Est. Earnings (1yr)
$48,676
Est. from FL median (3 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$20,500
Est. from FL median (3 programs)

Analysis

At Florida Tech, students pursuing a bachelor's in Homeland Security can expect financial outcomes in line with typical programs statewide, though the small graduate cohort means we're working with estimates based on three comparable Florida programs. The projected $48,676 first-year salary and $20,500 debt load suggest manageable repayment—the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42 is reasonable, meaning graduates would owe less than half their expected first-year income.

What's worth noting is how Florida Tech compares to peers in this field. Nearby Embry-Riddle and Keiser both produce similar or slightly higher outcomes, with Keiser graduates earning around $54,000. The similarity across programs suggests that for Homeland Security degrees in Florida, institutional prestige may matter less than the specific career pathway students pursue—federal positions, private security contracting, or state emergency management all command different salaries.

The $20,500 debt figure is actually below the national median of $23,475 for this major, which provides some cushion given the moderate earnings. For a family considering Florida Tech's price point—and noting its 20% Pell grant population suggests less financial aid than some competitors—the question becomes whether paying private university tuition makes sense when state schools and specialized institutions like Embry-Riddle offer similar career preparation. If your child has specific interest in Florida Tech's aerospace-adjacent security focus, this could work. Otherwise, compare total costs carefully against closer-to-home options.

Where Florida Institute of Technology Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Florida

Homeland Security bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Florida (10 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Florida Institute of TechnologyMelbourne$44,360$48,676*—$20,500*—
Keiser University-Ft LauderdaleFort Lauderdale$24,136$54,837*$46,459$49,981*0.91
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona BeachDaytona Beach$42,304$48,676*$64,823$20,500*0.42
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-WorldwideDaytona Beach$11,665$48,676*$64,823$20,500*0.42
National Median—$48,676*—$23,475*0.48
* Estimated from similar programs

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 Florida Institute of Technology, approximately 20% 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.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 3 similar programs in FL. Actual outcomes may vary.