2023 Best Value Law Enforcement & Firefighting Schools
Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices
Finding the Best Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting School for You
In 2020-2021, 142,610 people earned a degree or certificate in homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting, making the major the #12 most popular in the United States.
With all the programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. As online education oppotunities continue to grow, you're not restricted to just schools in your local area anymore. Even some of the 'big name' schools are offering online courses. Also, there are a number of trade schools with offerings that you might find attractive.
The Best Value Law Enforcement & Firefighting Schools ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 1,011 schools in the United States to see which ones offered the best value programs for homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.
Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.
In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.
Top 25 Best Schools for Affordable Quality in Law Enforcement & Firefighting
Our 2023 rankings named Southeast Community College Area the best value school in the United States for homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting students. Southeast Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the large city of Lincoln.
Southeast Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $3,780 in tuition and fees each year. On average, homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting graduates from Southeast Community College take out $14,578 in student loans while working on their degree.
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The excellent programs at Nichols College helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting schools in the United States. Nichols is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Dudley.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Nichols are $37,300 a year. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting majors at Nichols take out an average of $27,000 in student loans while working on their egree.
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Out of the 1,011 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Columbia Southern University landed the # 3 spot on the list. Columbia Southern University is a large private for-profit school located in the fringe town of Orange Beach.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Columbia Southern University are $5,775 a year. On average, homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting graduates from Columbia Southern University take out $22,904 in student loans while working on their degree.
Columbia Southern University excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Law Enforcement & Firefighting Schools list.
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Out of the 1,011 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Camden County College landed the # 4 spot on the list. Camden County College is a medium-sized public school located in the large suburb of Blackwood.
Camden County College undergraduate students pay an average of $3,744 in tuition and fees each year. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting majors at Camden County College take out an average of $13,050 in student loans while working on their egree.
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Out of the 1,011 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Northeast Community College landed the # 5 spot on the list. Located in the town of Norfolk, Northeast is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
Northeast undergraduate students pay an average of $5,010 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting majors at Northeast take out is $11,079.
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Alexandria Technical & Community College landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting programs. Located in the remote town of Alexandria, ATCC is a public school with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at ATCC are $5,910 a year. The average amount in student loans that homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting majors at ATCC take out is $15,750.
ATCC also claimed a spot on our Best Law Enforcement & Firefighting Schools list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category.
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With a ranking of #7, North Hennepin Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting students. Located in the large suburb of Brooklyn Park, North Hennepin Community College is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at North Hennepin Community College are $4,882 a year. The average amount in student loans that homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting majors at North Hennepin Community College take out is $25,850.
North Hennepin Community College excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Law Enforcement & Firefighting Schools list.
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Amarillo College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting programs. Located in the midsize city of Amarillo, Amarillo College is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Amarillo College are $4,704 a year. After completing their degree, homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting graduates from Amarillo College carry an average student debtload of $16,751.
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With a ranking of #9, Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting students. Located in the fringe town of Cloquet, Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College is a public college with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College are $5,815 a year. While working on their degree, homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting majors at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College accumulate an average of around $17,750 in student debt.
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Normandale Community College landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting programs. Located in the city of Bloomington, Normandale Community College is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Normandale Community College are $5,789 a year.
In addition to its great value ranking, Normandale Community College is in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Law Enforcement & Firefighting Schools list.
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Northcentral Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting students. It came in at #10 on the list. Located in the small city of Wausau, North Central Technical College is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
North Central Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,415 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting graduates from North Central Technical College carry an average student debtload of $13,322.
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New Mexico State University - Grants came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Law Enforcement & Firefighting Schools ranking. Located in the remote town of Grants, NMSU Grants is a public college with a fairly small student population.
NMSU Grants undergraduate students pay an average of $4,104 in tuition and fees each year. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting majors at NMSU Grants take out an average of $6,750 in student loans while working on their egree.
