Security Science and Technology at Jacksonville State University

Jacksonville State's Security Science and Technology program produces concerning earnings outcomes that parents should examine carefully. One year after graduation, the typical graduate earns just $27,926—placing this program in the 10th percentile nationally, or roughly $11,000 below what similar programs deliver elsewhere. While the 60th percentile ranking within Alabama sounds more reassuring, that's partly because the state has only three such programs, making the comparison less meaningful.

The debt picture compounds the problem. At $24,250, graduates face nearly 11 months of their entire first-year salary in student loans. For context, security professionals at higher-performing programs earn enough to make similar debt loads more manageable, but at these income levels, monthly loan payments will strain most household budgets significantly.

The fundamental issue here is that $27,926 simply isn't enough income to justify a four-year degree investment, regardless of the field. That's barely above what many positions requiring only a high school diploma pay in today's market. If your child is interested in security-related careers, investigate what specific job pathways this program leads to and whether alternative routes—including programs at other institutions, certifications, or direct entry positions with employer-sponsored training—might deliver better financial outcomes. The 90th percentile gap suggests most comparable programs are preparing students for substantially higher-paying opportunities.