Homeland Security graduates from Columbia Southern University earn $73,703 median salary — above the national average for this program. Median debt: $21,628.
Homeland Security at Columbia Southern University
Orange Beach, Alabama • Bachelor's
What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Homeland Security at Columbia Southern University
This page combines two federal data products: IPEDS institutional characteristics for Columbia Southern University and the College Scorecard field-of-study (FOS) file for Homeland Security at the bachelor's credential level. The FOS file is keyed by CIP (Classification of Instructional Programs) code, which means earnings and debt figures here reflect only graduates of this specific program — not the school as a whole. IPEDS reports 69 completers in the most recent cohort for this program at Columbia Southern University, the denominator behind the median earnings figure.
Median graduate earnings of $73,703 represent Treasury-verified wages approximately one year after program completion, drawn from Social Security Administration records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Compared to the national mean of $65,518 across all institutions offering Homeland Security, graduates here earn above the national average for this program. Across all programs at Columbia Southern University, the mean median-earnings figure is $74,927, providing internal context for whether this specific field out-earns other options at the same institution.
Debt signals complete the ROI picture. The median cumulative federal loan debt for Homeland Security graduates at Columbia Southern University is $21,628, which translates to roughly $180 per month on a standard 10-year repayment plan. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.29 is under the 1.0 threshold the College Scorecard uses to flag favorable gainful-employment outcomes — earnings in year one already exceed cumulative borrowing. Program-level debt and earnings come from the Department of Education’s College Scorecard FOS release, updated annually.
Earnings Comparison
Program Details
Debt & ROI
Homeland Security at Other Schools
| School | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| George Mason University | $143,972 | $21,479 |
| Barry University | $103,746 | — |
| Grand Canyon University | $84,553 | $25,616 |
| Utica University | $82,733 | $25,000 |
| National University | $80,134 | $23,437 |
| Bethel University | $79,079 | $28,709 |
| American Public University System | $77,122 | $24,942 |
| Waldorf University | $76,520 | $22,000 |
| Capella University | $76,446 | — |
| Columbia Southern University (this school) | $73,703 | $21,628 |
Other Programs at Columbia Southern University
| Program | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians | $99,847 | $32,386 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $95,774 | $20,057 |
| Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians | $94,480 | $23,425 |
| Homeland Security | $93,851 | $37,075 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $89,203 | $25,428 |
| Fire Protection | $88,735 | $20,895 |
| Fire Protection | $88,114 | $9,500 |
| Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians | $87,340 | $13,910 |
| Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians | $84,636 | $15,879 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $81,292 | $22,078 |
Other Schools with Homeland Security
Quick picks offering the same program — compare side by side
About the Data
Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard Field of Study file. Earnings are median earnings for graduates after completion, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Institutional characteristics come from IPEDS. Debt figures represent the median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation.
Debt-to-earnings ratio compares cumulative debt to annual earnings. A ratio below 1.0 indicates that annual earnings exceed total debt, generally considered favorable. Estimated monthly payments assume a standard 10-year repayment plan.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.