Security Science and Technology at Defiance College

Defiance College's Security Science program sits in unusual territory—based on comparable Ohio programs, first-year earnings around $44,000 would actually exceed the national median for this field by roughly $5,000. That's meaningful differentiation in a sector where many graduates struggle to crack $40,000. The estimated $27,000 in debt produces a manageable 0.61 ratio, suggesting graduates could realistically handle payments even on entry-level security salaries.

The challenge here is uncertainty. With nearly half of Defiance students receiving Pell grants, affordability matters enormously, yet we're working from peer program data rather than actual outcomes from this specific cohort. The state benchmark derives from just four Ohio schools, and while it matches what Miami University's campuses report, we can't know whether Defiance's particular curriculum, industry connections, or student preparation produces similar results. Security Science programs vary widely—some emphasize law enforcement pathways, others focus on corporate security or homeland security—and these distinctions drive very different career trajectories.

If your student is serious about security work and Defiance offers strong industry partnerships or internship pipelines, these estimated figures suggest reasonable value. But given the data gaps, have concrete conversations with the department about job placement rates, typical employer relationships, and whether graduates actually achieve these earnings benchmarks. The debt level won't sink them, but you need more certainty about the income side of this equation before committing.