2026 Best Homeland Security Schools in California

Homeland Security programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 16 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for homeland security students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

• Best Homeland Security Schools in California

Best Schools for Homeland Security in California

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall homeland security education in California.

Top Schools in Homeland Security

1

University Of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

17 Homeland Security Degrees Awarded

$75,677 Median Starting Salary

University Of Southern California is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in homeland security. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. University Of Southern California graduates 92% of students within six years. About 17 homeland security degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Homeland Security graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $75,677 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,625. See the full homeland security program report for University Of Southern California

2

National University
San Diego, CA

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

78 Homeland Security Degrees Awarded

$63,970 Median Starting Salary

Students looking for a strong homeland security program will find one at National University, which ranked #2. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of San Diego. About 50% of students finish within six years. National University awarded about 78 homeland security degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, homeland security degree recipients from National University generally make around $63,970. National University graduates carry a median of $23,450 in student loans. Get the full homeland security details for National University

Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 16 schools evaluated.

• The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
• Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).

More about our data sources and methodologies.