by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Crisis/Emergency/Disaster Management involves the study of Crisis/emergency/disaster Management. A Program Focusing On The Application Of The Incident Command System Model To Formulating And Implementing Effective Response To Natural And Man-Made Disasters. Includes Instruction In Contingency Planning, Hazard And Risk Assessment, Joint Operations, Law And Ethics, Emergency Response And Recovery, Event Mitigation, Emergency Rescue And Medical Operations, Incident Command, Terrorism And National Security Issues, Law Enforcement, Relief Administration, Volunteer And Citizen Coordination, Public Relations And Applications To Specific Types Of Incidents. Examples: [Disaster Planning And Management], [Emergency And Disaster Mitigation], [Emergency Preparedness And Technology], [Incident Command Systems], [Emergency Training], [Disaster Operations And Recovery], [Integrated Emergency Management], [Disaster Medicine And Management], [Public Health Preparedness And Emergency Management]. Read on to learn the important information every crisis/emergency/disaster management student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering crisis/emergency/disaster management programs.
In the U.S., crisis/emergency/disaster management is a widely-pursued major, with 2,513 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Crisis/Emergency/Disaster Management Schools ranking analyzes these 141 schools to determine the best overall colleges for crisis/emergency/disaster management students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of crisis/emergency/disaster management programs later in this article.
Studies in Crisis/Emergency/Disaster Management develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations crisis/emergency/disaster management graduates commonly enter.
The skill set developed in a crisis/emergency/disaster management program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a crisis/emergency/disaster management major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several crisis/emergency/disaster management 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 | 16 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 147 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,137 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,200 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 13 |
People currently working in careers related to crisis/emergency/disaster management tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 54.4% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 14.5% |
| Master’s degree | 8.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 7.8% |
| Some college courses | 7.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 0.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.3% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in crisis/emergency/disaster management careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying crisis/emergency/disaster management prepares you for many career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to crisis/emergency/disaster management.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to crisis/emergency/disaster management.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | 128,884 | 5.2% |
| Wind Energy Development Managers | 107,541 | 10.1% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of crisis/emergency/disaster management graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb 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 crisis/emergency/disaster management graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers crisis/emergency/disaster management 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 |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | $77,828 |
| Emergency Management Directors | $72,305 |
With 141 different crisis/emergency/disaster management programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased crisis/emergency/disaster management school rankings to help you.
Students interested in crisis/emergency/disaster management, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Homeland Security | 2,871 |
| Critical Infrastructure Protection | 545 |
| Homeland Security, Other | 213 |
| Terrorism and Counterterrorism Operations | 181 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
