Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting at Massachusetts Maritime Academy

Massachusetts Maritime Academy's emergency services program sits in an unusual position: it dramatically outperforms the national field (95th percentile) while representing the only such program in Massachusetts. Graduates earn $55,702 within a year—nearly $10,000 above the national median for these degrees—and see strong salary growth to $73,228 by year four. The $25,000 median debt translates to a manageable 0.45 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates can reasonably expect to repay loans within about six months of first-year salary.

The unique challenge here is context. With only one Massachusetts program in the data, that "60th percentile" state ranking is essentially meaningless—you're comparing the program to itself. What matters more is how these graduates fare against the broader emergency services job market. A first-year salary approaching $56,000 positions graduates competitively for federal law enforcement, maritime security, or firefighting roles, particularly given the academy's specialized maritime focus and the robust security apparatus around Massachusetts ports.

For parents evaluating this program, the combination of strong national standing, reasonable debt load, and solid earnings trajectory makes this a defensible investment—assuming the student is genuinely committed to a career in emergency services or homeland security. The 95% admission rate suggests accessibility, though the specialized nature of the academy means it's self-selecting for students drawn to maritime-related public safety careers.