Key Takeaways:
- Eastern Kentucky University is the #1 pick on our list of top-value online homeland security degrees, followed by Herzing University.
- A degree in homeland security can open up a wide range of career opportunities in various sectors. These include government agencies (FEMA, DHS, FBI, and CIA), law enforcement, emergency services, cybersecurity, and the private sector.
- Homeland security careers can involve various responsibilities, such as protecting the nation from threats, responding to emergencies, analyzing intelligence, ensuring cybersecurity, and safeguarding critical infrastructure.
- According to PayScale, the average salary for U.S. Department of Homeland Security employees is $86,131 in 2024.
- To prepare for a degree in homeland security, it may be beneficial to develop your technical skills (computer proficiency and knowledge of cybersecurity). Skills like communication, critical thinking, and leadership are also important.
Students pursuing a homeland security degree online are interested in keeping communities safe, protecting confidential information, and preparing for emergencies. Graduates of homeland security programs are eligible for positions in the public and private sectors as law enforcement officers, emergency management directors, or information security professionals.
When looking for a bachelor’s in homeland security degree program, it’s important to compare schools and find the best value for your tuition dollar. In this ranking, we explore the 15 top-value schools for a homeland security degree online.
Featured Programs
To find our initial pool of 32 schools, we searched the web for all schools in the U.S. offering a Homeland Security online bachelor’s degree program. To narrow the list to 15, our editors applied the methodology below using tuition and financial aid information from College Navigator as well as program information from each school’s website.
In cases of a tie, tuition was considered, and the more affordable bachelor’s in homeland security online program received the higher ranking.
Ranking Methodology
Tuition Points:
• Under $30,000—1 point
• Under $20,000—2 points
• Under $10,000—3 points
Students Receiving Financial Aid:
• 60%– 1 point
• 70%–2 points
• 80%–3 points
• 90%–4 points
Customization Options
• Content Customizations (e.g. Concentrations and Specializations)—1 Point Per Customization Option
• Format Customizations (e.g. Hybrid/Online, Full-time/Part-Time, etc.)—1 Point Per Customization Option
Type of Program
• Degree in Homeland Security—2 points
• Concentration or Minor in Homeland Security—1 point
Wow Factor
• 1 point awarded for each unique feature or program that “wowed” us
Best Value Colleges for an Online Homeland Security Degree:
#15 – University of Maryland University College
Online Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice: Homeland Security
Largo, Maryland
Website
Points: 6
The University of Maryland University College’s online program can come in the form of a criminal justice major. It has a minor in homeland security. This minor gives students a brief but comprehensive education in homeland security. Topics comprising this minor include:
- homeland security and international relations
- infrastructure in homeland security
- homeland security and intelligence
These courses are taught by faculty who are leaders in federal agencies such as:
- Secret Service
- Department of Homeland Security
- FBI
Tuition: $7,056
#14 – Kaplan University
Online Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice: Homeland Security
Omaha, Nebraska
Website – Unfortunately, this program is not offered at this time.
Points: 7
Kaplan University’s online offering is a BS in Criminal Justice. It has a Homeland Security concentration. Students in this program gain a deep knowledge of homeland security. It also offers a broad understanding of the U.S. criminal justice system as a whole. The concentration is designed for individuals with various educational and career backgrounds, including:
- business
- military
Homeland security online degree students can choose between three start dates. The flexible format lets students access course materials when it is most convenient.
Tuition: $15,352
#13 – Bellevue University
Online Bachelor’s in Homeland Security
Bellevue, Nebraska
Website
Points: 7
Bellevue University offers an online program in cybersecurity. It prepares students to handle domestic and international threats in both the private and public sectors. This degree is less specific to homeland security than some of the other programs in this ranking. However, the curriculum is based on the principles of the field, such as:
- infrastructure security
- threat assessment
This program is offered in an accelerated, cohort-based format. This means it may not be as flexible as similar programs. However, many online homeland security degree students appreciate the structure and pace this format offers.
Tuition: $7,050
#12 – Angelo State University
Online Bachelor of Security Studies in Homeland Security; Bachelor of Border Security
San Angelo, Texas
Website
Points: 7
Angelo State University’s online programs include:
- Bachelor of Security Studies in Border and Homeland Security
- Bachelor of Border Security
These degrees are similar in content. Both focus on current issues related to border security but also give students a broad understanding of the:
- criminal justice system
- emergency management
- criminology
Both degrees can also be completed either entirely online or in a hybrid format. The only major difference is that the BBS program is for those online students who have completed their CCAF degree. That means it requires fewer hours.
Tuition: $6,892
#11 – Capella University
Online Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice: Emergency Management
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Website
Points: 8
Capella University offers a broad online HS program. This results in a Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice: Emergency Management. It is designed for a wide range of students from different professional and educational backgrounds. and prepares students for a variety of careers within the field. Students looking for more specialization can choose from multiple professional concentrations, including:
- Emergency Management
- Law Enforcement Leadership
Courses are taught by faculty with experience in the field. Capella maintains relationships with organizations such as the:
- FBI National Academy
- US Secret service
As a result, homeland security online degree students complete the program ready to enter the field. They will have a variety of career opportunities open to them after graduation.
Tuition: $13,176
#10 – Thomas Edison State University
Online Bachelor of Science in Homeland Security
Trenton, New Jersey
Points: 8
Thomas Edison State University offers an online degree that results in a BS in Homeland Security and Emergency Management. While this degree program is specifically designed for students interested in the field of homeland security, it is also broad enough for students interested in other related fields to benefit from the program.
