Homeland Security (Bachelor's Degree) at Johnson & Wales University-Providence

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$48,676

Est. from national median (29 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$27,000

Est. from national median (9 programs)

Analysis

A Bachelor's in Homeland Security from Johnson & Wales carries an estimated $27,000 in debt—roughly $3,500 above the national median for similar programs—while first-year earnings based on peer institutions suggest around $48,676. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.55 sits in reasonable territory, though it's worth noting these figures come entirely from comparable programs nationally since this specific program's graduate cohort is too small for the Department of Education to publish separate outcomes.

The estimated earnings match exactly what homeland security graduates earn nationally, which means you're looking at middle-of-the-pack outcomes in a field where top programs push past $62,000 in starting salary. With Johnson & Wales being the only institution in Rhode Island offering this degree, you have no local alternatives for comparison. The school's 84% admission rate and moderate Pell grant enrollment (30%) suggest it serves a broad range of students, but without actual graduate outcomes, you're essentially betting that this program performs similarly to the national average.

The practical question: can your child accept that uncertainty? If they're drawn to homeland security work specifically and need to stay in Rhode Island, this may be their only in-state path. But if they're flexible on location or still exploring security-adjacent fields, programs with published outcomes would give you clearer evidence of return on investment. The estimated debt isn't catastrophic, but you're making that investment without knowing how Johnson & Wales graduates specifically fare in the job market.

Where Johnson & Wales University-Providence Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs Nationally

Homeland Security bachelors's programs at top institutions nationally

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Johnson & Wales University-ProvidenceProvidence	$40,408	$48,676*	—	$27,000*	—
George Mason UniversityFairfax	$13,815	$90,956*	—	$21,741*	0.24
Bethel UniversityMcKenzie	$18,168	$78,275*	$62,271	$31,919*	0.41
Grand Canyon UniversityPhoenix	$17,450	$68,503*	$73,431	$28,787*	0.42
Columbia CollegeColumbia	$21,450	$67,338*	—	$27,855*	0.41
Waldorf UniversityForest City	$25,220	$66,446*	—	$23,437*	0.35
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 Johnson & Wales University-Providence, approximately 30% 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 national median of 29 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.