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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Value Critical Infrastructure Protection Schools in the Southeast Region

1 Colleges in the United States
$24,679 Avg Student Debt
$57,436 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value Critical Infrastructure Protection Badge [Critical Infrastructure Protection](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/homeland-security/critical-infrastructure-protection/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong critical infrastructure protection education at a price that pays off.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 7 schools to find the best return on investment for critical infrastructure protection students.

What’s on this page:

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2026 Best Value Critical Infrastructure Protection Schools in the Southeast Region

If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the critical infrastructure protection degrees they offer, see the list below.

Best Value Critical Infrastructure Protection Schools

1

For return on investment in critical infrastructure protection, no school beat University Of South Florida Main Campus this year. University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. In-state tuition and fees average $6,410, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for critical infrastructure protection graduates is $21,829. Early-career critical infrastructure protection graduates make about $85,268. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of South Florida Main Campus admits about 43% of applicants.

2
Arkansas Tech University crest
Arkansas Tech University
Russellville, AR

A rank of #2 makes Arkansas Tech University one of the best values for critical infrastructure protection. Arkansas Tech University is a large public school located in the town of Russellville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,674, compared with $14,668 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,355 to complete the critical infrastructure protection program here. Soon after graduation, critical infrastructure protection degree recipients from Arkansas Tech University generally make around $45,115. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.

3

Students looking for strong value in critical infrastructure protection will find it at Columbia Southern University, which ranked #3. Columbia Southern University is a very large private for-profit school located in the town of Orange Beach. Students from in state pay about $6,224 in tuition and fees. Critical Infrastructure Protection graduates carry a median of $32,683 in student loans. Critical Infrastructure Protection graduates of Columbia Southern University earn a median of $73,839 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

4

George Mason University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value critical infrastructure protection schools. George Mason University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fairfax. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,220, with out-of-state students paying around $38,688. Students borrow a median of $21,741 to complete the critical infrastructure protection program here. Critical Infrastructure Protection graduates of George Mason University earn a median of $114,896 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,741 median debt. George Mason University admits about 88% of applicants.

5

Cambridge Institute Of Health And Technology came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value critical infrastructure protection schools. Cambridge Institute Of Health And Technology is a mid-sized private for-profit school located in the city of Delray Beach. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,652. Critical Infrastructure Protection graduates carry a median of $21,787 in student loans. Early-career critical infrastructure protection graduates make about $34,748. That is a strong return on a $21,787 median debt.

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 7 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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