Intelligence & Security Operations at Citadel Military College of South Carolina

Charleston, SC · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations
37 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
38
Optimistic
37
Base Case
34
Pessimistic
Earnings $42,362/yr (-25% vs median)
AI Risk High (46% exposed)
Job Market Medium (19,700 openings/yr)
ROI 9.7x earnings multiple (3.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #6 of 7 Intelligence programs

Program Analysis

Your experience at Citadel fundamentally shapes your trajectory in this specialized field. Unlike other programs, Citadel's military ethos means many graduates initially enter public service or the armed forces, where structured pay scales differ from private sector intelligence roles. This, combined with Charleston's robust military and government presence, often funnels graduates into stable, but potentially lower-paying regional positions compared to national private sector opportunities in intelligence hubs like D.C. or Silicon Valley. The high AI risk for roles involving data collation and basic analysis highlights the evolving nature of intelligence work. Your foundational skills will be crucial, but future success hinges on developing advanced analytical, strategic, and leadership capabilities that AI cannot replicate. Focus on integrating emerging technologies and complex problem-solving into your studies to remain competitive and lead the next generation of intelligence operations.

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Intelligence & Security Operations graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $489K $490K $461K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 9.7x 9.7x 9.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.3x 3.3x 3.1x
Probability of Field Employment 51% 45% 35%
DegreeOutlook Score 38 37 34

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$50,280
Out-of-state: $149,480 (3.3x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$84,008
-67% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$26,000
7.4 months of Year 1 earnings

About Citadel Military College of South Carolina

Citadel Military College of South Carolina accepts 98% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a compact campus enrolling 2,624 students in Charleston, SC.

See all programs and financial aid at Citadel Military College of South Carolina →

Top Career Paths

First-line supervisors of police and detectives $105,980/yr
Detectives and criminal investigators $93,580/yr
Cartographers and photogrammetrists $78,380/yr
View all 3 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Intelligence & Security Operations at Other Schools

Other Majors at Citadel Military College of South Carolina

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Intelligence & Security Operations at Citadel Military College of South Carolina?
A score of 37/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Intelligence & Security Operations. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Intelligence & Security Operations careers?
With 46% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $460,848 in decade earnings vs $489,131 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Intelligence & Security Operations from Citadel Military College of South Carolina?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →