Our list of the most popular online homeland security degree programs features accredited schools ranked by the number of graduates who earned this bachelor's degree. In other words, we're showing the schools with the most successful homeland security programs.
Key Takeaways:
- Southern New Hampshire University Online is #1 with 895 program graduates.
- Bellevue University has the best median alumni earnings at $73,896.
- Waldorf University has the best review rating with a 4.44 out of 5 based on surveys.
See our methodology for details about how we organized this list. Following our rankings, we also spoke with a homeland security expert who shared some advice about the field.
Most Popular Online Homeland Security Degrees 2025
| Rank | School | Graduates | Annual Tuition | Median Salary | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern New Hampshire University Online | 895 | $9,900 | N/A | 69% | |
| Waldorf University | 58 | $9,900 | N/A | 95% | |
| National University | 54 | $4,162 | $61,254 | N/A | |
| University of Nebraska at Omaha | 40 | $19,290 | N/A | 96% | |
| UMass Global | 39 | $15,000 | N/A | 70% | |
| Sam Houston State University | 34 | $22,650 | N/A | 95% | |
| Campbell University | 26 | $13,950 | $58,498 | 92% | |
| Thomas Edison State University | 25 | $8,856 | N/A | 67% | |
| Bellevue University | 19 | $13,470 | $73,896 | 75% | |
| Wichita State University | 14 | $7,529 | N/A | 80% | |
| Reinhardt University | 13 | $28,420 | N/A | 100% | |
| Elizabeth City State University | 10 | $5,000 | N/A | 100% | |
| Idaho State University | 9 | $25,214 | N/A | 90% | |
| Angelo State University | 9 | $17,919 | $48,134 | 88% | |
| Georgia Military College | 8 | $5,070 | N/A | N/A |
Most Popular Online Homeland Security Degrees 2025 - Program Details
- Graduates: 895
- Annual Tuition: $9,900
- Median Salary: N/A
- Recommendation: 69%
Why we like them: Ranked #1 for being the most popular program, SNHU awarded 895 of these bachelor’s degrees last year, which signals strong market validation and gives you a sizable alumni network to learn from, collaborate with, and leverage for internships and jobs. You also earn an embedded criminal justice communication certificate and can choose from eight targeted concentrations.
- Graduates: 58
- Annual Tuition: $9,900
- Median Salary: N/A
- Recommendation: 95%
Why we like them: Waldorf's online-only BA in homeland security weaves in advanced fireground strategy, terrorism incident management, hazardous materials interactions and management, and OSHA-oriented content. The DHS-focused sequence stands out as well, with courses such as Critical Infrastructure Protection, Domestic Terrorism and Homegrown Violent Extremists, and Radicalization.
- Graduates: 54
- Annual Tuition: $4,162
- Median Salary: $49,301
- Recommendation: N/A
Why we like them: National's online bachelor's program has you complete a supervised, two-month capstone that requires a committee, original research on domestic security, and an open presentation. We also like that you study highly specific operational domains — underwater and aviation security at borders and ports, specialized interviewing and interrogation, and cyber-terrorism.
Most Popular Online Homeland Security Bachelor’s Degrees: What the Data Tells Us
When looking at online homeland security degrees, popularity matters more than people often realize. Programs with higher graduate counts typically reflect:
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Strong student demand and a sign of employer trust
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Established infrastructure (i.e., consistent scheduling and plenty of electives to choose from)
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Active alumni networks you can rely on for support and career leads
By looking closely at graduate counts, recommendation rates from more than 75,000 student surveys, and outcome measures like earnings, we can cut through surface-level impressions and see which these homeland security bachelor's programs actually deliver for their students. Homeland security is a mission-driven field where program scale, satisfaction, and unique training opportunities can directly shape your career path. Understanding the story behind the numbers helps you make an informed choice about which bachelor’s program will prepare you best for the roles you want.
Niche Homeland Security Programs with Distinctive Features
We want to discuss several bachelor's degrees in homeland security that offer specialized angles:
Bellevue University emphasizes intelligence and global politics, with standout courses on disinformation and geostrategy. It also boasts one of the strongest reported earnings outcomes: nearly $74,000, well above many peer programs.
