Our list of popular online master's degrees in emergency management programs features accredited schools ranked by the number of graduates who earned this degree. This way, you're seeing the schools with the most successful emergency management students.
Key Takeaways:
- Arizona State University Online is #1 with 134 graduates in its online MA in Emergency Management and Homeland Security.
- Jacksonville State University has the best review rating of 4.22 out of 5, reflecting strong student satisfaction based on surveys we've collected.
See our methodology for details about our process.
Most Popular Online Master's Degrees in Emergency Management
| Rank | School | Graduates | Annual Tuition | Median Salary | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona State University, Online | 134 | $18,654 | $90,117 | 93% | |
| American Public University System | 130 | $8,190 | $91,488 | 79% | |
| Columbia Southern University | 97 | $6,282 | $83,721 | 79% | |
| Jacksonville State University | 56 | $11,342 | N/A | 96% | |
| Florida International University | 47 | $18,570 | N/A | 93% | |
| University of South Florida Online | 35 | $16,221 | N/A | 93% | |
| University of Central Florida | 33 | $20,730 | N/A | 94% | |
| CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice | 30 | $10,170 | N/A | 89% | |
| Millersville University of Pennsylvania | 29 | $16,799 | $69,747 | 97% | |
| Arkansas State University | 20 | $10,800 | N/A | 91% | |
| University of Alaska Fairbanks | 16 | $8,085 | N/A | 91% | |
| Lander University | 12 | $9,910 | N/A | 100% | |
| Adelphi University | 11 | $11,418 | N/A | 93% | |
| Arkansas Tech University | 8 | 2 years, and the tuition per credit, which is ."> $5,661 | $59,668 | 86% | |
| Thomas Jefferson University | 8 | $45,936 | N/A | 93% |
A Closer Look at The Most Popular Online Master’s in Emergency Management Programs
Emergency management is inherently collaborative: professionals rely on networks across government agencies, nonprofits, healthcare systems, and the private sector.
Larger master's programs like ASU (134 graduates) or APUS (130 graduates) provide expansive peer cohorts and alumni networks that translate into broader professional connections. By contrast, smaller programs such as Lander (12 graduates) or Adelphi (11 graduates) offer more intimate learning environments but with tighter professional circles.
Our ranking doesn’t stop at graduate counts though. We also want to talk about other important data you should consider before making such a life-changing decision. That's why we discuss outcomes data — like program-specific earnings — and recommendation rates based on over 75,000 student surveys.
When you understand the data and program specifics, you'll get a fuller picture of what you can expect from each master's program: not just whether people finish, but how satisfied they were, and what kind of career momentum the degree supports.
Outcomes: Earnings, Retention, and Student Sentiment
Only a handful of programs report direct earnings outcomes for graduates. At ASU, master’s in emergency management and homeland security alumni report a median salary of about $90,117, while APUS is slightly higher at $91,488. Columbia Southern comes in lower, at $83,721, and Arkansas Tech at $59,668. This range highlights how program reputation, location, and alumni networks all shape economic returns.
We also think it's important to weigh a school's retention and graduation rates — signs of how well an institution supports students once they enroll. Schools like FIU, USF, and UCF stand out with retention rates above 90% and graduation rates around 75%.
Student satisfaction also matters, and here the recommendation rate metric is telling. For example, Lander stands out with a perfect 100% recommendation rate, while Jacksonville State and UCF both sit in the mid-90s. Even schools on the lower end, like APUS and CSU at 79%, still show strong majority endorsement. When nearly eight out of 10 graduates recommend their program, that’s a meaningful signal that it'll be a worthwhile experience.
Comparing Program Details of Emergency Management Master’s Programs
Numbers can tell us which programs are most popular or which produce the highest salaries, but the real story comes from how schools shape their curriculum. What’s interesting about the master’s in emergency management landscape is how differently institutions define the field — sometimes through homeland security, sometimes through public health, and sometimes through community resilience or industrial safety.
Customization and Professional Credentialing
Some programs give you a menu of pathways to align directly with your career goals.
