by our College Data Analytics TeamAre you interested in protecting your country from threats of terrorism and protecting fellow citizens during times of crisis? If so, then Homeland Security could be the major for you.
Studying Homeland Security will provide you with knowledge about security threats, both domestic and international. Classes will cover such topics as international relations, homeland defense, government, bioscience, consequence management, and terrorism. Current issues in this field are keeping American interests in mind worldwide, drug trafficking, and emergency management.
Some concentrations you may be able to specialize in are Disaster Management, Critical Infrastructure Protection, and Terrorism and Counterterrorism Operations.
A major in Homeland Security involves the study of Homeland Security. Read on to learn the essential details every homeland security student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering homeland security programs.
Across the country, homeland security is a popular field of study, with 6,323 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Homeland Security Schools ranking analyzes these 261 schools to determine the best overall colleges for homeland security students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of homeland security programs later in this article.
Coursework for Homeland Security build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations homeland security graduates commonly enter.
This major teaches students many valuable and practical skills. You will learn how to evaluate domestic security challenges and propose changes to government at the local, state, and federal level. This requires a logical thinker who doesn't shy away from controversial topics. Students should be objective and pay close attention to detail in their research in order to have accurate outcomes.
A career in homeland security requires clear thinkers who are able to make decisions and keep calm in emergency situations. You may face any number of dangerous environments. Students should be physical fit and strong as well as emotionally consistent.
The skill set built by a homeland security program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a homeland security major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several homeland security 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 | 90 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 438 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 2,638 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 3,040 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 29 |
People currently working in careers related to homeland security tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 50.9% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 15.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 9.3% |
| Some college courses | 8.5% |
| Master’s degree | 7.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.4% |
| Doctoral degree | 0.8% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.4% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in homeland security careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Graduates will have learned a broad set of skills they can apply to a number of different occupations. Many grads work for the department of homeland security as federal agents, law enforcement officers or first responders. Other options are to become a law maker, detective, government lawyer or police officer.
Studying homeland security can lead to a variety of career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to homeland security.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to homeland security.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | 964,215 | -0.1% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | 489,192 | 4.7% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Emergency Management Directors | 390,880 | 12.5% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | 290,410 | 11.9% |
| Loss Prevention Managers | 265,210 | 2.2% |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | 206,415 | 9.9% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of homeland security graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $66,896 |
| 4 years | $65,332 |
| 5 years | $74,471 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for homeland security graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers homeland security grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | $99,321 |
| Managers, All Other | $95,684 |
| Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary | $91,449 |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | $77,828 |
With 261 different homeland security programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased homeland security school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in homeland security, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Homeland Security | 2,871 |
| Crisis/Emergency/Disaster Management | 2,513 |
| Critical Infrastructure Protection | 545 |
| Homeland Security, Other | 213 |
| Terrorism and Counterterrorism Operations | 181 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 102,547 |
| Fire Protection | 15,202 |
| Security Science and Technology | 9,173 |
| Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other | 1,217 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