Reinhardt University offers an unusually close-knit online experience, with an 11:1 student-faculty ratio (among the best on the list). Its homeland security program links directly to a POST-certified police academy. This operational training creates a practitioner-first design.
Thomas Edison State University maps its curriculum directly to the DHS National Preparedness framework, and offers a pathway to a master’s in homeland security. This is valuable if you are eyeing advanced leadership.
Elizabeth City State University offers either a Criminology or a Cybersecurity emphasis, which both serve evolving homeland security needs.
Idaho State University is unusual for housing homeland security within health sciences, giving students a systems-oriented perspective.
National University's supervised capstone requires original research and public defense, offering rare academic rigor for a bachelor’s degree. Alumni report median earnings around $61,000, making it one of the few programs with clear outcome data.
Recommendation Rates: The Student-Backed Quality Check
When comparing homeland security programs, student recommendation rates provide one of the clearest signals of quality. These scores come from over 75,000 verified student surveys and show how likely graduates are to endorse their school to others.
For a field like homeland security, where trust in training and preparation can directly impact your readiness for high-stakes roles, these ratings are evidence of lived experience from those who've been there already.
Looking across the list, the numbers are strong:
- Five schools report recommendation rates in the 90s — Waldorf (95%), UNO (96%), SHSU (95%), Campbell (92%), and Idaho State (90%). This suggests students consistently valued their learning experience at these schools.
- One school (Elizabeth City State) stands out at a perfect 100% recommendation rate, showing unanimous endorsement from surveyed students. And although it's not verified due to a small sampling size, Reinhardt also has scored 100% based on surveys we've received so far.
- Even mid-range programs like UMass Global (70%) and TESU (67%) reflect steady satisfaction within large online ecosystems that can sometimes make personalization harder to sustain.
When we connected these results to other metrics, the pattern becomes clear: High recommendation rates often coincide with lower student-faculty ratios and specialized curricula. For example, UNO’s 96% rate aligns with a 15:1 ratio, while Campbell’s 92% reflects its small 13:1 ratio.
For prospective students, recommendation rates should be read as a helpful signpost: if graduates say they’d do it again, you’re more likely to find a higher education experience that feels worthwhile.
Homeland Security in a 24/7 World: Jeff Le on What Students Need to Know
Public Policy Expert in Homeland Security & Disaster Response
What do you see as the key advantages of earning a homeland security degree online?
"Continued professional and personal growth is no longer a static thing. It's essential to continue to find ways to have the most up-to-date learnings that can range from countering violent extremism, the deployment of new AI-powered malware, to operational needs for physical disaster response.
For those who can learn online while still maintaining a practical footprint for flexibility that is so important, especially for those who work nights and non-traditional shifts, like those in law enforcement or emergency response."
What types of roles do graduates of homeland security programs typically pursue?
"Typically I have seen graduates of these programs move on into senior leadership roles in law enforcement and disaster response. Some are in current National Guard service and want more leadership growth. Some have taken on roles in industry focused on cybersecurity. Others may also use the programs to transition from one sector into the homeland security space."
Typically I have seen graduates of these programs move on into senior leadership roles in law enforcement and disaster response.
Homeland security covers a broad range of specialties. Which areas do you feel like are most important?
"The most important thing for students to learn is from real-world case studies and how the use of frontier technology and deployments are used to exponentially expand the threat surface area — that ranges from a horrific fire to a major DDoS attack to a lone wolf domestic terror threat.
The other piece is understanding how global dynamics have an impact in the United States, which includes growing hostilities from American adversaries like China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea."
Are there particular threats or priorities that are shaping the future of the field?
"AI security in open-source LLMs and how these tools are being exploited by Black Hat actors is an important trend to understand. One has seen the growth of North Koreans being hired by companies to perform IT jobs. That level of insider threat and privileged access is a major concern for state-sponsored economic and corporate espionage.
There are important questions about privacy and consumer protection and the use of surveillance tools at scale that potentially impact daily life. Understanding the ethical and policy considerations are important when one is deploying the latest emerging technology. There are trade offs, especially as this data is a goldmine for bad actors."
What skills are most important for success in homeland security careers today?
"Curiosity, persistence, and beginner's learning.
