Security Science and Technology at Arkansas State University

Based on peer security programs nationwide, Arkansas State's bachelor's in Security Science and Technology points to first-year earnings around $39,250—right at the national median for this field—paired with estimated debt of $24,300. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.62 suggests graduates could reasonably manage repayment, though it's worth noting this estimate comes from a small national sample of similar programs where the Department of Education had sufficient graduate data to report outcomes.

The challenge here is uncertainty. As the only program of its kind in Arkansas with reportable data, there's no state benchmark to judge against, and the national figures themselves come from just 41 programs for earnings and 18 for debt. Security fields can vary dramatically—some graduates enter corporate security management while others work in physical security roles with very different pay scales. The estimated $39,250 starting salary could support the debt load if it leads to steady employment, but security work in Arkansas may not command the same wages as in metropolitan areas where most comparable programs likely operate.

For parents, this means weighing an accessible path into security work against genuine unknowns about Arkansas-specific outcomes. If your child has clear security industry connections or military/law enforcement experience that improves job prospects, the numbers work. Without those advantages, consider whether similar career outcomes might come from criminal justice or information technology programs with more transparent track records in your region.