Homeland Security at Lee University

A $27,000 debt load for a bachelor's in Homeland Security might seem manageable until you consider Tennessee's own outcome data. The state's other reporting program shows graduates earning $78,275—over $29,000 more than what similar programs nationally suggest Lee's graduates might expect. That gap matters when you're calculating how quickly a loan payment will feel comfortable rather than constraining.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.55 places this program in reasonable territory based on national benchmarks, where the median debt is actually lower at $23,475. Homeland Security degrees can lead to stable government and law enforcement careers, but the pathway isn't always immediate—many positions require additional training, clearances, or work experience before salary growth accelerates. The estimated first-year earnings of $48,676 reflect what's typical nationally, but they lag what Tennessee employers appear willing to pay graduates from similar programs in the state.

Your best move: contact Lee directly to understand their specific placement outcomes and employer connections in Tennessee's public safety sector. The estimates here suggest adequate but not exceptional returns, but actual graduate outcomes could differ significantly given how small the data sample is. If Lee's career services can't provide concrete placement data for recent Homeland Security graduates, that silence tells you something important about the program's track record.