Best Online Bachelor’s in Homeland Security 2021
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Homeland security professionals help to protect national security.
They may work in roles such as federal law enforcement officer, cybersecurity specialist, and emergency manager. These career paths offer above-average salaries and advancement opportunities.
An online bachelor's degree in homeland security meets the education requirement for many homeland security jobs. The flexibility and accessibility of an online learning format appeals to working professionals and students with personal responsibilities. Online learners can choose from the best programs in the country without relocating or leaving their current job.
The Best Online Bachelor's in Homeland Security Programs
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Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-WorldwideLocation
Daytona Beach, FL
Graduation Rate62%
Embry-Riddle provides quality education for an annual student body of 6,700 undergraduates and 800 graduate students. The university offers a beautiful 185-acre campus and state-of-the-art facilities and support resources.
Embry-Riddle's bachelor of science in homeland security offers students with expertise in emergency management, terrorism studies, and foundations and concepts of security and cybersecurity. Students of this program gain hands-on experiences through internships and faculty-led trips to other countries.
Applicants must submit an application for admission, official transcripts of records, and a $50 application fee.
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Angelo State UniversityLocation
San Angelo, TX
Tuition$11558
Graduation Rate34%
ASU ranks in The Princeton Review's "Best Colleges" list every year since 2010. ASU offers over 100 majors and concentrations through six different major colleges.
ASU's bachelor of security studies in border and homeland security prepares students in advancing their careers in the military, border patrol, emergency management, and law enforcement. ASU provides students of this program with the option to earn their degree on-campus or completely online.
Interested applicants must fill out an application form through the ApplyTexas website, pay a $40 non-refundable application fee, and submit their high school transcripts.
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SUNY College of Technology at CantonLocation
Canton, NY
Tuition$12954
Graduation Rate40%
Founded in 1906, SUNY Canton now rolls out 30 bachelor's degrees, 22 associate degrees, and 22 online degrees. More than 3,200 students attend SUNY Canton every year.
SUNY Canton's Center for Criminal Justice, Intelligence and Cybersecurity offers a bachelor of technology in homeland security program for students wanting a professional role in law enforcement, intelligence, and emergency management. Students of this program must complete 122 credits of coursework to earn their degree.
Applicants must have a high school average of at least 80, and a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 for transferees.
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Eastern Kentucky UniversityLocation
Richmond, KY
Tuition$14273
Graduation Rate47%
EKU offers more than 100 degree programs available on campus or through online delivery. EKU puts a premium on student success, academic excellence, and campus revitalization.
EKU's bachelor of science in homeland security program provides students with a multi-disciplinary curriculum that integrates theories and strategies in counterterrorism, law enforcement intelligence, and deployment of the latest security technologies. This stand-alone BS degree offers specialization opportunities in the disciplines of Disaster Management, Intelligence Studies, and Security Operations and Management.
Applicants must submit an online application form, their high school transcripts, and their ACT or SAT scores to the Office of Admissions.
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Mercer UniversityLocation
Macon, GA
Graduation Rate66%
Established in 1833, Mercer enrolls more than 9,000 students every year. The U.S. News & World Report ranks Mercer in the list of the Top 35 best values among national universities based on academic quality and cost of attendance.
Mercer's bachelor of science in homeland security and emergency management program the pathway for students to assume advanced roles in public safety and security. The program offers a completely online curriculum with courses structured into eight-week sessions.
Applicants must complete an online application form, pay a non-refundable $25 application fee, submit their high school transcripts or official college transcripts (for transfer students).
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DeSales UniversityLocation
Center Valley, PA
Graduation Rate70%
DeSales enrolls more than 3,300 students on an annual basis and has produced a total of 22,054 alumni all over the world. DeSales also ranks 38th in the U.S. News & World Report's list of Best Value Schools.
