Security Science and Technology: is this undergraduate certificate or diploma worth it?
National picture across 5 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$64,856 in median year-4 earnings
A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.
$64,856Median year-4 earnings
$16,310Average institution net-price context
$29,333Median federal debt
Observed national outcomes
$64,856Median reported earnings · year 4
$21,550Average reported earnings · year 5
$29,333Median federal debt
78thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
5Reporting programs
4With year-4 earnings
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
CURRENT VIEW
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $64,856
- Federal debt
- $29,333
- Reporting programs
- 5
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $41,327
- Federal debt
- $12,000
- Reporting programs
- 9
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $57,447
- Federal debt
- $25,432
- Reporting programs
- 49
Post-baccalaureate Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- Not available
- Federal debt
- $27,000
- Reporting programs
- 1
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $86,344
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 35
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$21,460National median$64,85675th percentile$82,049
4 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
Find the colleges that fit your constraints
Keep this exact federal field and credential fixed, then narrow the reporting colleges by location, sector and federal debt.
5 matchesShowing up to 25 currently operating colleges
1Champlain CollegeBurlington, VT · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$93,975Federal debt$30,666Annual net price$35,8602Utica UniversityUtica, NY · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$82,049Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$19,1083Miami Dade CollegeMiami, FL · PublicYear-4 earnings$47,662Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$5,4634Caribbean Forensic and Technical CollegeSan Juan, PR · Private for-profitYear-4 earnings$21,460Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$6,1035University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeMilwaukee, WI · PublicYear-4 earningsNot availableFederal debt$28,000Annual net price$15,014
Open the full program search →See the spread, not just the national number.
1Champlain College$93,9752Utica University$82,0493Miami Dade College$47,6624Caribbean Forensic and Technical College$21,4605University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeNot availableObserved year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1111 · 9 crosswalk linksDetectives and Criminal InvestigatorsSOC 33-3021 · 5 crosswalk linksFirst-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesSOC 33-1012 · 4 crosswalk linksFirst-Line Supervisors of Protective Service Workers, All OtherSOC 33-1099 · 2 crosswalk linksFirst-Line Supervisors of Security WorkersSOC 33-1091 · 2 crosswalk linksForensic Science TechniciansSOC 19-4092 · 2 crosswalk linksLife, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherSOC 19-4099 · 2 crosswalk linksPrivate Detectives and InvestigatorsSOC 33-9021 · 2 crosswalk linksSpecial ForcesSOC 55-3018 · 2 crosswalk linksSpecial Forces OfficersSOC 55-1017 · 2 crosswalk linksAccountants and AuditorsSOC 13-2011 · 1 crosswalk linksCartographers and PhotogrammetristsSOC 17-1021 · 1 crosswalk links
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | ROI status | Cost context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Champlain CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Burlington, VT | $93,975 | $30,666 | Baseline needed | $35,860 |
| 2 | Utica UniversityUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Utica, NY | $82,049 | Not available | Baseline needed | $19,108 |
| 3 | Miami Dade CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Miami, FL | $47,662 | Not available | Baseline needed | $5,463 |
| 4 | Caribbean Forensic and Technical CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | San Juan, PR | $21,460 | Not available | Baseline needed | $6,103 |
| 5 | University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Milwaukee, WI | Not available | $28,000 | Baseline needed | $15,014 |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.