Homeland Security (Bachelor's Degree) at Columbia College

Median Earnings (1yr)

$67,338

94th percentile

Median Debt

$27,855

19% above national median

Analysis

Columbia College's homeland security program commands a premium price compared to most programs nationally, but the earnings justify the investment. At $27,855 in debt versus $67,338 in first-year earnings, graduates face manageable repayment—that 0.41 debt-to-earnings ratio sits comfortably below concerning levels. The real story emerges when you look beyond South Carolina: these graduates outearn 94% of homeland security programs nationwide, pulling in nearly $20,000 more than the national median. That's exceptional performance for a program at a school with near-open admissions serving a predominantly Pell grant student population.

The state comparison requires context—Columbia College graduates tie for the highest earnings among South Carolina's three homeland security programs, so that 60th percentile ranking is more a quirk of the limited sample than a weakness. With only three programs statewide, there's essentially no middle ground. What matters more is the national standing, where this program clearly delivers value that exceeds what you'd find at most institutions.

For families weighing this investment, the math works: graduates earn enough in their first year to make the debt manageable, and they're entering the workforce with significantly stronger earning power than peers from other homeland security programs. The moderate sample size means individual outcomes will vary, but the track record suggests this program successfully translates into solid career prospects.

Where Columbia College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all homeland security bachelors's programs nationally

Earnings Distribution

How Columbia College graduates compare to all programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs Nationally

Homeland Security bachelors's programs at top institutions nationally

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Columbia CollegeColumbia	$21,450	$67,338	—	$27,855	0.41
George Mason UniversityFairfax	$13,815	$90,956	—	$21,741	0.24
Bethel UniversityMcKenzie	$18,168	$78,275	$62,271	$31,919	0.41
Grand Canyon UniversityPhoenix	$17,450	$68,503	$73,431	$28,787	0.42
Waldorf UniversityForest City	$25,220	$66,446	—	$23,437	0.35
National UniversitySan Diego	$13,320	$63,963	$49,301	$23,450	0.37
National Median	—	$48,676	—	$23,475	0.48

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with homeland security graduates

Emergency Management Directors

Plan and direct disaster response or crisis management activities, provide disaster preparedness training, and prepare emergency plans and procedures for natural (e.g., hurricanes, floods, earthquakes), wartime, or technological (e.g., nuclear power plant emergencies or hazardous materials spills) disasters or hostage situations.

$86,130/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in criminal justice, corrections, and law enforcement administration. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Managers, All Other

All managers not listed separately.

Regulatory Affairs Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate production activities of an organization to ensure compliance with regulations and standard operating procedures.

Compliance Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization to ensure compliance with ethical or regulatory standards.

Loss Prevention Managers

Plan and direct policies, procedures, or systems to prevent the loss of assets. Determine risk exposure or potential liability, and develop risk control measures.

Wind Energy Development Managers

Lead or manage the development and evaluation of potential wind energy business opportunities, including environmental studies, permitting, and proposals. May also manage construction of projects.

Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers

Plan and direct cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated properties for reuse. Does not include properties sufficiently contaminated to qualify as Superfund sites.

Postsecondary Teachers, All Other

All postsecondary teachers not listed separately.

First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives

Directly supervise and coordinate activities of members of police force.

First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers

Directly supervise and coordinate activities of security workers and security guards.

First-Line Supervisors of Protective Service Workers, All Other

All protective service supervisors not listed separately above.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Columbia College, approximately 53% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 49 graduates with reported earnings and 56 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.