DeSales offers a bachelor of arts in homeland security program that prepares students for a long career in the areas of critical infrastructure protection, disaster preparedness, intelligence analysis, cybersecurity, and counter-terrorism. Students of this program benefit from the accelerated course format, completely online classes, and personal advising services.
Interested applicants in this program must meet one of the following criteria: have been out of high school for 5+ years, a veteran or active duty service member, has completed a bachelor's degree, or is working in a full-time career.
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Campbell UniversityLocation
Buies Creek, NC
Graduation Rate53%
Founded in 1887, Campbell offers more than 150 degree and certification programs across 10 academic divisions. Around 6,000 students enroll at Campbell every year.
Campbell's bachelor of science in homeland security program focuses on developing students' expertise in domestic counterterrorism, border and transportation security, intelligence and warning, and emergency preparedness and response. Students earn their degree by completing a minimum of 124 credits of coursework.
Applicants may submit their ACT or SAT scores for admission, as well as their high school transcripts or GED.
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Marian UniversityLocation
Fond Du Lac, WI
Graduation Rate53%
Established in 1936, Marian provides world-class education with its small class sizes and an excellent student-to-faculty ratio of 12:1. Marian also offers the lowest net tuition out of Wisconsin's 24 private colleges and universities.
Marian's bachelor of science in homeland security program provides students with the knowledge and skills to seek higher positions in Emergency Management or a high-profile Federal Agency. This homeland security program also uses an accelerated, online learning format to provide a flexible educational experience for working adults.
Applicants must complete an online application form, and submit their official high school transcripts.
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Keiser University-Ft LauderdaleLocation
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Graduation Rate65%
Since 1977, Keiser has expanded its reach to 21 of Florida's major and mid-sized metropolitan areas. Around 20,000 students and 3,800 employees make up Keiser's annual population.
Keiser offers a bachelor of arts in homeland security degree program designed to provide management-level expertise to students wanting a role in the field of Homeland Security. Students must complete a total of 120 credits of coursework to earn their degree.
Interested applicants must submit verifications of high school graduation and GED completion.
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Mercy CollegeLocation
Dobbs Ferry, NY
Graduation Rate44%
Mercy offers more than 100 educational programs through the expertise of a total of 231 full-time, highly credentialed professors. Around 9,500 students attend Mercy on an annual basis.
Mercy's bachelor of science in corporate and homeland security management program prepares students to assume positions in public safety, criminal justice, emergency management, federal law enforcement, national security intelligence, and corporate security. To earn their degree, students complete a total of 120 credits within a minimum of four academic years.
Applicants interested in this program must first submit an online application through the school's official website.
Online Bachelor's in Homeland Security Programs Ranking Guidelines
We ranked these degree programs based on quality, curricula, school awards, rankings, and reputation.
Our Methodology
Here at TheBestSchools.org, we take the trust and welfare of our readers very seriously. When making our school and program rankings, our top priority is ensuring that our readers get accurate, unbiased information that can help them make informed decisions about online education. That's why we've developed a rigorous ranking methodology that keeps the needs of our readers front and center.
Our proprietary, multi-criteria ranking algorithm analyzes key data indicators — as collected by the federal government — for each school or program. What data we use depends on the focus of each specific ranking, but in all cases, our ranking methodology is impartial: Schools cannot buy better rankings at TBS.
While specific criteria under consideration can vary by ranking, there are a few data points that we value most highly. They are affordability, academic quality, and online enrollment. Below, we break down our algorithm to help you understand what you're getting when you use one of our rankings.
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Academics -
Affordability -
Online Enrollment
Data Sources
The data used in TBS rankings comes primarily from the federal government, and much of it is provided by the schools themselves. We aggregate and analyze this data to build our rankings.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) is our primary source. Its data comes from annual surveys conducted by the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Every college, university, or technical school with access to federal financial aid must participate in these surveys, which include questions about enrollment, graduation rates, finances, and faculty qualifications. This is publicly available data, which you can access yourself through the College Navigator.
