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ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE · DEGREE PAYOFF · FEDERAL FIELD 4303

Homeland Security: is this associate's degree worth it?

National picture across 3 reporting college programs.

MODELED SCENARIO · Positive payoff

+$56,852 over 10 years

National scenario across reporting associate's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 2-year duration.

This is a positive modeled result. Price, time to finish and future earnings can still change the outcome.

6.9 yrsModeled economic break-even

+45%Modeled 10-year ROI

$63,213Observed earnings · year 4

Economic ROI includes direct price and earnings forgone during study · $45,000 comparison earnings · values held flat · see the formula

WHAT THIS DEGREE PAYS

Observed national outcomes

$63,213Median reported earnings · year 4

$62,370Average reported earnings · year 5

$21,875Median federal debt

78thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential

3Reporting programs

3With year-4 earnings

COMPARE CREDENTIAL LEVELS

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.

OPEN PROFILE

Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma

Year-4 earnings: $61,324
Federal debt: $20,843
Reporting programs: 6

6 report earnings →CURRENT VIEW

Associate's Degree

Year-4 earnings: $63,213
Federal debt: $21,875
Reporting programs: 3

3 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Bachelor's Degree

Year-4 earnings: $67,953
Federal debt: $23,450
Reporting programs: 37

34 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Master's Degree

Year-4 earnings: $93,686
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 28

28 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Graduate/Professional Certificate

Year-4 earnings: $87,917
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 2

2 report earnings →

COLLEGE-TO-COLLEGE RANGE

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$57,706National median$63,21375th percentile$63,213

3 programs report year‑4 earnings.

WHERE OUTCOMES ARE STRONGEST

See the spread, not just the national number.

1Lake Superior State University$65,738 2American Public University System$63,213 3Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale$57,706

Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking

WHERE THIS FIELD CAN LEAD

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

BEST COLLEGES FOR HOMELAND SECURITY

Same degree, different outcomes

Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.

#	College	Location	Earnings, year 4	Federal debt	10-year ROI	Verdict
1	Lake Superior State UniversityAssociate's Degree	Sault Ste Marie, MI	$65,738	$21,875	+79%	Positive payoff
2	American Public University SystemAssociate's Degree	Charles Town, WV	$63,213	$13,125	+67%	Positive payoff
3	Keiser University-Ft LauderdaleAssociate's Degree	Fort Lauderdale, FL	$57,706	$29,750	-16%	Negative payoff

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.