Homeland Security at Northwest Missouri State University

Northwest Missouri State's homeland security program starts graduates at $42,266—about 13% below the national median for this field—but it's worth noting this places them right at Missouri's state median. Among the seven schools offering this degree in Missouri, Northwest ranks in the 60th percentile, meaning it's slightly above average for in-state options. The more encouraging signal is the 26% earnings growth by year four, reaching $53,435, which suggests graduates find their footing in the field after initial entry-level positions.

The debt load of $25,125 translates to a 0.59 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates owe roughly seven months of their first-year salary. This is manageable compared to many programs, and below the national median debt for homeland security degrees. However, parents should know this program ranks in just the 26th percentile nationally for earnings, indicating stronger options exist elsewhere if your child isn't committed to staying in Missouri.

The significant caveat here is sample size—fewer than 30 graduates means one or two outlier careers could skew these numbers substantially. For Missouri families prioritizing in-state tuition and decent earnings growth, this represents a reasonable path into homeland security work. For families willing to look beyond state borders and seeking higher starting salaries, the national benchmark data suggests better-performing programs are available.