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Breakdown of Our Rankings Methodology
About Our Ranking Factors
Here at TBS, we value what you value: quality education, affordability, and the accessibility of online education. These factors guide all of our program rankings.
Each of these factors are further broken down into weighted subfactors. For example, retention rates are weighted more heavily than availability of program options because they are a better indicator of student success.
We chose the following factors for our rankings because of their influence on learning experiences and graduate outcomes. However, students should always balance our rankings against their personal priorities. For instance, a learner who needs a fully online program may prioritize online flexibility more than our rankings do. Our rankings are designed to help you make a decision — not to make a decision for you.
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Featured Online Bachelor's in Homeland Security Programs
Choosing a Homeland Security Program
Prospective students should consider several factors when researching online homeland security programs, including accreditation status, course delivery, and concentrations. The top homeland security degree programs hold regional accreditation. Accreditation expands employment, education, and financial aid opportunities for students.
Prospective students should also research course delivery options. Some programs offer asynchronous courses, which don't require set login times, while others require set class times. Students with professional and personal obligations may prefer the flexibility of asynchronous courses.
Additionally, learners should ensure that prospective programs offer concentrations aligned with their career goals. Potential homeland security concentrations include terrorism, emergency management, and cybercrime.
What is Homeland Security?
Homeland security focuses on protecting and defending national security. At the federal level, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) responds to national security threats while working with other government agencies.
Homeland security professionals may investigate potential threats to national security, maintain safe conditions for airplane travel, respond to emergencies and natural disasters, and/or create plans to prepare and prevent national security threats. Specialists in emergency management, for example, design response plans and coordinate recovery efforts after a natural disaster or emergency.
Homeland security professionals need several key skills, such as strong decision-making skills, to effectively respond to emergencies. Critical thinking abilities help homeland security professionals anticipate problems and address national security threats. These professionals also rely on communication skills when interacting with other law enforcement officials and the public. A bachelor's in homeland security builds these skills while providing specialized training in the field.
What Can I Do with a Bachelor's in Homeland Security?
A bachelor's degree in homeland security prepares students to investigate, prevent, and respond to national security threats. Graduates may work for federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in roles such as police officer and detective. They can also work as emergency managers, intelligence analysts, and cybersecurity specialists. DHS has a hiring program for recent graduates.
During an online bachelor's degree in homeland security, students take courses on topics like emergency management, terrorism response and prevention, and intelligence analysis. Many programs also offer criminal justice classes and specialized coursework in areas like cybercrime and emergency planning.
After earning a bachelor's degree, students can also pursue a master's degree in homeland security to increase their employment opportunities and salary potential.
Related Articles
Homeland Security Jobs
Homeland security jobs include police officer, emergency management director, and federal law enforcement officer. Homeland security professionals may also work in cybersecurity, intelligence, and transportation security. Many of these positions offer above-average salaries and career advancement opportunities.
| Median BLS Salary (2020) | $92,970 |
|---|---|
| Projected Job Outlook (2019-2029) | 5% |
Police officers and detectives conduct criminal investigations, respond to emergency calls, and collect evidence at crime scenes. They also interview witnesses and suspects, write case reports, and testify in court.
| Median BLS Salary (2020) | $76,250 |
|---|---|
| Projected Job Outlook (2019-2029) | 5% |
Emergency management directors lead the response to natural disasters and other emergencies. They coordinate with public safety professionals, elected officials, and government agencies to promote safety. Emergency management directors also create plans and procedures to respond to emergencies.
| Median BLS Salary (2020) | $44,300 |
|---|---|
| Projected Job Outlook (2019-2029) | 1% |
Transportation security screeners inspect passengers, baggage, and cargo at airports. They must follow Transportation Security Administration (TSA) regulations to promote the safety of air travel. Also called TSA screeners, airport security screeners, and flight security specialists, transportation security screeners operate security equipment, such as x-ray machines and hand wands.
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