There are so many changes in technology and innovation that one needs to stay current and readily play with the newest models or engage with long-time leaders who are dealing with the changes in the physics of fires and floods during climate events. One has to be a glutton for pain to be successful and learning how to recharge is an essential since it's a 24-7 type of world."
EXPERT TIP
"Mentorship: Continue to engage and foster learnings from peers and from senior leaders in the field. No amount of technology can replace institutional knowledge and perspective. It will also help for the next career chapter."
FAQs About an Online Homeland Security Degree
What Is An Online Homeland Security Degree?
Online homeland security degrees teach students techniques to protect against a wide range of domestic threats, including terrorism, cyber attacks, and natural disasters. Coursework is well-rounded, covering areas such as intelligence analysis, information security, public administration, and law and ethics.
Graduates of Homeland Security online degrees are often prepared to work in emergency management, law enforcement, and national intelligence. Regardless of the career pursued, students should ensure that their program comes from an accredited school, which means a third-party education agency evaluates it. All schools featured on the OnlineU site are accredited, regardless of how expensive they are.
Online students applying to college for a Homeland Security bachelor's degree should know that each school has different admission requirements. Homeland security isn't a technical subject; therefore, students are only required to have completed high school or GED exams before applying to a bachelor's program. Most programs require applicants to have at least a 2.0 GPA on their high school transcripts to be admitted.
It's important to check each program's admission requirements before picking a college.
Due to the rising cost of tuition, some students may want to pursue affordable homeland security degrees or affordable law enforcement degrees to reduce their college debt.
How Long Does It Take To Get Homeland Security Degrees Online?
Homeland security degrees online typically take four years to complete for full-time students. Most programs require the completion of 120 credit hours, requiring students to take between 12 and 15 credits each semester. There may be options to take summer courses or transfer credits from an associate degree to speed up the timeline to graduate.
What Specializations Are Available in Homeland Security Degree Programs?
Specializations for homeland security degrees are designed to focus coursework on a particular niche in the field, allowing students to prepare for their preferred careers. One of the most common options is criminal justice, which covers the principles of law enforcement and the surrounding judicial systems. Graduates who either obtain a homeland security degree with a criminal justice emphasis or simply a criminal justice degree may pursue jobs in local and federal law enforcement agencies.
Cybersecurity is another popular concentration within homeland security majors. Here, students learn how to protect against digital threats by identifying network and system vulnerabilities and implementing safeguards. Cybersecurity careers can be found in private sector businesses, law firms, technology companies, or in the public sector for government agencies. Students may also pursue concentrations that lead to roles in specific agencies. For those most interested in this niche, there are also cybersecurity degrees to explore.
Lastly, emergency management concentrations are another common choice that covers disaster preparation and response, leading to career opportunities at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or the American Red Cross.
What Courses Are Included in Online Homeland Security Degree Programs?
The best online homeland security degrees offer coursework covering various security issues, including relevant prevention and response strategies for each situation. This includes exploring foundational principles in laws and ethics, natural and virtual threats, and risk prevention, giving students a well-rounded understanding of the field. Students also learn how to conduct research and manage teams during crisis situations.
Here are four courses commonly required for degrees in homeland security degree programs:
- Critical Infrastructure Protection: This course offers an in-depth look at digital and physical infrastructure, including the attacks and disasters that threaten them. Students study information, public works, and transportation systems to understand how vital they are to functioning societies. They also learn how to prepare for and respond to varying threats, from natural to manufactured, while limiting system disruption and improving first responders' safety operations.
- Terrorism: The Department of Homeland Security was created in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, leading many universities to develop degree programs to prepare students for careers in the field. This fact makes terrorism courses essential to homeland security curricula, allowing students to learn about domestic threats from terrorist groups, including weapons of mass destruction, and the counterterrorism strategies that work to stop them.
- Ethical and Legal Issues in Homeland Security: This course surveys how government and private entities operate with a legal and ethical framework. Students explore post-9/11 homeland security legislation such as the U.S.A. PATRIOT Act and other laws surrounding national security, as well as the U.S. Constitution. Students also study ethics in homeland security regarding human and civil rights laws.
