Homeland Security at Arizona State University Campus Immersion

Arizona State's Homeland Security certificate produces first-year earnings about 10% below the national median for this credential, landing at $38,140—though that places graduates in the middle of the pack among Arizona programs. The $20,843 debt load translates to a manageable 0.55 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates typically carry about half a year's salary in loans. For context, this is average debt for the program nationally, suggesting ASU hasn't found ways to reduce costs that peers have matched elsewhere.

The state ranking tells an interesting story: while this program sits at just the 25th percentile nationally, it reaches the 60th percentile among Arizona programs. That spread suggests either Arizona's homeland security education market skews lower overall, or that competition for these jobs in the state keeps starting salaries compressed. Either way, if your student plans to work in Arizona after graduation, this program performs reasonably well relative to local alternatives.

The real question is whether a certificate makes sense for this field at all. At under $39,000 in first-year earnings, graduates face a modest return that may limit how quickly they can tackle that debt or build financial security. For families comfortable with this earning trajectory and confident their student will complete the credential quickly, the numbers work—just recognize this isn't a shortcut to higher-wage opportunities that some certificate programs promise.