2026 Best Value Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Schools in Alabama
[Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 31 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 Alabama
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
Leading the list is Northeast Alabama Community College, our #1 best value for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting in Alabama. Northeast Alabama Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Rainsville. In-state tuition and fees average $5,040, compared with $8,910 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates is $7,459. Soon after graduation, homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting degree recipients from Northeast Alabama Community College generally make around $35,119. That is a strong return on a $7,459 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting will find it at George C Wallace State Community College Dothan, which ranked #2. George C Wallace State Community College Dothan is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Dothan. In-state tuition and fees average $4,980, while out-of-state students pay about $8,850. Typical student debt for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates is $9,942. Early-career homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates make about $34,762. Set against $9,942 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting will find it at University Of North Alabama, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Florence, University Of North Alabama is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,120, while out-of-state students pay about $22,320. Students borrow a median of $24,125 to complete the homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting program here. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates of University Of North Alabama earn a median of $31,595 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Jefferson State Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting schools. Jefferson State Community College is a large public school located in the city of Birmingham. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,100, while out-of-state students pay about $8,970. Typical student debt for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates is $15,083. Early-career homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates make about $42,861. Set against $15,083 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Troy University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting schools. Located in the town of Troy, Troy University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,176, compared with $20,352 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting program here. Early-career homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates make about $43,451. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville came in at #6 for value in homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting this year. Located in the rural area of Hanceville, George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,220, while out-of-state students pay about $9,090. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates carry a median of $13,146 in student loans. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates of George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville earn a median of $35,238 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Talladega College earned the #7 position for value in homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting this year. Set in the town of Talladega, Talladega College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,650. Typical student debt for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates is $31,062. Early-career homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates make about $27,568. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Talladega College admits about 85% of applicants.
Alabama State University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting schools. Set in the city of Montgomery, Alabama State University is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,248, with out-of-state students paying around $19,576. Typical student debt for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates is $32,261. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates of Alabama State University earn a median of $32,898 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Auburn University At Montgomery came in at #9 for value in homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting this year. Set in the city of Montgomery, Auburn University At Montgomery is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,700, compared with $20,668 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,635 to complete the homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting program here. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates of Auburn University At Montgomery earn a median of $38,710 early in their careers. Set against $25,635 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Auburn University At Montgomery admits about 92% of applicants.
Miles College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting schools. Located in the suburb of Fairfield, Miles College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,314. Typical student debt for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates is $35,881. Graduates go on to earn a median of $32,627 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $35,881 median debt.
Alabama A And M University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting schools. Located in the city of Normal, Alabama A And M University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,024, while out-of-state students pay about $18,634. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates carry a median of $32,500 in student loans. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates of Alabama A And M University earn a median of $31,682 early in their careers. Set against $32,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Alabama A And M University admits about 58% of applicants.
Jacksonville State University earned the #12 position for value in homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting this year. Located in the suburb of Jacksonville, Jacksonville State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,894 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $23,334. Typical student debt for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates is $26,770. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates of Jacksonville State University earn a median of $32,635 early in their careers. Set against $26,770 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Columbia Southern University landed the #13 spot for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting value this year. Set in the town of Orange Beach, Columbia Southern University is a very large private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,224. Typical student debt for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates is $23,364. Early-career homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates make about $65,010. That is a strong return on a $23,364 median debt.
University Of South Alabama landed the #14 spot for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting value this year. University Of South Alabama is a large public school located in the city of Mobile. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,116, while out-of-state students pay about $19,092. Students borrow a median of $29,026 to complete the homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting program here. Soon after graduation, homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting degree recipients from University Of South Alabama generally make around $36,216. That is a strong return on a $29,026 median debt. The acceptance rate is 71%.
University Of Alabama At Birmingham ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting schools. Located in the city of Birmingham, University Of Alabama At Birmingham is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,098, compared with $22,562 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates is $27,307. Early-career homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates make about $34,459. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Alabama At Birmingham admits about 88% of applicants.
Faulkner University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting schools. Located in the city of Montgomery, Faulkner University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,920. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates carry a median of $28,250 in student loans. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates of Faulkner University earn a median of $60,669 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 73%.
Huntingdon College landed the #17 spot for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting value this year. Set in the city of Montgomery, Huntingdon College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $29,070. Students borrow a median of $28,252 to complete the homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting program here. Soon after graduation, homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting degree recipients from Huntingdon College generally make around $33,649. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Huntingdon College admits about 70% of applicants.
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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 · 31 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.
