2026 Best Value Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Schools in District of Columbia

[Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 10 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting schools.
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2026 Best Value Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Schools in District of Columbia
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Schools
Our analysis ranked Trinity Washington University the best value for a degree in homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting in District of Columbia. Located in the city of Washington, Trinity Washington University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $26,610. Typical student debt for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates is $33,564. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates of Trinity Washington University earn a median of $47,385 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting will find it at University Of The District Of Columbia, which ranked #2. University Of The District Of Columbia is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Washington. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,662, compared with $12,514 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $32,304 to complete the homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting program here. Soon after graduation, homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting degree recipients from University Of The District Of Columbia generally make around $57,060. 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 Strayer University Global Region, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Washington, Strayer University Global Region is a large private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,920. Typical student debt for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates is $56,937. Early-career homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates make about $43,405. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
George Washington University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting, landing the #4 spot this year. George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Students from in state pay about $67,710 in tuition and fees. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting degree recipients from George Washington University generally make around $54,396. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 47%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Georgetown University earned it the #5 place for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting. Located in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,089. Students borrow a median of $16,483 to complete the homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting program here. Early-career homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates make about $81,481. That is a strong return on a $16,483 median debt. Georgetown University admits about 13% of applicants.
American University placed #6 among the best values for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting. American University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,771. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates of American University earn a median of $50,196 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 62%.
Howard University landed the #7 spot for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting value this year. Set in the city of Washington, Howard University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,810. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting program here. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates of Howard University earn a median of $27,801 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 41%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.