a public institution. Students who complete the homeland security program here go on to a median salary of roughly $56,929.
University Of New Hampshire At Manchester earned the #21 position for homeland security graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Manchester, University Of New Hampshire At Manchester is a public institution. After graduating, homeland security degree recipients from University Of New Hampshire At Manchester typically earn about $51,200 annually.
University Of New Hampshire Main Campus came in at #22 for homeland security graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Durham, University Of New Hampshire Main Campus is a public institution. After graduating, homeland security degree recipients from University Of New Hampshire Main Campus typically earn about $51,200 annually.
Northwest Missouri State University earned the #23 position for homeland security graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Maryville, Northwest Missouri State University is a public institution. Students who complete the homeland security program here go on to a median salary of roughly $63,715.
Angelo State University came in at #24 for homeland security graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of San Angelo, Angelo State University is a public institution. Homeland Security graduates of Angelo State University earn a median of about $48,134 a year early in their careers.
Eastern Kentucky University placed #25 among the highest-paying schools for homeland security. Eastern Kentucky University is a public school located in the town of Richmond. Early-career homeland security graduates from Eastern Kentucky University make a median of around $61,629 per year.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning homeland security graduates:
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries homeland security graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 38 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
