2026 Best Value Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Schools in Oregon
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Schools
For return on investment in homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting, no school beat Chemeketa Community College this year. Chemeketa Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Salem. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,345, with out-of-state students paying around $14,040. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates carry a median of $16,419 in student loans. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates of Chemeketa Community College earn a median of $33,406 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Klamath Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the town of Klamath Falls, Klamath Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,965, while out-of-state students pay about $8,025. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates carry a median of $14,644 in student loans. Soon after graduation, homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting degree recipients from Klamath Community College generally make around $24,370. Set against $14,644 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Portland Community College earned it the #3 place for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting. Portland Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Portland. Students from in state pay about $5,220 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,440. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting degree recipients from Portland Community College generally make around $45,061. Set against $24,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Oregon Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting schools. Set in the city of Bend, Central Oregon Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,683, with out-of-state students paying around $15,246. Typical student debt for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates is $16,250. Early-career homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates make about $37,992. Set against $16,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Linn Benton Community College earned it the #5 place for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting. Located in the city of Albany, Linn Benton Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $7,317 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $16,736. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates carry a median of $17,959 in student loans. Early-career homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates make about $43,257. That is a strong return on a $17,959 median debt.
Portland State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting schools. Set in the city of Portland, Portland State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,118, with out-of-state students paying around $29,136. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates carry a median of $26,641 in student loans. Early-career homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates make about $45,401. That is a strong return on a $26,641 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Eastern Oregon University came in at #7 for value in homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting this year. Eastern Oregon University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of La Grande. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,184, compared with $24,729 for out-of-state students. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates make about $58,911. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Oregon University earned the #8 position for value in homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting this year. Located in the suburb of Ashland, Southern Oregon University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,762, compared with $31,887 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates is $22,000. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates of Southern Oregon University earn a median of $40,553 early in their careers. Set against $22,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Western Oregon University earned the #9 position for value in homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting this year. Set in the town of Monmouth, Western Oregon University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,514, with out-of-state students paying around $32,169. Typical student debt for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates is $24,000. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates of Western Oregon University earn a median of $40,289 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 23 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.
[Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting education at a price that pays off.
