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Most Popular Law Enforcement & Firefighting Schools in California

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2023 Most Popular Law Enforcement & Firefighting Schools in California

173 Colleges
$34,240 Avg Salary
$19,317 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting School for You

With 14,822 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021, homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting is the #13 most popular major in California.

Today's students have lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools that offer fast-track entry to many fields.

The Most Popular Law Enforcement & Firefighting Schools in California ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 173 schools in California to see which ones were the most popular programs for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting program at each school on the list.

The following schools top our list of the Most Popular Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Colleges.

#1

East Los Angeles College

Monterey Park, CA

Our 2023 rankings named East Los Angeles College the most popular school in California for homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting students. Located in the suburb of Monterey Park, East Los Angeles College is a public school with a very large student population.

Full Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting at East Los Angeles College Report

#2

Rio Hondo College

Whittier, CA

The excellent programs at Rio Hondo College helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting schools in California. RHCCD is a large public school located in the large suburb of Whittier.

Read full report on Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting at Rio Hondo College

#4

Santa Ana College

Santa Ana, CA

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Santa Ana College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Popular Law Enforcement & Firefighting Schools in California list. SAC is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Santa Ana.

While working on their degree, homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting majors at SAC accumulate an average of around $13,375 in student debt.

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The excellent programs at California State University - Sacramento helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting schools in California. Located in the large city of Sacramento, Sac State is a public school with a very large student population.

While working on their degree, homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting majors at Sac State accumulate an average of around $15,000 in student debt. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $189, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting at California State University - Sacramento

#6

Victor Valley College

Victorville, CA

Victor Valley College ranked #6 on this year’s Most Popular Law Enforcement & Firefighting Schools in California list. Victor Valley College is a medium-sized public school located in the large suburb of Victorville.

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#7

Butte College

Oroville, CA

Butte College ranked #7 on this year’s Most Popular Law Enforcement & Firefighting Schools in California list. Located in the rural area of Oroville, Butte College is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

On average, homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting graduates from Butte College take out $14,495 in student loans while working on their degree.

Full Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting at Butte College Report

#8

San Diego State University

San Diego, CA

With a ranking of #8, San Diego State University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting students. Located in the large city of San Diego, SDSU is a public college with a fairly large student population.

After completing their degree, homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting graduates from SDSU carry an average student debt load of $13,000. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $271.

Read full report on Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting at San Diego State University

California State University - Fullerton ranked #9 on this year’s Most Popular Law Enforcement & Firefighting Schools in California list. Cal State Fullerton is a fairly large public school located in the large suburb of Fullerton.

Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting majors at Cal State Fullerton take out an average of $11,866 in student loans while working on their egree.

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California State University - Los Angeles came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Law Enforcement & Firefighting Schools in California ranking. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Cal State LA is a public college with a very large student population.

The average amount in student loans that homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting majors at Cal State LA take out is $11,736.

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#11

Moreno Valley College

Moreno Valley, CA

Moreno Valley College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting programs. Located in the suburb of Moreno Valley, Moreno Valley College is a public school with a medium-sized student population.

The average amount in student loans that homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting majors at Moreno Valley College take out is $19,500.

Read full report on Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting at Moreno Valley College

California State University - Long Beach came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Law Enforcement & Firefighting Schools in California ranking. CSULB is a fairly large public school located in the city of Long Beach.

The average amount in student loans that homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting majors at CSULB take out is $13,500.

Read full report on Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting at California State University - Long Beach

California State University - Northridge came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Law Enforcement & Firefighting Schools in California ranking. Located in the city of Northridge, CSUN is a public school with a very large student population.

After completing their degree, homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting graduates from CSUN carry an average student debt load of $11,750.

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#13

Sierra College

Rocklin, CA

Sierra College landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting programs. Sierra College is a fairly large public school located in the large suburb of Rocklin.

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With a ranking of #15, California State University - Dominguez Hills did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting students. CSUDH is a large public school located in the small city of Carson.

After completing their degree, homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting graduates from CSUDH carry an average student debt load of $12,249.

Full Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting at California State University - Dominguez Hills Report

#16

San Bernardino Valley College

San Bernardino, CA

San Bernardino Valley College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Law Enforcement & Firefighting Schools in California ranking. Located in the city of San Bernardino, San Bernardino Valley College is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

After completing their degree, homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting graduates from San Bernardino Valley College carry an average student debt load of $19,500.

Read full report on Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting at San Bernardino Valley College

#16

Santa Rosa Junior College

Santa Rosa, CA

Santa Rosa Junior College landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting programs. Located in the city of Santa Rosa, SRJC is a public school with a large student population.

While working on their degree, homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting majors at SRJC accumulate an average of around $13,875 in student debt.

Read More…

#16

Imperial Valley College

Imperial, CA

Imperial Valley College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Law Enforcement & Firefighting Schools in California ranking. Located in the rural area of Imperial, IVC is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.

Read full report on Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting at Imperial Valley College

#19

Palomar College

San Marcos, CA

Palomar College ranked #19 on this year’s Most Popular Law Enforcement & Firefighting Schools in California list. Palomar College is a fairly large public school located in the large suburb of San Marcos.

Read full report on Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting at Palomar College

#20

Citrus College

Glendora, CA

Citrus College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Law Enforcement & Firefighting Schools in California ranking. Located in the large suburb of Glendora, Citrus College is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.

Read full report on Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting at Citrus College

#21

Yuba College

Marysville, CA

Yuba College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting students. It came in at #21 on the list. Yuba College is a medium-sized public school located in the medium-sized suburb of Marysville.

Full Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting at Yuba College Report

California State University - San Bernardino ranked #22 on this year’s Most Popular Law Enforcement & Firefighting Schools in California list. Located in the medium-sized city of San Bernardino, CSUSB is a public college with a fairly large student population.

The average amount in student loans that homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting majors at CSUSB take out is $14,800.

Full Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting at California State University - San Bernardino Report

#23

Allan Hancock College

Santa Maria, CA

Allan Hancock College ranked #23 on this year’s Most Popular Law Enforcement & Firefighting Schools in California list. Located in the medium-sized city of Santa Maria, Allan Hancock College is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.

Full Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting at Allan Hancock College Report

#24

National University

La Jolla, CA

National University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting students. It came in at #24 on the list. Located in the city of La Jolla, National University is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population.

The average amount in student loans that homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting majors at National University take out is $25,133.

Full Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting at National University Report

#25

Southwestern College

Chula Vista, CA

Southwestern College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting students. It came in at #25 on the list. Located in the large city of Chula Vista, SWC Chula Vista is a public school with a large student population.

Read More…

Honorable Mentions

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also popular but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Most Popular Law Enforcement & Firefighting Schools in California award.

Rank College Location
26 Chaffey College Rancho Cucamonga, CA
27 College of the Sequoias Visalia, CA
28 California State University - East Bay Hayward, CA
28 Bakersfield College Bakersfield, CA
30 San Jose State University San Jose, CA
31 San Francisco State University San Francisco, CA
32 Fresno City College Fresno, CA
33 Monterey Peninsula College Monterey, CA
34 Ventura College Ventura, CA

Best Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Colleges in the Far Western US Region

Explore all the Most Popular Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Schools in the Far Western US Area or other specific states within that region.

State Degrees Awarded
Washington 718
Oregon 602
Hawaii 270
Nevada 764
Alaska 140

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

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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