ASU Online exemplifies this with five concentration options, including the unusual choices of Community Resilience and Biosecurity.
Adelphi builds in a stackable credential, awarding a graduate certificate halfway through the degree, and even integrates drones for disaster response.
Arkansas Tech markets itself as the first accredited program in emergency management and offers stackable certificates in business continuity and cyber risk.
CUNY John Jay College emphasizes GIS and urban-focused coursework while giving students the option of a research thesis.
Millersville University embeds Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) exam preparation directly into the curriculum, making professional credentialing part of the degree journey.
Arkansas State gets students started early by requiring FEMA certifications and offering electives in specialized areas like pandemic planning and radiological emergencies.
Hands-On Realism
Other universities emphasize simulation and fieldwork, showing that online master's programs don’t have to be confined to the screen.
FIU and Thomas Jefferson University stand out for mandating in-person disaster exercises, immersing students in scenarios like mass-casualty drills or full-scale field operations. These experiences set their graduates apart with a level of realism not often found in online master’s degrees.
Public Health and Humanitarian Focus
The integration of emergency management with healthcare and global relief is another emerging theme.
Jacksonville State is distinctive in embedding the discipline into a population health framework, positioning graduates at the intersection of nursing and emergency response.
The University of South Florida brings a broader angle, combining global disaster management, humanitarian relief, and homeland security within a public health curriculum. That mix attracts students looking to bridge local disaster readiness with international aid and policy.
Final Takeaways
Choosing a master’s in emergency management isn’t just about finding a school with name recognition or the biggest graduating class. The real decision lies in understanding how each program balances its popularity with student success as well as its unique vision of what “emergency management” really means. Some schools lean toward data-driven planning and professional credentials, while others emphasize field exercises, healthcare integration, or global humanitarian relief.
What stands out across the board is that students consistently recommend the online schools on our list, and we believe that endorsement, when combined with outcomes data and distinct program features, provides a roadmap for finding a degree that aligns with the way you want to contribute to the future of crisis leadership and resilience.
FAQs About an Online Master's Degree in Emergency Management
What Is an Emergency Management Degree?
Online master's degrees in emergency management may give you the opportunity to excel in advanced management positions upon graduation. This degree may allow you to find work in the public and private sectors, helping communities deal with emergencies and lowering the risk of disastrous situations occurring. There are also emergency management master's degrees online that have a homeland security emphasis, if you're interested in a career in federal law enforcement. Some job titles open to master's degree holders include Transportation Inspector, Director of Emergency Management, and Disaster Recovery Specialist.
A master's degree will typically take one to two years to complete and requires 30-36 semester credit hours. Typical coursework includes hazard risk and vulnerability assessment, information technology in emergency management, criminal justice, and public policy. A culminating project or capstone course will also likely be required. In order to be admitted to one of these programs, a student must have earned a bachelor's degree in a related field and have a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Letters of recommendation and test scores from exams like the GRE or GMAT may also be required, depending on the school.
Earning a master's degree online or in-person in any field is an important step in securing a high-paying salary and job security. This is also true for the emergency management and disaster relief industries, which may reward master's degree holders with director- and managerial-level roles.
These degree programs will require you to study a range of topics — from public policy to risk management — all with the purpose of preparing you with the skills and knowledge to develop emergency procedures. With job growth levels expected to rise into the next decade, an emergency management master's degree can be a great tool to secure your future in the industry.
You may also want to check out our rankings page to review the best master's programs in homeland security, criminal justice, and public health.
Can You Get an Emergency Management Degree Online?
Yes, emergency management master's degrees are available online from various colleges and universities. You can even earn the same degree online at the bachelor's level.
These remote programs consist of mostly or 100% online coursework, which is taken through learning management systems, such as Blackboard or Canvas. In most cases, your instructors will be professionals with years of experience in the field of disaster or emergency management. Your online degree will likely feature both practical and real-world studies in order to prepare you to join the workforce post-graduation.
What Courses Are Included in Online Emergency Management Programs?
