by our College Data Analytics TeamLearn the key facts every security science and technology major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering security science and technology programs.
Across the country, security science and technology is a popular field of study, with 9,173 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Security Science and Technology Schools ranking analyzes these 400 schools to determine the best overall colleges for security science and technology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of security science and technology programs later in this article.
Studies in Security Science and Technology build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations security science and technology graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a security science and technology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a security science and technology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several security science and technology 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 | 496 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1,036 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 3,518 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 4,068 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 34 |
People currently working in careers related to security science and technology tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 31.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 20.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 13.6% |
| Some college courses | 13.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 8.4% |
| Master’s degree | 4.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 3.2% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.9% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.3% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in security science and technology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying security science and technology prepares you for a variety of career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to security science and technology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to security science and technology.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Information Security Analysts | 583,513 | 12.3% |
| Computer Systems Engineers/Architects | 576,059 | -1.9% |
| Information Security Engineers | 575,902 | -3.8% |
| Blockchain Engineers | 556,747 | 5.1% |
| Information Technology Project Managers | 543,383 | -3.4% |
| Police Identification and Records Officers | 532,882 | 7.1% |
| Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians | 530,023 | -1.9% |
| Web Administrators | 510,685 | 0.7% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of security science and technology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $51,422 |
| 4 years | $49,125 |
| 5 years | $55,237 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for security science and technology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers security science and technology grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $159,837 |
| Document Management Specialists | $147,490 |
| Information Security Engineers | $142,543 |
| Computer Systems Engineers/Architects | $140,795 |
| Information Technology Project Managers | $124,655 |
| Blockchain Engineers | $123,667 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
With 400 different security science and technology programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased security science and technology school rankings to help you.
Students interested in security science and technology, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 102,547 |
| Fire Protection | 15,202 |
| Homeland Security | 6,323 |
| Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other | 1,217 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