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Lake Region State College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting students. It came in at #13 on the list. Lake Region State College is a small public school located in the remote town of Devils Lake.
Lake Region State College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,000 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting majors at Lake Region State College take out is $12,750.
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Lakeshore Technical College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Law Enforcement & Firefighting Schools ranking. LTC is a small public school located in the rural area of Cleveland.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at LTC are $6,056 per year.
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With a ranking of #15, South Plains College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting students. South Plains College is a medium-sized public school located in the distant town of Levelland.
South Plains College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,276 in tuition and fees each year.
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Southwest Wisconsin Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting students. It came in at #16 on the list. Located in the rural area of Fennimore, Southwest Tech is a public college with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Southwest Tech are $6,683 per year. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting majors at Southwest Tech take out an average of $10,000 in student loans while working on their egree.
Southwest Tech also claimed a spot on our Best Law Enforcement & Firefighting Schools list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category.
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Mid-State Technical College landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting programs. Mid-State is a small public school located in the rural area of Wisconsin Rapids.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Mid-State are $6,351 a year.
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Metropolitan Community College landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting programs. MCC is a large public school located in the large city of Omaha.
MCC undergraduate students pay an average of $4,680 in tuition and fees each year. On average, homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting graduates from MCC take out $13,539 in student loans while working on their degree.
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Eastern Gateway Community College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Law Enforcement & Firefighting Schools list. Eastern Gateway Community College is a fairly large public school located in the small city of Steubenville.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Eastern Gateway Community College are $8,022 a year.
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Inter American University of Puerto Rico - Barranquitas ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Law Enforcement & Firefighting Schools list. Inter American University of Puerto Rico - Barranquitas is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Barranquitas.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Inter American University of Puerto Rico - Barranquitas are $5,254 per year.
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Oakland Community College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Law Enforcement & Firefighting Schools list. Oakland Community College is a fairly large public school located in the large suburb of Bloomfield Hills.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Oakland Community College are $5,200 per year. The average amount in student loans that homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting majors at Oakland Community College take out is $15,682.
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Tyler Junior College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Law Enforcement & Firefighting Schools list. Tyler Junior College is a fairly large public school located in the medium-sized city of Tyler.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Tyler Junior College are $4,440 per year. The average amount in student loans that homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting majors at Tyler Junior College take out is $11,875.
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Hennepin Technical College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Law Enforcement & Firefighting Schools ranking. Located in the large suburb of Brooklyn Park, Hennepin Technical College is a public school with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Hennepin Technical College are $5,741 per year. The average amount in student loans that homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting majors at Hennepin Technical College take out is $20,396.
Full Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting at Hennepin Technical College Report
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El Centro College landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting programs. El Centro College is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Dallas.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at El Centro College are $6,000 a year. The average amount in student loans that homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting majors at El Centro College take out is $13,692.
El Centro College excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Law Enforcement & Firefighting Schools list.
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Remaining Award Winners
This list shows the rest of the colleges awarded a Best Value Law Enforcement & Firefighting Schools badge. Showing in this list means the college was ranked in the top 15% of the 1011 different United States homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting schools we analyzed.
Additional Noteworthy Schools
These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Value Law Enforcement & Firefighting Schools award.
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting by Region
View the Best Value Law Enforcement & Firefighting Schools for a specific region near you.
| Region |
|---|
| Southeast |
| New England |
| Rocky Mountains |
| Plains States |
| Middle Atlantic |
| Far Western US |
| Southwest |
| Great Lakes |
More Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Rankings
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Related Majors for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Majors to Study
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Criminal Justice & Corrections | 113,121 |
| Fire Protection | 13,766 |
| Homeland Security | 7,140 |
| Security Science and Technology | 6,888 |
| Other Homeland Security | 1,695 |
Majors Similar to Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Public Administration & Social Service | 98,583 |
| Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies | 73,813 |
| Legal Professions | 61,055 |
| Military Technologies & Applied Sciences | 4,477 |
Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Barry Bahler.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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