- Disaster Planning and Management: Disaster preparation examines policy and procedure development to reduce the impact of weather events, chemical spills, mass shootings, and pandemics. Students analyze various disaster management roles and their responsibilities alongside the teams that support them during emergency situations.
What Jobs Can I Get With an Online Bachelor's in Homeland Security?
are tasked with maintaining order during emergencies. As first responders, they are typically among the first to have an impact on crises where they ensure civilians are removed from danger and create perimeters to prevent people from entering dangerous areas. They also identify individuals with life-threatening injuries to assist medical technicians. There are also law enforcement roles specifically tailored to .
create plans to prevent loss of life, infrastructure, and essential services during natural and man-made disasters. They allocate resources, analyze risks, identify threats, and assess damage. They closely coordinate with the public and private sectors to develop specialized emergency plans, which also include training staff to respond during disaster situations.
work on prevention and response strategies related explicitly to building fires. Most professionals work on behalf of local governments, analyzing fire hazards and ensuring facilities meet the appropriate regulations. There are also forest fire inspectors who primarily work in outdoor environments to prevent wildfires. Both roles investigate fires after they occur in order to create better prevention practices.
oversee security systems for government entities and private companies that are meant to protect employees and physical assets. They analyze security threats, identify organizational weaknesses, and monitor live systems, including surveillance cameras and electronic entry controls. They're also responsible for training staff to adhere to security measures.
Alternatively, homeland security graduates often have two main educational paths to pursue after graduation. One option is to seek an affordable master's degree in homeland security. This route provides students with more sufficient leadership training through curriculums that engage them in real-world scenarios. There are also criminal justice master's degrees that offer similar curriculums with a focus on law enforcement training. Most careers don't require master's degrees, leading many bachelor's graduates to enter the workforce upon finishing their four-year degree.
Can You Get a Homeland Security Degree Online?
There are many homeland security degrees available entirely online. Typically, homeland security programs do not require an internship, instead asking students to complete a capstone project during their final year. This allows students to meet all course requirements 100% online in a format just as respected as on-campus degrees. Class discussions and lectures are done through video conferencing applications, while exams are delivered through online learning management systems.
Can People with Homeland Security Degrees Get Into the FBI?
Homeland security graduates will be equipped with a broad knowledge of disaster and emergency management, criminal justice, and terrorism. While these disciplines are a helpful start, the that they're most interested in applicants with foreign language fluency from international studies and military intelligence experience, in addition to the aforementioned academic training. Regardless of the degree, FBI job applicants must have finished their undergraduate degree with a 3.0 GPA. This standard also applies to homeland security master's graduates.
Is a Homeland Security Degree Better Than a Criminal Justice Degree?
Whether one major is better depends on each student's career aspirations. Criminal justice degrees, for example, focus on various parts of the criminal justice system, including law enforcement, corrections, the judiciary system, and criminal investigations. Homeland security may include brief explorations of criminal justice, but its coursework is more narrow, focusing on disaster planning, terrorism, border control, and infrastructure protection. Many homeland security degrees offer concentrations in criminal justice that blend both areas of study together.
Are Homeland Security Online Degrees Worth It?
Homeland security degrees train students to understand the various threats to domestic safety. They explore everything from terrorism to natural disasters, including the preparation and response techniques used in real-world scenarios.
Benefits
- Graduates are often prepared for meaningful work. Emergency management training can lead to government roles in FEMA and the US Army Corps of Engineers, both of which participate in disaster relief efforts.
- Students with excellent organizational skills excel in homeland security studies due to the extensive planning and resourcefulness required to handle emergencies.
- Often those working in the field of homeland security earn wages higher than the median. The (BLS) reports that emergency management directors earn a median annual salary of $86,130, which is significantly more than the median salary of all occupations.
Drawbacks
- Some work is dangerous and stressful. Homeland security graduates who work in disaster relief may find themselves near deadly weather events and face-to-face with civilians in traumatic situations.
- Some careers require additional training. Homeland security graduates may require additional training to work in medical roles such as EMTs or information security roles such as cybersecurity analysts.
- Discussing complex moral issues is an important part of this career path. From domestic surveillance to immigration, homeland security students are forced to confront some very thought-provoking and controversial subjects.
