by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Security & Loss Prevention Services explores Security And Loss Prevention Services. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Perform Routine Inspection, Patrol And Crime Prevention Services For Private Clients. Includes Instruction In The Provision Of Personal Protection As Well As Property Security. Read on to learn the important information every security & loss prevention services major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering security & loss prevention services programs.
Nationwide, security & loss prevention services draws strong interest, with 494 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Security & Loss Prevention Services Schools ranking analyzes these 22 schools to determine the best overall colleges for security & loss prevention services students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of security & loss prevention services programs later in this article.
Coursework for Security & Loss Prevention Services build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations security & loss prevention services graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a security & loss prevention services program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a security & loss prevention services major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several security & loss prevention services 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 | 259 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 21 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 88 |
People currently working in careers related to security & loss prevention services tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 53.7% |
| Some college courses | 15.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 13.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 7.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 6.2% |
| Master’s degree | 1.8% |
| Doctoral degree | 0.9% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.6% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.3% |
| First professional degree | 0.2% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in security & loss prevention services careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in security & loss prevention services prepares you for a variety of career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to security & loss prevention services.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to security & loss prevention services.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | 489,192 | 4.7% |
| Security Guards | 376,630 | 7.9% |
| Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators | 338,702 | -3.1% |
| Transit and Railroad Police | 164,352 | 8.6% |
| Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary | 52,113 | 12.0% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of security & loss prevention services graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $40,812 |
| 4 years | $44,073 |
| 5 years | $49,815 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for security & loss prevention services graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers security & loss prevention services grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary | $91,449 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $75,304 |
| Security Guards | $70,212 |
| Transit and Railroad Police | $47,463 |
| Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators | $33,021 |
With 22 different security & loss prevention services programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased security & loss prevention services school rankings to help you.
Students interested in security & loss prevention services, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Criminal Justice/Safety Studies | 41,895 |
| Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration | 26,997 |
| Criminal Justice/Police Science | 20,474 |
| Corrections | 4,967 |
| Corrections and Criminal Justice, Other | 4,327 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 2,175 |
| Securities Services Administration/Management | 662 |
| Law Enforcement Investigation and Interviewing | 300 |
| Corrections Administration | 97 |
| Juvenile Corrections | 68 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
