Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations at Excelsior University

Excelsior's Intelligence program graduates start at $64,071—outpacing the national median by nearly $3,000 and landing in the 72nd percentile nationally. More impressive is the debt load: at just $10,528, it's less than half the national median for this field. That 0.16 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe roughly two months' salary, making this one of the more financially accessible paths into intelligence and cybersecurity work.

The catch here is sample size. With fewer than 30 graduates in the data, these figures could shift dramatically year to year. Excelsior is also the only New York school tracked for this specific program, which limits meaningful local comparisons. However, the fundamentals look solid—graduates aren't drowning in debt, and starting salaries suggest the degree opens doors to legitimate opportunities in defense contracting, government work, or corporate security.

For parents weighing this option, the low debt makes it hard to go badly wrong financially. Even if your child's salary comes in below the median, they're not saddled with crushing payments. The real due diligence here is ensuring the program's online format and niche focus align with your child's career goals and learning style, since job placement and networking matter tremendously in intelligence fields.