2027 Best Value Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Schools in Kansas

[Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 14 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 Kansas
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
Hutchinson Community College tops our 2027 list of the best value homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting schools in Kansas. Set in the town of Hutchinson, Hutchinson Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,540 in tuition and fees, compared with $4,770 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,148 to complete the homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting program here. Soon after graduation, homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting degree recipients from Hutchinson Community College generally make around $51,007. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Garden City Community College one of the best values for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting. Garden City Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Garden City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,690, with out-of-state students paying around $4,320. Students borrow a median of $11,084 to complete the homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting program here. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates of Garden City Community College earn a median of $35,476 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,084 median debt.
A rank of #3 makes Barton County Community College one of the best values for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting. Located in the rural area of Great Bend, Barton County Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,680, compared with $4,960 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,792 to complete the homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting program here. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates of Barton County Community College earn a median of $44,536 early in their careers. Set against $14,792 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Fort Hays State University earned it the #4 place for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting. Located in the town of Hays, Fort Hays State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,923, compared with $17,741 for out-of-state students. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates carry a median of $28,750 in student loans. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates of Fort Hays State University earn a median of $42,428 early in their careers. Set against $28,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
A rank of #5 makes Central Christian College Of Kansas one of the best values for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting. Set in the town of McPherson, Central Christian College Of Kansas is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,000. Typical student debt for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates is $36,076. Early-career homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates make about $55,453. That is a strong return on a $36,076 median debt. Roughly 53% of applicants are accepted.
Wichita State University placed #6 among the best values for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting. Wichita State University is a large public school located in the city of Wichita. In-state tuition and fees average $9,684, compared with $19,869 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting program here. Soon after graduation, homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting degree recipients from Wichita State University generally make around $44,013. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Johnson County Community College came in at #7 for value in homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting this year. Located in the city of Overland Park, Johnson County Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,424, while out-of-state students pay about $5,688. Typical student debt for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates is $20,106. Early-career homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates make about $55,171. Set against $20,106 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Washburn University placed #8 among the best values for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting. Located in the city of Topeka, Washburn University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,945, while out-of-state students pay about $20,949. Typical student debt for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates is $20,939. Soon after graduation, homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting degree recipients from Washburn University generally make around $39,830. Set against $20,939 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pittsburg State University landed the #9 spot for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting value this year. Pittsburg State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Pittsburg. In-state tuition and fees average $8,400, while out-of-state students pay about $19,744. Typical student debt for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates is $24,843. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates of Pittsburg State University earn a median of $50,003 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,843 median debt. Pittsburg State University admits about 89% of applicants.
Butler Community College earned the #10 position for value in homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting this year. Set in the town of El Dorado, Butler Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,541, with out-of-state students paying around $6,271. Students borrow a median of $16,670 to complete the homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting program here. Soon after graduation, homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting degree recipients from Butler Community College generally make around $39,404. Set against $16,670 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Sterling College Kansas came in at #11 for value in homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting this year. Sterling College Kansas is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Sterling. Students from in state pay about $33,700 in tuition and fees. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates carry a median of $27,250 in student loans. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates of Sterling College Kansas earn a median of $30,086 early in their careers. Set against $27,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Sterling College Kansas admits about 48% of applicants.
Kansas Wesleyan University came in at #12 for value in homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting this year. Set in the town of Salina, Kansas Wesleyan University is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,630. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates carry a median of $24,330 in student loans. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates of Kansas Wesleyan University earn a median of $37,301 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,330 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Bethany College Kansas earned the #13 position for value in homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting this year. Located in the rural area of Lindsborg, Bethany College Kansas is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $33,000 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates is $24,438. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates of Bethany College Kansas earn a median of $29,106 early in their careers. Set against $24,438 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
Southwestern College placed #14 among the best values for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting. Southwestern College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Winfield. Students from in state pay about $39,822 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates is $26,874. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates of Southwestern College earn a median of $60,820 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Southwestern College admits about 76% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.