2026 Best Value Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Schools in West Virginia
[Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 27 schools to find the best return on investment for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting students.
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2026 Best Value Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Schools in West Virginia
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
For return on investment in homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting, no school beat Blue Ridge Community And Technical College this year. Set in the rural area of Martinsburg, Blue Ridge Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,752, with out-of-state students paying around $8,808. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting program here. Soon after graduation, homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting degree recipients from Blue Ridge Community And Technical College generally make around $41,032. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes West Virginia University At Parkersburg one of the best values for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting. Located in the rural area of Parkersburg, West Virginia University At Parkersburg is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,476, compared with $9,424 for out-of-state students. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates carry a median of $15,595 in student loans. Soon after graduation, homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting degree recipients from West Virginia University At Parkersburg generally make around $45,400. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Potomac State College Of West Virginia University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting, landing the #3 spot this year. Potomac State College Of West Virginia University is a small public school located in the town of Keyser. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,280, compared with $13,200 for out-of-state students. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates carry a median of $19,858 in student loans. Soon after graduation, homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting degree recipients from Potomac State College Of West Virginia University generally make around $42,670. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Marshall University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting schools. Located in the city of Huntington, Marshall University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,162, while out-of-state students pay about $20,342. Students borrow a median of $25,873 to complete the homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting program here. Early-career homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates make about $33,981. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes Fairmont State University one of the best values for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting. Fairmont State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Fairmont. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,708, while out-of-state students pay about $18,924. Students borrow a median of $25,557 to complete the homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting program here. Early-career homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates make about $36,490. That is a strong return on a $25,557 median debt. The acceptance rate is 99%.
American Public University System earned the #6 position for value in homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting this year. Set in the town of Charles Town, American Public University System is a very large private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,400. Typical student debt for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates is $22,266. Soon after graduation, homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting degree recipients from American Public University System generally make around $62,375. That is a strong return on a $22,266 median debt.
West Virginia University Institute Of Technology landed the #7 spot for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting value this year. Set in the city of Beckley, West Virginia University Institute Of Technology is a small public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,424 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,072. Students borrow a median of $24,324 to complete the homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting program here. Early-career homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates make about $44,255. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 37% of applicants are accepted.
Shepherd University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting schools. Set in the rural area of Shepherdstown, Shepherd University is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,056, compared with $19,082 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,326 to complete the homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting program here. Early-career homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates make about $40,748. Set against $23,326 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 97%.
West Virginia State University earned the #9 position for value in homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting this year. Located in the suburb of Institute, West Virginia State University is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,570, while out-of-state students pay about $14,990. Typical student debt for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates is $25,860. Soon after graduation, homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting degree recipients from West Virginia State University generally make around $39,056. Set against $25,860 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
West Virginia University landed the #10 spot for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting value this year. Located in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,104, while out-of-state students pay about $28,608. Students borrow a median of $24,324 to complete the homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting program here. Early-career homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates make about $59,347. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Bluefield State College earned the #11 position for value in homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting this year. Located in the town of Bluefield, Bluefield State College is a small public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,648, with out-of-state students paying around $18,376. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates carry a median of $30,250 in student loans. Early-career homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates make about $30,506. Set against $30,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Salem International University placed #12 among the best values for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting. Set in the rural area of Salem, Salem International University is a small private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,070. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates carry a median of $30,949 in student loans. Soon after graduation, homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting degree recipients from Salem International University generally make around $25,665. Set against $30,949 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
West Liberty University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting schools. West Liberty University is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of West Liberty. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,893, with out-of-state students paying around $17,442. Typical student debt for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates is $26,250. Early-career homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates make about $48,761. Set against $26,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. West Liberty University admits about 97% of applicants.
Glenville State College came in at #14 for value in homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting this year. Set in the rural area of Glenville, Glenville State College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,578, while out-of-state students pay about $11,354. Typical student debt for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates is $29,750. Soon after graduation, homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting degree recipients from Glenville State College generally make around $38,237. Set against $29,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
West Virginia Wesleyan College landed the #15 spot for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting value this year. Located in the town of Buckhannon, West Virginia Wesleyan College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,090. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates make about $31,400. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
University Of Charleston placed #16 among the best values for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting. Set in the city of Charleston, University Of Charleston is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $22,617. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates carry a median of $22,646 in student loans. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates of University Of Charleston earn a median of $64,407 early in their careers. Set against $22,646 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Charleston admits about 62% of applicants.
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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 · 27 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
