Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 15 reporting college programs.
−$65,723 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
Observed national outcomes
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.
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $62,145
- Federal debt
- $18,933
- Reporting programs
- 1
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $39,860
- Federal debt
- $17,000
- Reporting programs
- 2
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $63,162
- Federal debt
- $24,111
- Reporting programs
- 15
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $97,362
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 10
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.
See the spread, not just the national number.
1Neumann University$140,2832Massachusetts Maritime Academy$85,2563Thomas Edison State University$78,6514Virginia Commonwealth University$72,2395Tiffin University$71,2966University of New Haven$69,9327Tulane University of Louisiana$64,9148St Petersburg College$63,1629Mercy University$62,94210Miami Dade College$60,067Observed 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.
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 | Neumann UniversityBachelor's Degree | Aston, PA | $140,283 | $18,664 | +227% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | Massachusetts Maritime AcademyBachelor's Degree | Buzzards Bay, MA | $85,256 | $25,000 | +51% | Positive payoff |
| 3 | Thomas Edison State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Trenton, NJ | $78,651 | $16,245 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 4 | Virginia Commonwealth UniversityBachelor's Degree | Richmond, VA | $72,239 | $21,500 | -0% | Negative payoff |
| 5 | Tiffin UniversityBachelor's Degree | Tiffin, OH | $71,296 | $27,000 | -8% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | University of New HavenBachelor's Degree | West Haven, CT | $69,932 | $27,000 | -21% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | Tulane University of LouisianaBachelor's Degree | New Orleans, LA | $64,914 | $28,000 | -41% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | St Petersburg CollegeBachelor's Degree | St. Petersburg, FL | $63,162 | $37,970 | -2% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | Mercy UniversityBachelor's Degree | Dobbs Ferry, NY | $62,942 | Not available | -24% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | Miami Dade CollegeBachelor's Degree | Miami, FL | $60,067 | $12,000 | -25% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | Savannah State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Savannah, GA | $58,382 | $26,000 | -37% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | Florida Atlantic UniversityBachelor's Degree | Boca Raton, FL | $56,162 | $20,221 | -48% | Negative payoff |
| 13 | Florida SouthWestern State CollegeBachelor's Degree | Fort Myers, FL | $55,414 | Not available | -50% | Negative payoff |
| 14 | Florida State College at JacksonvilleBachelor's Degree | Jacksonville, FL | $55,284 | $23,222 | -48% | Negative payoff |
| 15 | Western Illinois UniversityBachelor's Degree | Macomb, IL | $48,039 | Not available | -87% | 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.