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

[Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 13 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 Nebraska
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
Central Community College earned the #1 spot for value among homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting schools in Nebraska. Set in the city of Grand Island, Central Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,360, while out-of-state students pay about $4,800. Students borrow a median of $10,277 to complete the homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting program here. Soon after graduation, homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting degree recipients from Central Community College generally make around $43,218. That is a strong return on a $10,277 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Metropolitan Community College Area earned it the #2 place for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting. Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public school located in the city of Omaha. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,375, with out-of-state students paying around $4,950. Students borrow a median of $13,462 to complete the homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting program here. Soon after graduation, homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting degree recipients from Metropolitan Community College Area generally make around $28,511. That is a strong return on a $13,462 median debt.
Northeast Community College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting schools. Located in the town of Norfolk, Northeast Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,840, with out-of-state students paying around $5,130. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates carry a median of $9,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting degree recipients from Northeast Community College generally make around $33,064. That is a strong return on a $9,000 median debt.
Southeast Community College Area is a great value for students pursuing a degree in homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting, landing the #4 spot this year. Southeast Community College Area is a large public school located in the city of Lincoln. Students from in state pay about $3,444 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,032. Typical student debt for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates is $14,552. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates of Southeast Community College Area earn a median of $28,473 early in their careers. Set against $14,552 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a great value for students pursuing a degree in homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Omaha, University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,718, while out-of-state students pay about $23,206. Students borrow a median of $22,507 to complete the homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting program here. Soon after graduation, homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting degree recipients from University Of Nebraska At Omaha generally make around $45,885. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Nebraska At Omaha admits about 87% of applicants.
Peru State College placed #6 among the best values for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting. Located in the rural area of Peru, Peru State College is a small public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,433. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates carry a median of $27,367 in student loans. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates of Peru State College earn a median of $38,953 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,367 median debt.
Chadron State College earned the #7 position for value in homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting this year. Chadron State College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Chadron. Students from in state pay about $8,294 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates is $20,250. Soon after graduation, homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting degree recipients from Chadron State College generally make around $32,454. Set against $20,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wayne State College came in at #8 for value in homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting this year. Located in the town of Wayne, Wayne State College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,171. Typical student debt for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting degree recipients from Wayne State College generally make around $41,869. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Nebraska At Kearney placed #9 among the best values for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting. University Of Nebraska At Kearney is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Kearney. In-state tuition and fees average $8,564, while out-of-state students pay about $16,484. Students borrow a median of $19,250 to complete the homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting program here. Early-career homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates make about $40,128. Set against $19,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Nebraska At Kearney admits about 90% of applicants.
Bellevue University landed the #10 spot for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting value this year. Bellevue University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bellevue. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,873. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates carry a median of $18,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting degree recipients from Bellevue University generally make around $65,603. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting schools. University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public school located in the city of Lincoln. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,434, with out-of-state students paying around $28,584. Typical student debt for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates is $26,908. Early-career homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates make about $29,231. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Nebraska Lincoln admits about 88% of applicants.
York College Nebraska earned the #12 position for value in homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting this year. York College Nebraska is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of York. In-state tuition and fees average $23,000. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates carry a median of $28,370 in student loans. Early-career homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates make about $34,170. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. York College Nebraska admits about 52% of applicants.
Midland University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting schools. Set in the town of Fremont, Midland University is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,050. 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 Midland University generally make around $41,149. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 66%.
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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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.