Homeland Security at Herzing University-Atlanta

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.55 suggests this program could work financially, but the complete lack of actual outcomes data from Herzing-Atlanta—or any Georgia homeland security program—makes this an especially uncertain bet. Based on national peer programs, first-year earnings around $48,700 would mean taking home roughly $3,500 monthly before taxes, with an estimated $27,000 in debt requiring about $300 in monthly payments. That's manageable on paper, though it leaves little cushion for unexpected expenses in a city like Atlanta.

The real question is whether Herzing-Atlanta's program actually delivers outcomes similar to the national median. With a 94% admission rate and 68% of students receiving Pell grants, the school serves a population that often struggles with completion and faces additional financial pressures. Homeland security is also a broad field where your child's actual job prospects will depend heavily on specific career path—federal positions, private security, emergency management—and whether they can access the security clearances and networking that make these degrees pay off.

Without any reported outcomes from this school or comparable Georgia programs, you're essentially betting that Herzing-Atlanta performs at least as well as the typical homeland security program nationally. That's a significant assumption given the cost. If your child has specific government or security connections, or if this is the most practical path to a degree while working, it might make sense. Otherwise, you'd want strong evidence—placement rates, employer partnerships, graduate testimonials—that this particular program justifies the investment.