Location: Phoenix, AZ•In-State Tuition: $17,450•Admission Rate: 60%•Avg SAT: 1095
Median Earnings (1yr)
$68,503
95th percentile
Median Debt
$28,787
23% above national median
D/E Ratio: 0.42 ManageableSample: 144 graduates

Analysis

Grand Canyon University's homeland security graduates earn $68,503 their first year—42% more than the typical Arizona graduate in this field and 41% above the national median. That 80th percentile ranking among Arizona programs becomes even more striking when you consider the competition: the only other major program in the state, University of Arizona, shows first-year earnings of just $34,103. GCU graduates are earning twice as much right out of the gate.

The debt picture reinforces the value proposition. At $28,787, graduates borrow only slightly more than the national average, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42—meaning most could pay off their loans in under six months of gross earnings. That's exceptional leverage for a bachelor's degree. The 7% earnings growth to $73,431 by year four suggests these graduates are building sustainable careers, not just landing entry-level jobs that plateau.

For parents concerned about ROI, this is what you want to see: strong starting salaries, manageable debt, and a program that ranks in the 95th percentile nationally. GCU's homeland security degree appears to connect graduates with federal law enforcement, border security, and emergency management roles that pay well from day one. The robust sample size of 100+ graduates means these aren't fluky numbers—this is a repeatable outcome.

Where Grand Canyon University Stands

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

Grand Canyon UniversityOther homeland security programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How Grand Canyon University graduates compare to all programs nationally

Grand Canyon University earns $69k — 95th percentile among homeland security bachelors programs.

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
Grand Canyon University$68,503$73,431+7%
American Public University System$62,340$67,391+8%
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach$48,676$64,823+33%
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide$48,676$64,823+33%
University of Arizona$34,103$54,784+61%

Compare to Similar Programs in Arizona

Homeland Security bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Arizona (4 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Grand Canyon UniversityPhoenix$17,450$68,503$73,431$28,7870.42
University of ArizonaTucson$13,626$34,103$54,784$20,3120.60
National Median—$48,676—$23,4750.48

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 Grand Canyon University, approximately 43% 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 144 graduates with reported earnings and 163 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.