Emergency management online courses can cover a wide range of subjects related to disaster and law enforcement. Ultimately, the coursework will depend on the subject your program is tailored toward. Below are some examples:
For concentrations that stem from a criminal justice lens, you may learn about security-related tactics alongside natural disasters, hazards, and resilience techniques.
For the programs that are tailored towards emergency management overall, you may see courses focused on public health, such as Epidemiology for Public Health, Health Systems, Policy, and Management, or Design Strategies for Public Health Programs.
For those focused on the administrative side of emergency management, you may encounter coursework including Administrative Leadership, Risk, Crisis, and Interagency Communications, or Governance and Civics.
What Can You Do With an Emergency Management Master's Degree?
As noted above, your career path within the field of emergency management may vary slightly depending on your specific area of study. With many niches to choose from, it's possible to tailor your program to fit your career goals.
Before settling on an online emergency management degree at the master's level, be sure you have a specific job goal in mind. This will help you choose the program best suited for your long-term career aspirations.
Emergency Management Director
The job of an is to manage groups of people in crisis situations: natural disasters, disease outbreaks, or infrastructure breakdowns. This role requires a great deal of organizational skills alongside an understanding of various emergencies and how they affect a societal structure.
Police/Detective
If you're interested in the law enforcement aspect of emergency management, you can work towards a career as a . Police detectives, along with other emergency response teams, are among the first ones to arrive on scene when a disaster strikes. Your job will be to secure perimeters, enforce public health procedures, and lead investigations if an emergency involves criminal activity. In non-emergency situations, detectives use forensics and criminal investigation techniques to solve crimes. This is what differentiates them from police officers, allowing your master's degree qualifications to set you apart.
Transportation Inspector
You can also enter an industry such as transportation, where you can end up as a . This critical role helps ensure the safety of large transportation hubs, such as airports or train terminals. While this position may have a slightly below average growth rate, it's still a viable career path, especially with the looming threat of natural disasters, such as flooding and rising sea levels, which affect transportation systems around the world. Master's degree holders can move into a role as a transportation safety manager, which oversees teams of inspectors and guides safety policy.
Safety Specialist
Not all emergency management careers operate after a disaster occurs; some work proactively to prevent them from occurring in the first place. The role of a is to design safety protocols in hazardous workplaces. This includes everywhere from large chemical plants to factory environments, where ergonomics play an important role in preventing worker injuries.
What Professional Organizations Can You Join With a Degree in Emergency Management?
Upon graduation, you may be interested in joining an organization that revolves around emergency preparedness. This could help open doors to new job opportunities and keep you up-to-date with the latest trends and procedures in disaster mitigation and emergency management.
The (NEMA) is one such organization, with decades of experience that allows them to provide expertise to government agencies during moments of disaster. Anyone involved in emergency management at a professional level is eligible to become a member.
(DRI) has been around since 1988. They offer dozens of certifications and courses for professionals in the industry, from cybersecurity to risk management.
There's also the (IAEM) which offers job resources, industry certifications, and conferences for its members.
Is a Master's Degree in Emergency Management Worth It?
Earning a master's degree in emergency management is generally the final step to complete before becoming a professional in the field. The graduate-level coursework you'll encounter will prepare you for a career in management and administration for local or federal disaster, safety, or security organizations.
Don't worry about whether or not your emergency management master's online degree is respected. HR managers don't consider distance learning to be any different than a traditional college learning environment.
Let's go through the pros and cons of earning your online master's degree in this field:
Potential Benefits
- Emergency management can be a fulfilling career path because it allows you the opportunity to mitigate disaster damage against vulnerable communities around the world and develop plans to save lives before disaster strikes.
- Another benefit of a career in emergency management is the wide range of employment opportunities across sectors. For example, this includes government agencies, nonprofit organizations, healthcare systems, and private industry, giving professionals flexibility and long-term job stability.
Potential Drawbacks
- While a master's degree in emergency management may set you up for managerial roles down the line, entry-level roles at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or Department of Homeland Security (DHS) only require a bachelor's degree.
