Security Science and Technology at Roger Williams University

Roger Williams University's Security Science and Technology bachelor's degree comes with $25,000 in debt—exactly the national median for this field—but the earnings picture relies entirely on national benchmarks since the school's graduate cohort is too small for the Department of Education to publish. Drawing from 41 similar programs nationwide, graduates in this field typically earn around $39,252 in their first year, producing a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.64. That means you'd be borrowing about eight months of salary, which falls in the middle range for bachelor's programs generally.

The challenge here is uncertainty. Security Science and Technology programs vary considerably in focus—some emphasize cybersecurity and command strong tech-sector salaries, while others lean toward physical security or emergency management with more modest pay. Without knowing where Roger Williams's curriculum sits on that spectrum or seeing actual outcomes from its graduates, it's difficult to assess whether $25,000 in debt represents a sound investment. The 88% admission rate and moderate SAT scores suggest this isn't a highly selective program that might compensate for limited data through reputation alone.

Before committing, your child should investigate whether this program has strong industry connections in cybersecurity (where salaries exceed these estimates) or if it's preparing graduates for lower-paying security coordinator roles. The difference could mean the debt becomes manageable quickly or lingers uncomfortably.