Location: Huntsville, TX•In-State Tuition: $9,228•Out-of-State Tuition: $19,020•Admission Rate: 85%•Avg SAT: 1055
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$48,676
Est. from national median (29 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$23,250
Est. from national median (16 programs)

Analysis

The $48,676 first-year earnings suggested by comparable homeland security programs nationwide would place Sam Houston State graduates slightly above Texas peers, where similar programs typically yield $44,969. With an estimated debt load of $23,250—higher than the state median of $17,293 but typical for public universities—graduates would face a manageable 0.48 debt-to-earnings ratio. That translates to roughly half a year's salary in debt, which most financial advisors consider sustainable.

What makes this comparison particularly relevant is that Sam Houston State sits in Huntsville, home to several state correctional facilities and a natural pipeline for homeland security careers in Texas government. The school's access advantage could explain why peer institutions in the state produce similar outcomes despite the relatively modest admission standards here (average SAT of 1055). With 40% of students receiving Pell grants, this program serves students who may lack alternative pathways into law enforcement and security fields.

The estimates here carry real uncertainty—actual outcomes for this specific program could vary significantly. However, the fundamentals look reasonable for a career-oriented major at a regional public university. If your student has genuine interest in emergency management, border security, or law enforcement work rather than just a vague attraction to the field's job security reputation, the projected economics suggest a viable path forward.

Where Sam Houston State University Stands

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

Sam Houston State University (estimated ±10%)Other homeland security programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Compare to Similar Programs in Texas

Homeland Security bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Texas (6 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Sam Houston State UniversityHuntsville$9,228$48,676*—$23,250*—
University of North TexasDenton$11,164$44,969*$61,198$17,293*0.38
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 Sam Houston State University, approximately 40% 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.