[Other Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting & Related Protective Services](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/other-homeland-security-emergency-preparedness/homeland-security-law-enforcement-firefighting-and-related-protective-services-other/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong other homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting & related protective services education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 103 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for other homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting & related protective services students.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in other homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting & related protective services, balancing cost against outcomes.
California State University Long Beach earned the #1 spot for value among other homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting & related protective services schools in the United States. Set in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,374, with out-of-state students paying around $19,974. Students borrow a median of $15,671 to complete the other homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting & related protective services program here. Other Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting & Related Protective Services graduates of California State University Long Beach earn a median of $92,422 early in their careers. Set against $15,671 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 46%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Eastern Kentucky University earned it the #2 place for other homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting & related protective services. Located in the town of Richmond, Eastern Kentucky University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,320, while out-of-state students pay about $21,230. Other Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting & Related Protective Services graduates carry a median of $25,122 in student loans. Other Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting & Related Protective Services graduates of Eastern Kentucky University earn a median of $73,507 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Eastern Kentucky University admits about 78% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Michigan State University earned it the #3 place for other homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting & related protective services. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,079, with out-of-state students paying around $44,850. Typical student debt for other homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting & related protective services graduates is $25,213. Other Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting & Related Protective Services graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $66,517 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,213 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in other homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting & related protective services will find it at Virginia Commonwealth University, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,720, with out-of-state students paying around $39,884. Other Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting & Related Protective Services graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, other homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting & related protective services degree recipients from Virginia Commonwealth University generally make around $45,696. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
A rank of #5 makes Tiffin University one of the best values for other homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting & related protective services. Set in the town of Tiffin, Tiffin University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $34,790. Typical student debt for other homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting & related protective services graduates is $27,000. Other Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting & Related Protective Services graduates of Tiffin University earn a median of $68,421 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Tiffin University admits about 80% of applicants.
Webster University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value other homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting & related protective services schools. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, Webster University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,750. Other Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting & Related Protective Services graduates carry a median of $25,939 in student loans. Early-career other homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting & related protective services graduates make about $87,550. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Massachusetts Maritime Academy placed #7 among the best values for other homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting & related protective services. Located in the suburb of Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts Maritime Academy is a small public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,420, while out-of-state students pay about $23,722. Typical student debt for other homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting & related protective services graduates is $25,000. Other Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting & Related Protective Services graduates of Massachusetts Maritime Academy earn a median of $86,288 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
University Of New Haven came in at #8 for value in other homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting & related protective services this year. University Of New Haven is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of West Haven. In-state tuition and fees average $47,332. Other Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting & Related Protective Services graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career other homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting & related protective services graduates make about $42,455. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Tulane University Of Louisiana came in at #9 for value in other homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting & related protective services this year. Tulane University Of Louisiana is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Orleans. Students from in state pay about $68,678 in tuition and fees. Other Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting & Related Protective Services graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans. Other Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting & Related Protective Services graduates of Tulane University Of Louisiana earn a median of $61,709 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Tulane University Of Louisiana admits about 14% of applicants.
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Other Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting & Related Protective Services rankings across degree levels:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 103 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.