- In times of disaster, emergency response professionals may experience periods of intense exhaustion and physical challenges. These jobs can be very stressful, particularly when it comes to helping people during dangerous emergencies.
What Are Alternative Degrees to a Master’s in Emergency Management?
If your school of choice doesn't have a master's degree in emergency management, or perhaps you prefer a different route to a similar career field, you may be interested in the following degree alternatives:
After a devastating event, people often look to counselors to help them cope with their losses from a mental health perspective. Earning a master's in counseling will prepare you for such a career.
Similarly, MSNs, master's degrees in public health, and health care administration master's programs all prepare graduates to mitigate the damage done during unexpected emergencies.
You may also be interested in a master's in political science where you can learn to craft laws and policies that relate to emergency management and disaster response agencies.
Student Reviews of Online Emergency Management Programs
I am a long-time (thirty-plus years) healthcare professional who currently still works at the bedside doing bedside care and diagnostic testing in a federal medical facility. I desired to pursue a master's degree outside my current profession. However, I wanted there to be some relationship in a broader sense in terms of safety, mass casualty events, hazmat concerns, public administrations, etc. These types of events are unfortunately becoming more prevalent everywhere! It is essential that the program... Read More
Review Date: 11/1/2022
Would Recommend: Yes
Helpful for Career: No
Overall the course work was easier than I anticipated but the courses did get difficult as the course went on. Advising department, I found, to be completely and utterly useless. Professors have little wiggle room for grade adjustments and some were unwilling to review assignments. Some courses were concurrent, one after another working on the same project, but, I was registered with a course in between. So for 7 weeks I was separated from the assignment and was expected to pick up where I left off.... Read More
Review Date: 8/7/2021
Would Recommend: Yes
Helpful for Career: No
Arizona State University was fantastic at working with me to apply for my graduate program. While I was still completing my Bachelor's at a different university, they were able to understand my situation as a military service member and assist me in the application process. I was accepted into the program without even being complete with my Bachelor's. The advisors were fantastic with explaining the entire process as well as reminding me that military Tuition Assistance will not cover the entire... Read More
Review Date: 2/23/2018
Would Recommend: Yes
Helpful for Career: No
I previously attended the University of Phoenix online and was referred to Arizona State University through a colleague. I am currently employed as a full time police officer so I am forced to pursue my education solely online. ASU has fantastic instructors. Their knowledge and experience in their perspective fields has greatly assisted me in my pursuit of higher education and expertise.
Review Date: 5/26/2018
Would Recommend: Yes
Helpful for Career: Yes
Adler University is a diverse university. It provided valuable information towards my Master's Degree in Emergency Management. Enrollment was not difficult, and the school provided me with a counselor that assisted me in every step. Before my classes started, I took an orientation which explained how to navigate through all avenues of the on-line courses. Once my class started, I was provided a class mentor who I could go to with any questions I had about the class or school. Adler University offers... Read More
Review Date: 2/28/2017
Would Recommend: Yes
Helpful for Career: Yes
I graduated with a bachelor's degree in Law Enforcement and Justice Administration and Spanish from Western Illinois University in July 2016. I am currently enrolled at Arizona State University to pursue a master's degree in Emergency Management and Homeland Security. I enjoyed my courses at Western Illinois very, very much and would recommend that university to anyone. I look forward to studying at Arizona State and seeing where this master's degree takes me in my career.
