Homeland Security: is this undergraduate certificate or diploma worth it?
National picture across 6 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$61,324 in median year-4 earnings
A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.
$61,324Median year-4 earnings
$16,527Average institution net-price context
$20,843Median federal debt
Observed national outcomes
$61,324Median reported earnings · year 4
Not availableAverage reported earnings · year 5
$20,843Median federal debt
72thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
6Reporting programs
6With year-4 earnings
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
CURRENT VIEW
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $61,324
- Federal debt
- $20,843
- Reporting programs
- 6
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $63,213
- Federal debt
- $21,875
- Reporting programs
- 3
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $67,953
- Federal debt
- $23,450
- Reporting programs
- 37
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $93,686
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 28
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $87,917
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 2
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$51,559National median$61,32475th percentile$64,064
6 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
Find the colleges that fit your constraints
Keep this exact federal field and credential fixed, then narrow the reporting colleges by location, sector and federal debt.
6 matchesShowing up to 25 currently operating colleges
1Des Moines Area Community CollegeAnkeny, IA · PublicYear-4 earnings$74,269Federal debt$22,869Annual net price$11,1712Arizona State University Campus ImmersionTempe, AZ · PublicYear-4 earnings$64,064Federal debt$20,843Annual net price$14,9673Arizona State University Digital ImmersionScottsdale, AZ · PublicYear-4 earnings$64,064Federal debt$20,843Annual net priceNot available4University of Central MissouriWarrensburg, MO · PublicYear-4 earnings$58,584Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$14,4625Husson UniversityBangor, ME · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$51,559Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$21,0056Park UniversityParkville, MO · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$49,144Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$21,032
Open the full program search →See the spread, not just the national number.
1Des Moines Area Community College$74,2692Arizona State University Campus Immersion$64,0643Arizona State University Digital Immersion$64,0644University of Central Missouri$58,5845Husson University$51,5596Park University$49,144Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Emergency Management DirectorsSOC 11-9161 · 4 crosswalk linksFirst-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesSOC 33-1012 · 4 crosswalk linksManagers, All OtherSOC 11-9199 · 4 crosswalk linksCriminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1111 · 2 crosswalk linksFirst-Line Supervisors of Protective Service Workers, All OtherSOC 33-1099 · 1 crosswalk linksFirst-Line Supervisors of Security WorkersSOC 33-1091 · 1 crosswalk linksPostsecondary Teachers, All OtherSOC 25-1199 · 1 crosswalk linksSpecial ForcesSOC 55-3018 · 1 crosswalk linksSpecial Forces OfficersSOC 55-1017 · 1 crosswalk links
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | ROI status | Cost context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Des Moines Area Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Ankeny, IA | $74,269 | $22,869 | Baseline needed | $11,171 |
| 2 | Arizona State University Campus ImmersionUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Tempe, AZ | $64,064 | $20,843 | Baseline needed | $14,967 |
| 3 | Arizona State University Digital ImmersionUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Scottsdale, AZ | $64,064 | $20,843 | Baseline needed | Not available |
| 4 | University of Central MissouriUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Warrensburg, MO | $58,584 | Not available | Baseline needed | $14,462 |
| 5 | Husson UniversityUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Bangor, ME | $51,559 | Not available | Baseline needed | $21,005 |
| 6 | Park UniversityUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Parkville, MO | $49,144 | Not available | Baseline needed | $21,032 |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.