by our College Data Analytics TeamThe field of Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, and Firefighting is an important one and has been in high demand since the 9/11 terrorist attacks. This field allows you to be trained in a variety of national defense areas, preparing you for work protecting your country and fellow citizens.
There are a few different majors you can pursue in this field. Criminal Justice and Corrections will teach you about prison life, drug trafficking, and law, preparing you for work with criminals and the reformation system. A major in Fire Protection will provide training on preventing and stopping fires. You can also choose to major in Homeland Security in order to learn how to prevent and respond to threats and crisis internationally and domestically.
In 2020-2021, homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting was the 12th most popular major nationwide with 142,610 degrees awarded. This represents a 1.1% increase in homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 141,046.
Our 2023 Best Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Schools ranking analyzes 892 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting students. Explore this or one of our many other custom homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting rankings further below.
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Gain the management, leadership, data analysis and budgeting skills you need to advance in the criminal justice field with this online master's from Southern New Hampshire University.
Gain a solid foundation in the American justice system, criminal law and social science when you earn your associate degree in criminal justice online from Southern New Hampshire University.
Navigating today's complex criminal justice system takes a great communicator with real–world perspective. The goal of SNHU's Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice is to get you there. You'll learn from professionals across all disciplines who bring their experience to the classroom.
Leadership skills will help you during your training and in a future career. In a time of crisis, citizens will count on you to keep them safe. You must be able to respond quickly and appropriately in emergency situations and thrive when under. Interpersonal skills will help you work with all types of people of different ages and backgrounds. Be ready to listen to the concerns and advice of others, and also be able to explain laws and policies.
Most of the classes in this field are centered on science, math, government and law. Students should be comfortable with their math and science skills and ready to discuss potentially controversial subjects in the classroom. This rigorous major may also include physical training to prepare you to react in dangerous situations.
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. In addition to these basic homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting program qualifications, to serve in some homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.
There are many different homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting degree levels. You can get anything from a in homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting to the highest homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting degree, a . How long it takes to complete some common homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting degree levels is shown below.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting, with approximately 32.7% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting tend obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 29.6% |
| High School Diploma | 23.1% |
| Some College Courses | 12.9% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 12.4% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 10.1% |
About 58.6% of workers in careers related to homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting obtain at least associate degrees. View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting careers have.
The education level required is different depending on the homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting career you are seeking.
Depending on your major focus, you will be able to work in numerous fields. Graduates find work in fields like fraud detection, medicine, human resources, civil rights, intelligence, science and technology, facilities, and procurement. You will also be prepared for law enforcement careers in the areas of border security, head of state, protection of the President, interagency law enforcement training, and infrastructure security. If interested in prevention and response careers, you can find jobs protecting the public and the environment as a U.S. Coast Guard member or firefighter. Some career choices may require additional education or training.
Want a job when you graduate with your homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting degree? Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting careers are expected to grow 7.7% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Accountants and Auditors | 1,537,600 | 10.0% |
| Managers | 1,071,700 | 8.0% |
| Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers | 731,900 | 7.0% |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | 415,500 | -7.7% |
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | 362,600 | 14.2% |
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting graduates between 2017-2019 reported earning an average of $37,312 in the 2019-2020 timeframe. Earnings can range from as low as $9,524 to as high as $125,347. As you might expect, salaries for homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Managers | $115,590 |
| Information Security Analysts | $102,470 |
| Computer Workers | $93,350 |
| Police and Detective Supervisors | $93,100 |
| Financial Examiners | $90,310 |
With over 7,255 different homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting school rankings to help you with this.
Learn about other programs related to Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting that might interest you.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Criminal Justice & Corrections | 113,121 |
| Fire Protection | 13,766 |
| Homeland Security | 7,140 |
| Security Science and Technology | 6,888 |
| Other Homeland Security | 1,695 |
View All Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Related Majors >
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Public Administration & Social Service | 98,583 |
| Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies | 73,813 |
| Legal Professions | 61,055 |
| Military Technologies & Applied Sciences | 4,477 |
View All Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Related Majors >
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