Student Reviews of Online Homeland Security Programs
Everglades University is a great college for working students. The class layout doesn’t leave you over stressed as traditional college classes do. I can’t thank the staff enough for their continued support during my educational journey. I was blessed by having some amazing instructors! I plan to proceed with my Masters at Everglades very soon!
Review Date: 10/17/2023
Would Recommend: Yes
Helpful for Career: Yes
Professors, courses and support team were great. I found that at times the workload became abundant but it was easy to navigate through it all with the help from my professors. The classes were structured perfectly for online group learning, challenging and thought provoking.
Review Date: 9/7/2023
Would Recommend: Yes
Helpful for Career: Yes
Ashford pushed and pushed advertising for several months leading up to the start date of Jan 2nd, which I can I only imagine they received a large amount of new students (me being one of them) one week into the new school year they announced that beginning February 6th they are increasing the tuition rate PER CREDIT, the "technology fee" and the cost of the books.
Review Date: 1/9/2018
Would Recommend: No
Helpful for Career: No
I started my educational progression while deployed to Iraq in 2019. AMU was very understanding of military engagements, which allowed me to navigate through courses and assignments without missing deadlines. The online platform is extremely helpful to those who may work full-time jobs, have kids, or other conflicting schedules. The only downside for me was that the professors were sometimes disengaged within the course, which made it difficult to receive feedback on upcoming assignments. I recently... Read More
Review Date: 1/30/2022
Would Recommend: Yes
Helpful for Career: No
It took me some time but I finally finished my B.S. Will be starting a Masters in Homeland Security. I found the instructors pleasant 90% of the time. I really only had issues with an Academic Advisor but overall great experience that I think will help me in the future. I don't think it matters if this school is nationally accredited because most government jobs don't care about nationally versus regionally accredited schools... if your GI bill will pay for it, it will not matter in the long run.... Read More
Review Date: 11/29/2021
Would Recommend: Yes
Helpful for Career: No
As a veteran and military spouse, finishing my bachelors degree was important to me and my experience through Purdue Global has been nothing short of exceptional. I had come from another online college and the bar for my expectations were low and to just graduate. Purdue’s instructors, staff and all the resources provided allowed me to excel and although stressful at times, enjoy the experience of it all. I recommend Purdue Global to anyone looking for a great online experience. Thanks Purdue!
Review Date: 4/21/2021
Would Recommend: Yes
Helpful for Career: No
VERY IMPORTANT: I want to start off with saying in July 2018 National University holds all Blackboard collaborate weekly online sessions as OPTIONAL and will not go towards your final, as well as you can watch all recordings of sessions at anytime. My only Con is they are slow (month late) on processing TA for active duty military. Now that I touched on most individuals cons, I will explain the Pros I have the past two years I have attended. I am a HSE major and CJA major (Homeland security/ Criminal... Read More
Review Date: 11/29/2018
Would Recommend: Yes
Helpful for Career: Yes
Ashford University is a for profit school, that is the first thing that must be taken into consideration. Not always a bad thing, more often than not for profit schools are extremely flexible. Know what you are getting into and have a plan for finances. I am active duty military so I used TA and owned them a little so they appeased me to ensure I continued my education. For those who say it is easy great, then I am sure they graduated 4.0 or 3.97 like I did. Is it useless? I was accepted to Johns... Read More
Review Date: 5/4/2017
Would Recommend: Yes
Helpful for Career: Yes
It is sad to read about all of the horrible reviews of this college here. I am an active duty Soldier, it this has been a wonderful experience for me, and it has not been too demanding. It is awesome because you can move on in the weeks, if you finish your other work. Every Thursday discussions are due, and every Sunday assignments are due. It is simple. For those who are saying they've been ripped off, they are full of it. Before this school I was doing AMU, nothing against them, but there accelerated... Read More
Review Date: 8/12/2016
Would Recommend: Yes
Helpful for Career: Yes
DO NOT GIVE CREDENCE TO THOSE WHO CLAIM CTU DOES NOT WORK WITH YOU ON LATE ASSIGNMENTS I have had health issues throughout my degree as well as power and connectivity issues. I have never had any issues with CTU granting an extension. Honestly, the majority of those who are claiming issues have created their issues by not conforming to the rules and college guidelines. It's always someone else who is to blame with these type people, no personal accountability. During discussion boards and group projects... Read More
