by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 14 U.S. colleges awarded 178 degrees and certificates in Terrorism & Counterterrorism Operations. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 59% of graduates. College Factual ranks 5 schools in its 2027 Best Terrorism & Counterterrorism Operations Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $68,207 one year after completing, rising to $84,515 after four years.
A major in Terrorism & Counterterrorism Operations involves the study of Terrorism And Counterterrorism Operations. A Program Focusing On The Study Of Terrorism As A Global And National Threat And The Methods For Analyzing And Countering It. Includes Instruction In Psychology, Cultural Studies, Terrorist History And Organization, Terrorist Capabilities, Terrorist Finance And International Money-Laundering, Threat Assessment, Intelligence Operations, Incident Command Systems, Border Security, Emergency Response, Joint Operations, Surveillance And Communications Systems, Cyberterrorism, Weapons Of Mass Destruction, Counterterrorist Operations, And Applications To Specific Terrorist Organizations And Threats.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, terrorism & counterterrorism operations is a popular field of study, with 178 degrees awarded annually. 14 colleges award terrorism & counterterrorism operations degrees, an average of 13 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 67.
By level, the 178 awards include 67 associate degrees, 4 bachelor’s degrees, 105 master’s degrees and 2 doctorates.
Women earned 34% of terrorism & counterterrorism operations degrees and certificates in the latest year (60 of 178). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (93) and Hispanic or Latino (32), and international students earned 17.
College Factual ranks 5 schools in its 2027 Best Terrorism & Counterterrorism Operations Schools ranking, including 1 for associate degrees and 3 for master’s degrees. It also ranks terrorism & counterterrorism operations schools within 3 states. In all, 14 colleges offer terrorism & counterterrorism operations programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Terrorism & Counterterrorism Operations Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common terrorism & counterterrorism operations credential is the master’s degree: 105 of the 178 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to terrorism & counterterrorism operations call most for Speaking, Reading Comprehension and Critical Thinking, and for knowledge of Law and Government, English Language and Administration and Management, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Expression.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a terrorism & counterterrorism operations degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 67 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 4 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 105 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 2 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to terrorism & counterterrorism operations, at 53.0%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 53.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 14.2% |
| Master’s degree | 8.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 7.9% |
| Some college courses | 7.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.4% |
| Doctoral degree | 1.2% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.5% |
| First professional degree | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
13 occupations are related to Terrorism & Counterterrorism Operations, with an average median salary of $97,277; the strongest outlook belongs to Compliance Managers, at 13.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Instructor and Adjunct Instructor.
The occupation related to terrorism & counterterrorism operations with the most projected jobs is Postsecondary Teachers, All Other, at 964,215.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | 964,215 | -0.1% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Emergency Management Directors | 390,880 | 12.5% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | 290,410 | 11.9% |
| Loss Prevention Managers | 265,210 | 2.2% |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | 206,415 | 9.9% |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | 128,884 | 5.2% |
Terrorism & Counterterrorism Operations graduates earn a median $68,207 one year after completing their program, $84,515 after four years and $76,362 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $68,207 |
| 4 years | $84,515 |
| 5 years | $76,362 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to terrorism & counterterrorism operations is Wind Energy Development Managers, with a median salary of $169,952.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | $99,321 |
| Managers, All Other | $95,684 |
| Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary | $91,449 |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | $77,828 |
Terrorism & Counterterrorism Operations has 4 similar majors in the Law Enforcement & Firefighting field, which together award 6,433 degrees a year; the largest are Homeland Security (2,799), Crisis/Emergency/Disaster Management (2,779) and Critical Infrastructure Protection (570). Browse all Law Enforcement & Firefighting majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Homeland Security | 2,799 |
| Crisis/Emergency/Disaster Management | 2,779 |
| Critical Infrastructure Protection | 570 |
| Homeland Security, Other | 285 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
