2023 Best Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Associate Degree Colleges for Veterans in Florida
18
Ranked Colleges
1,225
Degrees Awarded
$34,194
Avg Salary
When it comes to choosing a college, veterans have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Most Veteran Friendly in Florida for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting for an Associate” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
In 2020-2021, 142,610 people earned their degree in homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting, making the major the 12th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $37,355 and had an average of $25,230 in loans still to pay off.
Across Florida, there were 12,461 homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,358 and $24,757 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 1,225 homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting graduates with average earnings and debt of $35,132 and $22,101 respectively.
This year’s “Most Veteran Friendly in Florida for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting for an Associate” ranking analyzed 18 colleges that offered a degree in homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting programs as well as strong veteran support.
To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as veteran satisfaction, veteran affordability, and overall quality of the homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
One Size Does Not Fit All
The homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Most Veteran Friendly in Florida for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting for an Associate”.
In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.
Most Veteran Friendly in Florida for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting for an Associate
The following schools top our list of the Best “Most Veteran Friendly in Florida for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting for an Associate”.
Top 18 Best Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Associate Degree Colleges for Veterans in Florida
Out of the 18 schools in the Most Veteran Friendly in Florida for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting for an Associate that were part of this year’s ranking, Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale landed the #1 spot on the list. Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale is a fairly large school located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida that handed out 132 associates’s homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting degrees in 2020-2021.
Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Associate Degree Schools in Florida” list.Our most recent data shows that 75 of the 20,330 students enrolled at Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale were GI Bill® students, of which 56 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $17,004. During this same period, 21 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
Full Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale Veteran Student Life Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Saint Leo University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Florida for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting for an Associate list. St. Leo University is a medium-sized school located in Saint Leo, Florida that handed out 36 associates’s homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting degrees in 2020-2021.
St. Leo University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Associate Degree Schools in Florida” list.Of the 9,832 students enrolled at Saint Leo University, 8 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 5 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $4,916. During this same period, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Saint Leo University offers credit for military training for eligible students.
[Read full report on veteran student life at Saint Leo University]](/colleges/saint-leo-university/student-life/veterans/)
Out of the 18 schools in the Most Veteran Friendly in Florida for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting for an Associate that were part of this year’s ranking, Hillsborough Community College landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Tampa, Florida, this fairly large public school handed out 119 degrees to qualified associates’s homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting students in 2020-2021.
HCC also made our “Best Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Associate Degree Schools in Florida” list, coming in at #2.Our most recent data shows that 2 of the 19,532 students enrolled at Hillsborough Community College were GI Bill® students, of which 3 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $332. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Hillsborough Community College offers credit for military training for eligible students.
[Read full report on veteran student life at Hillsborough Community College]](/colleges/hillsborough-community-college/student-life/veterans/)
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Valencia College. The school came in at #4 for the Most Veteran Friendly in Florida for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting for an Associate. Valencia College is a large public school situated in Orlando, Florida. It awarded 153 associates’s homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting degrees in 2020-2021.
Valencia College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Associate Degree Schools in Florida” list.According to our most recent data, Valencia College supports 45,949 students, and 1,809 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 965 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $1,696. On top of their other funding sources, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
Read More…
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Miami Dade College. The school came in at #5 for the Most Veteran Friendly in Florida for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting for an Associate. Miami, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting degrees to 95 students in 2020-2021.
MDC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Associate Degree Schools in Florida” list.Of the 46,523 students enrolled at Miami Dade College, 907 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 607 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $2,371. To help with additional expenses, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
[Read full report on veteran student life at Miami Dade College]](/colleges/miami-dade-college/student-life/veterans/)
Seminole State College of Florida landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Florida for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting for an Associate ranking. Located in Sanford, Florida, this fairly large public school handed out 38 degrees to qualified associates’s homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting students in 2020-2021.
Seminole State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Associate Degree Schools in Florida” list.Of the 16,298 students enrolled at Seminole State, 737 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 369 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $1,468. On top of their other funding sources, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
Read More…
With a ranking of #7, St Petersburg College did quite well on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Florida for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting for an Associate list. Located in Clearwater, Florida, this large public school handed out 98 degrees to qualified associates’s homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting students in 2020-2021.
SPC also made our “Best Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Associate Degree Schools in Florida” list, coming in at #10.Of the 26,430 students enrolled at SPC, 1,273 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 820 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $1,870. On top of their other funding sources, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
Full St Petersburg College Veteran Student Life Report
With a ranking of #8, Indian River State College did quite well on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Florida for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting for an Associate list. This fairly large school is located in Fort Pierce, Florida, and it awarded 74 associates’s homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting degrees in 2020-2021.