Review Date: 4/5/2017
Would Recommend: Yes
Helpful for Career: Yes
I have been attending Arizona State University since 2014, working towards a MA in Emergency Management with a focus in Homeland Security. I currently work in law enforcement as a tactical operator and wanted to further my education of law enforcement on a global scale. The MA in Emergency Management at ASU degree is completely online, and has provided me with a wealth of knowledge about protecting from and migrating disaster in our country. The professors are extremely qualified and many have backgrounds... Read More
Review Date: 3/28/2018
Would Recommend: Yes
Helpful for Career: No
SUNY Empire was my first complete online school, for half of my Bachelors and my Masters. I had a great experience while going here, to the point when I continue to look for online schools, I use Empire's standards. I was searching for online schools to get my Master's and almost all want Live classes. If I'm busy with working and family, and unable to attend school physically, obviously Live classes would be just as inconvenient. Online is SUPPOSED to be convenient and helpful with managing your... Read More
Review Date: 9/15/2020
Would Recommend: Yes
Helpful for Career: No
My experience at Walden University has been very good thus far. I have not had any issues whatsoever. My academic advisor has been prompt when calling me for our advising meetings and the majority of my professors have been phenomenal. I will be graduating in July of this year and with the knowledge that I have ascertained while at Walden I know that I will be well prepared to become an effective change agent.
Review Date: 2/23/2017
Would Recommend: Yes
Helpful for Career: No
I'm about to start my 2nd semester at Arizona State University, and so far it's been a great experience. I'm currently serving in the Military and travel a lot for months at a time and the way ASU breaks down the classes per semester, its allowed me to enroll full time and still be able to do my job where ever I go. The professors are outstanding and very helpful, always there to answer any questions. The advisors are always there for me and even call me to make sure I'm good and not need anything.... Read More
Review Date: 8/17/2016
Would Recommend: Yes
Helpful for Career: Yes
Highly friendly and professional program that affords individuals seeking to further their professional education the opportunity to do so with a trusted and top ranked university online while still working full time. ASU's staff and faculty seek to individually support each student and their unique situation in order to help students achieve their greatest potential.
Review Date: 7/27/2016
Would Recommend: Yes
Helpful for Career: No
The reason I like Arizona State University is the programs are quick and you are still learning what you need to be successful. I will have 2 master degrees completed in less than 2 years. I have completed all of my course work at Arizona State University online. All of the professors have been wonderful, they are all very friendly and have the desire for you to succeed. I have a MA in Emergency Management & Homeland Security. My second degree is a MA in Criminal Justice. I will be starting my third... Read More
Review Date: 4/7/2017
Would Recommend: Yes
Helpful for Career: Yes
I have attended Columbia Southern University to achieve a masters degree in emergency management. I am please to day, I love the school. The staff and professors are very knowledgeable and made it easy for me to begin my courses. My professors were all Doctorate level and very impressive. I learned a more than I thought about a subject I was already passionate about, and I found the school to be the best decision I ever made. I hate to leave after graduation. Go Knights!
Review Date: 7/14/2016
Would Recommend: Yes
Helpful for Career: Yes
I have earned 3 degrees from CSU. My scholastic exposure to a higher education of my field from professionals in their field was phenomenal. It was hard work and the professors expected the hard work to come from me. While the expectations were high, so was the encouragement and ability to contact my professor with any questions I may have had. My experience was better than I anticipated. I would recommend this college to everyone. When it came to using the advisory staff for starting college and... Read More
Review Date: 6/28/2016
Would Recommend: Yes
Helpful for Career: Yes
The Emergency Management program at Columbia Southern is great for working adults. All classes were online with instructors always available via email. This program was very manageable having work and three active children. I was easily able to work during the evenings and weekends as my schedule allowed and the assignments were not overwhelming with my schedule.
Review Date: 3/16/2017
Would Recommend: Yes
Helpful for Career: Yes
Great college to go to. Good price and the classes are very informative and the instructors are very good at what they do. I quite enjoyed the variety of classes that were available to me in the program and I feel that they helped me prepare for the real world.
Review Date: 5/20/2017
Would Recommend: Yes
Helpful for Career: No
MMA has a solid reputation that is well deserved. The MSEM program has a lot of areas that need improvement but the overall experience has been rewarding, engaging and positive. I anticipate holding a MSEM from MMA will open a lot of doors for me professionally.
Review Date: 8/5/2014
Would Recommend: Yes
Helpful for Career: No
Eastern Kentucky has a great SSEM program. It has all the things that I was looking for in a Grad program.
Review Date: 1/2/2013
Would Recommend: Yes
Helpful for Career: No