[Other Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting & Related Protective Services](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/other-homeland-security-emergency-preparedness/homeland-security-law-enforcement-firefighting-and-related-protective-services-other/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 39 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for other homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting & related protective services students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the other homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting & related protective services degrees they offer, see the list below.
St Petersburg College tops our 2026 list of the best value other homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting & related protective services schools in the Southeast Region. St Petersburg College is a very large public school located in the city of St. Petersburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,682, compared with $9,286 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for other homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting & related protective services graduates is $37,970. Other Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting & Related Protective Services graduates of St Petersburg College earn a median of $49,271 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $37,970 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Florida State College At Jacksonville earned it the #2 place for other homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting & related protective services. Located in the city of Jacksonville, Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,657 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,631 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for other homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting & related protective services graduates is $23,222. Early-career other homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting & related protective services graduates make about $50,091. That is a strong return on a $23,222 median debt.
Vance Granville Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value other homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting & related protective services schools. Located in the town of Henderson, Vance Granville Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,944, while out-of-state students pay about $6,552. Other Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting & Related Protective Services graduates carry a median of $14,833 in student loans. Soon after graduation, other homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting & related protective services degree recipients from Vance Granville Community College generally make around $43,272. That is a strong return on a $14,833 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in other homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting & related protective services will find it at Miami Dade College, which ranked #4. Miami Dade College is a very large public school located in the city of Miami. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,838, compared with $9,661 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for other homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting & related protective services graduates is $12,000. Other Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting & Related Protective Services graduates of Miami Dade College earn a median of $43,666 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt.
Florida Atlantic University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value other homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting & related protective services schools. Set in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,879, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Other Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting & Related Protective Services graduates carry a median of $20,221 in student loans. Early-career other homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting & related protective services graduates make about $37,561. Set against $20,221 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 66%.
Edison State College placed #6 among the best values for other homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting & related protective services. Set in the suburb of Fort Myers, Edison State College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,401 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,979 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for other homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting & related protective services graduates is $13,356. Other Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting & Related Protective Services graduates of Edison State College earn a median of $48,873 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Eastern Kentucky University landed the #7 spot for other homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting & related protective services value this year. Set in the town of Richmond, Eastern Kentucky University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,320 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,230 for out-of-state students. Other Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting & Related Protective Services graduates carry a median of $25,122 in student loans. Other Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting & Related Protective Services graduates of Eastern Kentucky University earn a median of $73,507 early in their careers. Set against $25,122 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Eastern Kentucky University admits about 78% of applicants.
Columbus State University landed the #8 spot for other homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting & related protective services value this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Columbus State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,898 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,610. Students borrow a median of $28,493 to complete the other homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting & related protective services program here. Early-career other homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting & related protective services graduates make about $51,154. That is a strong return on a $28,493 median debt. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Virginia Commonwealth University earned the #9 position for value in other homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting & related protective services this year. Set in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,720, with out-of-state students paying around $39,884. Typical student debt for other homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting & related protective services graduates is $21,500. Other Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting & Related Protective Services graduates of Virginia Commonwealth University earn a median of $45,696 early in their careers. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
State College Of Florida Manatee Sarasota earned the #10 position for value in other homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting & related protective services this year. State College Of Florida Manatee Sarasota is a large public school located in the suburb of Bradenton. In-state tuition and fees average $3,074, while out-of-state students pay about $11,595. Typical student debt for other homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting & related protective services graduates is $17,360. Soon after graduation, other homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting & related protective services degree recipients from State College Of Florida Manatee Sarasota generally make around $50,906. That is a strong return on a $17,360 median debt.
Tulane University Of Louisiana placed #11 among the best values for other homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting & related protective services. Set in the city of New Orleans, Tulane University Of Louisiana is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,678. Other Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting & Related Protective Services graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans. Other Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting & Related Protective Services graduates of Tulane University Of Louisiana earn a median of $54,222 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 14%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 39 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 ranked schools only.
- 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.