It is flexible, students have a wide variety of general electives and area of study. With these electives, they can customize their degree. This online degree program also thoroughly prepares students for TESU’s Management and Homeland Security graduate programs.
Tuition: $11,610
#9 – American Intercontinental University
Online Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice: Homeland Security and Crisis Management
Schaumburg, Illinois
Website
Points: 8
American Intercontinental University’s homeland security online option is a BS in Criminal Justice. It specializes in Homeland Security and Crisis Management. AIU prides itself on its commitment to offering courses that are closely related to students’ interests. Courses offered in this specialization include:
- Psychosocial Dimensions of Terrorism
- Stress and Crisis Management
- Critical Infrastructures
Bachelor’s in HS online courses are designed and taught by faculty with practical experience in the field. Students receive the most up-to-date and relevant education possible.
Tuition: $11,004
#8 – Trident University International
Online Bachelor of Science in Homeland Security
Cypress, California
Website
Points: 8
Trident University International offers a versatile homeland security online degree program. This program is designed to give students a comprehensive education in the pillars of the Department of Homeland Security’s National Preparedness Goal.
The program also boasts flexibility both in regard to scheduling and academics. Its asynchronous format accommodates students with busy or unusual schedules, and students can choose to concentrate in Cybersecurity or Leadership.
This program is ideal for bachelor’s in homeland security online students who desire a rich education with opportunities for further specialization.
Tuition: $9,000
#7 – American Public University
Online Bachelor of Arts in Homeland Security
Charles Town, Virginia
Website
Points: 8
American Public University offers a well-balanced homeland security online program. This program boasts a curriculum that prepares students for graduate study and aligns with current Department of Homeland Security policies and practices.
Topics studied include historical and contemporary principles of the field, so students gain a solid understanding of how the field changes over time. Online homeland security degree courses are taught by faculty leaders in not only homeland security but also related fields such as intelligence and emergency management, which gives students a well-rounded perspective.
Tuition: $6,880
#6 – Grantham University
Online Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice: Homeland Security
Lenexa, Kansas
Website
Points: 8
Grantham University’s homeland security online offering results in a BA in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Homeland Security. This program is meant to educate students on the criminal justice system as a whole instead of a specific organization within the system. However, the concentrations and electives available do allow for some specialization.
Some prospective students may consider some of the required criminal justice courses unnecessary because they are not directly related to the homeland security field. Still, many students appreciate the well-rounded perspective this broader education provides.
The homeland security online degree concentration builds on this more general criminal justice foundation, focusing on:
- border protection
- terrorism
- disaster planning and response
Tuition: $6,500
#5 – Vincennes University
Online Bachelor’s in Homeland Security
Vincennes, Indiana
Website
Points: 8
Vincennes University offers a four-year homeland security online program led by a former FBI agent of almost 30 years.
This program was originally a smaller two-year program, but it has been expanded to fulfill the requirements of agencies such as the Drug Enforcement Agency and the FBI. Students in this program take courses in a wide variety of related topics, such as Weapons of Mass Destruction, Cyber Forensics, and National Security Law.
The online homeland security degree program also emphasizes the complexity of the field and encourages students to learn more about the diverse range of disciplines involved in homeland security.
Tuition: $5,375
#4 – Columbia Southern University
Online Bachelor of Science in Homeland Security
Orange Beach, Alabama
Website
Points: 9
Columbia Southern University offers a homeland security online program that trains students to analyze and support several parts of the homeland security enterprise. Topics studied range from Cyber Security and Crime to Weapons of Mass Destruction. This broad education prepares students for a wide variety of positions at the federal level.
Prospective bachelor’s in homeland security online students interested in specializing in the technological aspects of homeland security may want to consider the university’s BS in Information Systems Security: Homeland Security program, which focuses on the development of secure databases, websites, and networks that meet strict legal standards.
Tuition: $5,175
#3 – Removed by editor
#2 – Herzing University
Online Bachelor of Science in Homeland Security and Public Safety; Online Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice: Homeland Security
Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin
Website
Points: 9
Herzing University offers two homeland security online degrees: a BS in Homeland Security and Public Safety and a BS in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Homeland Security. These programs are very similar in that they require the same amount of credit hours to graduate, and they share many required courses.
The main difference is that the BS in Homeland Security and Public Safety accommodates the transfer of a large number of credits from another institution, whereas the BS in Criminal Justice is meant for students who do not have a large number of credits to transfer.
Bachelor’s in homeland security online students who graduate from either of these programs are well-prepared for a wide variety of careers in both criminal justice and homeland security.
Tuition: $14,200
#1 – Eastern Kentucky University
Online Bachelor of Science in Homeland Security
Richmond, Kentucky
Website
Points: 9
Eastern Kentucky University offers a bachelor’s in homeland security that focuses on disaster preparedness and response, critical infrastructure protection, and intelligence sharing and analysis. This program is relatively new, but it has many strengths.
EKU’s homeland security online program is one of only a few programs in the US that is based on the model undergraduate curriculum designed by the Naval Postgraduate School Center for Homeland Defense and Security and the Homeland Security and Defense Education Consortium.
Tuition: $6,607
Related:
This concludes our ranking of the 15 top value schools for a homeland security degree online.
CVO Staff