Indian River State College also took the #6 spot in our “Best Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Associate Degree Schools in Florida” ranking.Our most recent data shows that 539 of the 15,236 students enrolled at Indian River State College were GI Bill® students, of which 315 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $1,800. To help with additional expenses, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Indian River State College does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
[Read full report on veteran student life at Indian River State College]](/colleges/indian-river-state-college/student-life/veterans/)
Rasmussen University - Florida came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Veteran Friendly in Florida for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting for an Associate ranking. Rasmussen University - Florida is a private for-profit institution located in Ocala, Florida. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 17 associates’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Rasmussen University - Florida did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Associate Degree Schools in Florida” list.Our most recent data shows that 42 of the 9,055 students enrolled at Rasmussen University - Florida were GI Bill® students, of which 34 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $9,344. On top of their other funding sources, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Rasmussen University - Florida does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
Read More…
Palm Beach State College did quite well in the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Florida for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting for an Associate ranking, coming in at #10. Located in Lake Worth, Florida, this large public school handed out 44 diplomas to qualified associates’s homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting students in 2020-2021.
Palm Beach State College also took the #9 spot in our “Best Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Associate Degree Schools in Florida” ranking.According to our most recent data, Palm Beach State College supports 26,666 students, and 722 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 400 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $1,519. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
Full Palm Beach State College Veteran Student Life Report
Eastern Florida State College did quite well in the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Florida for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting for an Associate ranking, coming in at #11. Located in Cocoa, Florida, this fairly large public school awarded 37 diplomas to qualified associates’s homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting students in 2020-2021.
EFSC also made our “Best Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Associate Degree Schools in Florida” list, coming in at #14.According to our most recent data, EFSC supports 13,937 students, and 995 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 554 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $1,654. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
[Read full report on veteran student life at EFSC]](/colleges/eastern-florida-state-college/student-life/veterans/)
Daytona State College landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Florida for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting for an Associate ranking. Daytona State College is located in Daytona Beach, Florida and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 29 associates’s homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Daytona State College, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Associate Degree Schools in Florida” ranking.According to our most recent data, Daytona State College supports 12,728 students, and 639 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 417 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $2,263. On top of their other funding sources, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
Read More…
Polk State College landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Florida for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting for an Associate ranking. Polk State is a medium-sized school located in Winter Haven, Florida that handed out 43 associates’s homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Polk State, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Associate Degree Schools in Florida” ranking.Of the 9,961 students enrolled at Polk State, 337 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 168 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $2,652. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
Read More…
Northwest Florida State College did quite well in the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Florida for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting for an Associate ranking, coming in at #14. NWFSC is a public institution located in Niceville, Florida. The school has a small population, and it awarded 6 associates’s degrees in 2020-2021.
NWFSC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Associate Degree Schools in Florida” list.Of the 5,004 students enrolled at Northwest Florida State College, 829 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 526 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $2,049. To help with additional expenses, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Northwest Florida State College does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
[Read full report on veteran student life at NWFSC]](/colleges/northwest-florida-state-college/student-life/veterans/)
Florida State College at Jacksonville ranked #15 on this year’s Most Veteran Friendly in Florida for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting for an Associate list. Jacksonville, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting degrees to 40 students in 2020-2021.
FSCJ did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Associate Degree Schools in Florida” list.According to our most recent data, Florida State College at Jacksonville supports 22,344 students, and 2,072 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 1,533 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $2,070. During this same period, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Florida State College at Jacksonville offers credit for military training for eligible students.
Full Florida State College at Jacksonville Veteran Student Life Report
Florida Gateway College ranked #16 on this year’s Most Veteran Friendly in Florida for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting for an Associate list. FGC is a small public school situated in Lake City, Florida. It awarded 8 associates’s homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting degrees in 2020-2021.
FGC also made our “Best Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Associate Degree Schools in Florida” list, coming in at #15.Of the 3,018 students enrolled at Florida Gateway College, 102 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 63 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $1,740. During this same period, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Florida Gateway College offers credit for military training for eligible students.
Read More…
With a ranking of #17, Florida SouthWestern State College did quite well on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Florida for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting for an Associate list. This fairly large school is located in Fort Myers, Florida, and it awarded 51 associates’s homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting degrees in 2020-2021.
FSW not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Associate Degree Schools in Florida” list.Our most recent data shows that 427 of the 15,141 students enrolled at FSW were GI Bill® students, of which 252 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $1,770. During this same period, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
[Read full report on veteran student life at Florida SouthWestern State College]](/colleges/edison-state-college/student-life/veterans/)
Gulf Coast State College ranked #18 on this year’s Most Veteran Friendly in Florida for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting for an Associate list. Gulf Coast State College is a small school located in Panama City, Florida that handed out 4 associates’s homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting degrees in 2020-2021.
GCSC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Associate Degree Schools in Florida” list.Of the 4,410 students enrolled at Gulf Coast State College, 393 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 224 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $1,916. On top of their other funding sources, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
[Read full report on veteran student life at Gulf Coast State College]](/colleges/gulf-coast-state-college/student-life/veterans/)
Focus on a Specific Degree Level
Switch to a Similar Major
Switch to a More Focused Major
Switch to a Different Ranking Method
Notes and References
References
- 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).
- Veteran-specific data can be found at the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
- *Avg Salary and Avg 4-Year Grad Rate are for the top schools only.
- **GI Bill® student total includes all chapters of the GI Bill® program (e.g., Post-9/11, Montgomery GI Bill, Reserve Education Assistance Program, and Veteran Readiness and Employment)
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
Credits
college factual
