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Homeland Security at Columbia College

Columbia, SC · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
51 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
52
Optimistic
51
Base Case
46
Pessimistic
Earnings $67,338/yr (32% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (30% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (142,400 openings/yr)
ROI 6.8x earnings multiple
Ranked #15 of 29 Homeland Security programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $588K $582K $535K
Earnings Multiple 6.9x 6.8x 6.2x
Probability of Field Employment 34% 32% 27%
DegreeOutlook Score 52 51 46

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$85,800
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$94,600
-10% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,122
4.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $67,338 put Columbia College's Homeland Security program 32% above the national median of $51,121 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.

At 6.8x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 30% task exposure — and the 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $67,338 far exceeding the $25,122 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #15 out of 29 programs, Columbia College's financial outcomes for Homeland Security trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About Columbia College

Columbia College accepts 96% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a smaller student body of 1,245 in Columbia, SC. Pell Grant recipients make up 53% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at Columbia College →

Top Career Paths

Managers, all other $136,550/yr
First-line supervisors of police and detectives $105,980/yr
Emergency management directors $86,130/yr
View all 7 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 29 schools offering Homeland Security →

Homeland Security at Other Schools

George Mason University ($90,956) Bethel University ($78,275) Grand Canyon University ($68,503) Waldorf University ($66,446) National University ($63,963) American Public University System ($62,340) Columbia Southern University ($62,313) Utica University ($57,215)

Other Majors at Columbia College

Criminal Justice and Corrections ($50,519) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($42,514) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($39,489)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Homeland Security trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Columbia College's Homeland Security program score?
A score of 51/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Columbia College trails the majority of Homeland Security programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →