Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other: degree ROI, salary & best colleges
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other graduates earn a median $67,934 four years after finishing — $19,574/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. At a typical $16,902/yr net price ($67,608 over four years), that pays back in about 3.5 years. Federal data pools 33 bachelor's programs graduating roughly 793 students a year. (Scorecard field-of-study, 2026 · our math.)
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other ranks #77 of 202 bachelor's fields by earnings — pays more than 62% of majors.
| # | College | State | Grad earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Neumann University | PA | $140,283 |
| 2 | Massachusetts Maritime Academy | MA | $85,256 |
| 3 | Thomas Edison State University | NJ | $78,651 |
| 4 | Virginia Commonwealth University | VA | $72,239 |
| 5 | Tiffin University | OH | $71,296 |
| 6 | University of New Haven | CT | $69,932 |
| 7 | Tulane University of Louisiana | LA | $64,914 |
| 8 | St Petersburg College | FL | $63,162 |
| 9 | Mercy University | NY | $62,942 |
| 10 | Miami Dade College | FL | $60,067 |
| 11 | Savannah State University | GA | $58,382 |
| 12 | Florida Atlantic University | FL | $56,162 |
College Scorecard field-of-study (2026), program-level median earnings for this CIP · our ranking.
How we compute this. Earnings are the national median for graduates of this field measured 1 and 4 years after completion (Scorecard field-of-study, bachelor's). Premium = 4-year earnings − the $48,360 high-school baseline. Payback = a representative 4-year net cost (median college net price × 4) ÷ premium. Field medians blend every school — a specific program can pay far more or less. Full method on the methodology page; the field ranking is on ROI by major.
How fast does Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other pay grow after graduation?
From $43,666 one year out to $67,934 four years out — a $24,268 climb, or 56% over three years. Both are federal medians of the same graduating cohorts, so the gap reflects real wage progression rather than a change in who is measured.
How many students graduate in Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other each year?
About 793 bachelor's graduates a year across 33 programs in the federal file. Cohort size matters when reading the median: a field this size averages across a wide range of employers, regions and job titles.