2027 Best Value Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 200 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting students.
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2027 Best Value Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
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
Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice earned the #1 spot for value among homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting schools in the Middle Atlantic Region. Located in the city of New York, Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,470, with out-of-state students paying around $15,420. Students borrow a median of $11,503 to complete the homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting program here. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates of Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice earn a median of $50,258 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,503 median debt. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Suffolk County Community College one of the best values for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting. Set in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,630, while out-of-state students pay about $12,460. Students borrow a median of $7,625 to complete the homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting program here. Soon after graduation, homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting degree recipients from Suffolk County Community College generally make around $31,617. That is a strong return on a $7,625 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Middlesex County College earned it the #3 place for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting. Set in the suburb of Edison, Middlesex County College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,764, while out-of-state students pay about $7,356. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates carry a median of $8,119 in student loans. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates of Middlesex County College earn a median of $32,712 early in their careers. Set against $8,119 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #4 makes Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College one of the best values for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,170, with out-of-state students paying around $8,050. Students borrow a median of $6,500 to complete the homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting program here. Soon after graduation, homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting degree recipients from Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College generally make around $25,302. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting will find it at Cuny Queensborough Community College, which ranked #5. Cuny Queensborough Community College is a large public school located in the city of Bayside. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,210, compared with $8,090 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates is $8,884. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates of Cuny Queensborough Community College earn a median of $26,907 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,884 median debt.
Cuny Kingsborough Community College placed #6 among the best values for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting. Cuny Kingsborough Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Brooklyn. In-state tuition and fees average $5,252, compared with $8,132 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,167 to complete the homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting program here. Soon after graduation, homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting degree recipients from Cuny Kingsborough Community College generally make around $29,606. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Essex County College came in at #7 for value in homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting this year. Set in the city of Newark, Essex County College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,415 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,523 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates is $12,472. Soon after graduation, homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting degree recipients from Essex County College generally make around $31,908. Set against $12,472 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Burlington County College placed #8 among the best values for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting. Set in the suburb of Mount Laurel, Burlington County College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,990 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,495 for out-of-state students. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates carry a median of $10,000 in student loans. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates of Burlington County College earn a median of $27,775 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,000 median debt.
Cuny Laguardia Community College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting schools. Cuny Laguardia Community College is a large public school located in the city of Long Island City. Students from in state pay about $5,218 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,098. Typical student debt for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates is $6,750. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates of Cuny Laguardia Community College earn a median of $25,515 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,750 median debt.
Cuny Bronx Community College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting schools. Cuny Bronx Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Bronx. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,206, with out-of-state students paying around $8,086. Typical student debt for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates is $6,021. Soon after graduation, homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting degree recipients from Cuny Bronx Community College generally make around $28,940. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Raritan Valley Community College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting schools. Located in the rural area of Branchburg, Raritan Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,664 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,584. Typical student debt for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates is $5,500. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates of Raritan Valley Community College earn a median of $47,248 early in their careers. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Nassau Community College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting schools. Located in the suburb of Garden City, Nassau Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,330, compared with $12,130 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,750 to complete the homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting program here. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates of Nassau Community College earn a median of $29,837 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,750 median debt.
Camden County College landed the #13 spot for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting value this year. Camden County College is a large public school located in the suburb of Blackwood. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,320, while out-of-state students pay about $4,416. Typical student debt for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates is $13,322. Early-career homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates make about $43,451. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Bucks County Community College landed the #14 spot for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting value this year. Located in the rural area of Newtown, Bucks County Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,646 in tuition and fees, compared with $13,926 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,169 to complete the homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting program here. Early-career homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates make about $28,719. Set against $10,169 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ulster County Community College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting schools. Set in the rural area of Stone Ridge, Ulster County Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,666 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,146. Typical student debt for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates is $13,206. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates of Ulster County Community College earn a median of $51,069 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Carroll Community College earned the #16 position for value in homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting this year. Carroll Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Westminster. Students from in state pay about $4,308 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,158. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates carry a median of $17,398 in student loans. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates of Carroll Community College earn a median of $49,058 early in their careers. Set against $17,398 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cuny Hostos Community College earned the #17 position for value in homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting this year. Set in the city of Bronx, Cuny Hostos Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,254 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,134 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates is $6,256. Early-career homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates make about $28,343. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Monroe Community College earned the #18 position for value in homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting this year. Monroe Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Rochester. Students from in state pay about $6,006 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,056. Students borrow a median of $13,750 to complete the homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting program here. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates of Monroe Community College earn a median of $56,846 early in their careers. Set against $13,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mercer County Community College placed #19 among the best values for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting. Mercer County Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of West Windsor. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,310, while out-of-state students pay about $9,174. Typical student debt for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates is $12,250. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates of Mercer County Community College earn a median of $45,389 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,250 median debt.
Delaware County Community College earned the #20 position for value in homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting this year. Set in the suburb of Media, Delaware County Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,930, compared with $15,540 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates is $14,163. Early-career homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates make about $57,464. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Erie Community College came in at #21 for value in homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting this year. Erie Community College is a large public school located in the city of Buffalo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,100, compared with $11,300 for out-of-state students. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates carry a median of $12,938 in student loans. Early-career homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates make about $51,676. Set against $12,938 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hudson County Community College landed the #22 spot for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting value this year. Set in the city of Jersey City, Hudson County Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,384, while out-of-state students pay about $9,248. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates carry a median of $10,671 in student loans. Early-career homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates make about $20,232. That is a strong return on a $10,671 median debt.
Orange County Community College placed #23 among the best values for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting. Located in the suburb of Middletown, Orange County Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,526, with out-of-state students paying around $12,334. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates carry a median of $14,250 in student loans. Early-career homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates make about $36,111. That is a strong return on a $14,250 median debt.
Niagara County Community College ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting schools. Located in the rural area of Sanborn, Niagara County Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,894, while out-of-state students pay about $12,030. Typical student debt for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates is $11,000. Early-career homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates make about $27,970. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Union County College landed the #25 spot for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting value this year. Set in the suburb of Cranford, Union County College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,280, compared with $9,500 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates is $11,343. Soon after graduation, homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting degree recipients from Union County College generally make around $30,629. Set against $11,343 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting value ranking:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 200 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 200 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.