Review Date: 1/3/2017
Would Recommend: Yes
Helpful for Career: Yes
Eastern Kentucky University has a beautiful campus and great people; who are really geared toward your success. I just wish that some of the faculty had more experience in the field in which the course they are teaching applies to and that professors could not switch courses in the middle of a semester (professors with no fire service experience should NOT teach courses in the fire service majors). I also think that if the academic and enrollment advisors did not change so much it would be easier... Read More
Review Date: 6/11/2016
Would Recommend: Yes
Helpful for Career: Yes
Contrary to the negative review that you read about CTU and its instructors, this school has been quite a challenge. Incredible instructors who are subject matter experts in their field. They are true professionals who present a challenging learning environment. They will not hold your hand thru any degree. You are expected to be mature adults and to perform each task to standard. It requires effort and discipline. They work with you when life happens to afford additional time to complete assignments.... Read More
Review Date: 5/9/2016
Would Recommend: Yes
Helpful for Career: No
I found Ashford University to be an excellent online degree program. Thier student portal which was also accessible from mobile devices was very user friendly and professionally run. The online library database and option for e-books made it easy to access reference material or study anywhere. The five week classes with discussion posts due on Day 3 of each week, a 3 to 5 page paper or quiz due on day 7 of each week and a 8 to 15 page paper or research project due at the end of every class, greatly... Read More
Review Date: 5/7/2015
Would Recommend: Yes
Helpful for Career: Yes
I understand the complaints from other students and everyone must respect their reviews, because they were affected for sure. I received my Associates in 2011 and Everest found me a job within my field of studies. They emailed my resume to several agencies and I was contacted. Interviews were conducted and I was hired. Everest helps a lot , if you have high scores and of course when you completed your degree. Employeers ask for a two-year college degree and if you only have completed four terms of... Read More
Review Date: 3/24/2015
Would Recommend: Yes
Helpful for Career: Yes
Fire Fighters this is the best bachelor degree program. Classes are online, instructors care, and college staff is very helpful - always returned my phone calls in a timely manor and were able to help. I had been out of school for awhile and was able to get on track with their help.
Review Date: 6/15/2015
Would Recommend: Yes
Helpful for Career: Yes
A college that is great for someone that is already a professional. I was able to get my degree while working full time, to include military deployments. The professors were great to work with and most of them really seemed to care about the quality of education I was receiving from them.
Review Date: 7/22/2016
Would Recommend: Yes
Helpful for Career: Yes
Great school for veterans in Florida, If I had to do it all over again, I would pick Everglades!!! The staff, faculty, students, the classrooms, it was such a great learning environment. They truly care for your success and will be there every step of the way and as a student you could not ask for more. Thank you Everglades University!!!
Review Date: 6/18/2021
Would Recommend: Yes
Helpful for Career: No
In reading many of these reviews it appears that the positives are spot on and the negatives seem like sour grapes, to me anyway. I have nothing but praise for this school. I took both on-line and in-person classes and they were pretty fair and consistent. The support answer all questions in a timely manner and I never had any real delay with them getting back to me. The professors like any other school can be hit or miss but, all were professional. I actually enjoyed many of them as they appeared... Read More
Review Date: 6/11/2015
Would Recommend: Yes
Helpful for Career: Yes
After exploring different Emergency Management programs, I chose Everglades University after learning that the class sizes are smaller than most and the course pace is set up to where I only have to take one class a month. I work full-time, so only having to concentrate on one course at a time is life changing and enables me to finish my degree. I have a passion for helping people in need as I’ve worked in Emergency Medical Services for the past seven years. I worked all throughout the Covid-19 crisis,... Read More
Review Date: 10/13/2023
Would Recommend: Yes
Helpful for Career: Yes
I am a Veteran and was not sure what life would look like after serving. I had prior experience in the construction field so I decided to go down that path. I opened up my own insulation business but knew I needed some more experience to keep it growing. I found Everglades University by research and I'm happy that I found them. The experience was priceless. I cannot begin to say how thankful I am for finding Everglades.
Review Date: 12/22/2022
Would Recommend: Yes
Helpful for Career: No