by our College Data Analytics TeamThe field of Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, and Firefighting is an important one and has been in high demand since the 9/11 terrorist attacks. This field allows you to be trained in a variety of national defense areas, preparing you for work protecting your country and fellow citizens.
There are a few different majors you can pursue in this field. Criminal Justice and Corrections will teach you about prison life, drug trafficking, and law, preparing you for work with criminals and the reformation system. A major in Fire Protection will provide training on preventing and stopping fires. You can also choose to major in Homeland Security in order to learn how to prevent and respond to threats and crisis internationally and domestically.
A major in Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting involves the study of "homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting And Related Protective Services. Instructional Programs That Focus On The Principles And Procedures For Providing Homeland Security, Police, Fire, And Other Safety Services And Managing Penal Institutions. Note: This Series Is Titled Security And Protective Services"" In The Canadian Cip.""". Read on to learn the important information every homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting programs.
Nationwide, homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting is a widely-pursued major, with 134,462 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Schools ranking analyzes these 1,938 schools to determine the best overall colleges for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting programs later in this article.
Studies in Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates commonly enter.
Leadership skills will help you during your training and in a future career. In a time of crisis, citizens will count on you to keep them safe. You must be able to respond quickly and appropriately in emergency situations and thrive when under. Interpersonal skills will help you work with all types of people of different ages and backgrounds. Be ready to listen to the concerns and advice of others, and also be able to explain laws and policies.
Most of the classes in this field are centered on science, math, government and law. Students should be comfortable with their math and science skills and ready to discuss potentially controversial subjects in the classroom. This rigorous major may also include physical training to prepare you to react in dangerous situations.
The skill set developed in a homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 8,039 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 28,147 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 54,278 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 41,175 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 355 |
People currently working in careers related to homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 31.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 26.5% |
| Some college courses | 12.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 12.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 7.8% |
| Master’s degree | 4.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.4% |
| Doctoral degree | 1.3% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.5% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.4% |
| First professional degree | 0.1% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Depending on your major focus, you will be able to work in numerous fields. Graduates find work in fields like fraud detection, medicine, human resources, civil rights, intelligence, science and technology, facilities, and procurement. You will also be prepared for law enforcement careers in the areas of border security, head of state, protection of the President, interagency law enforcement training, and infrastructure security. If interested in prevention and response careers, you can find jobs protecting the public and the environment as a U.S. Coast Guard member or firefighter. Some career choices may require additional education or training.
A degree in homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting can lead to numerous career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | 964,215 | -0.1% |
| Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers | 735,120 | 1.8% |
| Environmental Compliance Inspectors | 674,467 | 10.0% |
| Computer Systems Engineers/Architects | 576,059 | -1.9% |
| Information Security Engineers | 575,902 | -3.8% |
| Information Technology Project Managers | 543,383 | -3.4% |
| Police Identification and Records Officers | 532,882 | 7.1% |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | 514,818 | 8.7% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $42,426 |
| 4 years | $44,811 |
| 5 years | $50,649 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Information Security Engineers | $142,543 |
| Computer Systems Engineers/Architects | $140,795 |
| Information Technology Project Managers | $124,655 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Environmental Compliance Inspectors | $119,630 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
With 1,938 different homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 102,547 |
| Fire Protection | 15,202 |
| Security Science and Technology | 9,173 |
| Homeland Security | 6,323 |
| Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other | 1,217 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
