Homeland Security at Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global

Peer programs in Homeland Security nationally suggest first-year earnings around $49,000, which would make the estimated $27,000 debt load for this degree manageable—below a 1.0 debt-to-earnings ratio that financial aid experts consider sustainable. For context, the national benchmark for this credential sits at about $23,500 in debt, so Indiana Wesleyan's figure is somewhat higher but not dramatically out of line.

The challenge here is uncertainty. With nearly half of students receiving Pell grants, affordability matters deeply, yet the estimates come from a sparse national sample—just 29 programs for earnings and 9 for debt. Homeland Security as an undergraduate major isn't widely offered (only 116 schools nationally, 6 in Indiana), and none of Indiana's programs have published outcomes data, making it difficult to assess how this specific online program performs compared to regional alternatives. The field itself tends toward careers in law enforcement, emergency management, and federal agencies, where salaries can vary significantly based on sector and clearance level.

If your child is committed to this career path and has already researched the typical entry points, the estimated numbers suggest a workable financial picture. But given that you're relying entirely on proxy data, it's worth pressing the school directly about job placement specifics and whether their curriculum aligns with the certifications or clearances that drive better outcomes in this field.