Security Science and Technology: is this master's degree worth it?
National picture across 35 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$86,344 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.
$86,344Median year-4 earnings
$23,730Average institution net-price context
Not availableMedian federal debt
Observed national outcomes
$86,344Median reported earnings · year 4
$75,686Average reported earnings · year 5
Not availableMedian federal debt
59thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
35Reporting programs
35With 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.
OPEN PROFILE
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$68,812National median$86,34475th percentile$105,757
35 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott$145,2402Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach$145,2403Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide$145,2404Excelsior University$144,4275University of San Diego$137,5336Champlain College$134,8537Sacred Heart University$113,1998Utica University$108,5619University of Maryland Global Campus$106,78710Capella University$105,757Observed 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 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-PrescottMaster's Degree | Prescott, AZ | $145,240 | Not available | Baseline needed | $40,287 |
| 2 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona BeachMaster's Degree | Daytona Beach, FL | $145,240 | Not available | Baseline needed | $41,272 |
| 3 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-WorldwideMaster's Degree | Daytona Beach, FL | $145,240 | Not available | Baseline needed | $18,725 |
| 4 | Excelsior UniversityMaster's Degree | Albany, NY | $144,427 | Not available | Baseline needed | Not available |
| 5 | University of San DiegoMaster's Degree | San Diego, CA | $137,533 | Not available | Baseline needed | $30,365 |
| 6 | Champlain CollegeMaster's Degree | Burlington, VT | $134,853 | Not available | Baseline needed | $35,860 |
| 7 | Sacred Heart UniversityMaster's Degree | Fairfield, CT | $113,199 | Not available | Baseline needed | $46,174 |
| 8 | Utica UniversityMaster's Degree | Utica, NY | $108,561 | Not available | Baseline needed | $19,108 |
| 9 | University of Maryland Global CampusMaster's Degree | Adelphi, MD | $106,787 | Not available | Baseline needed | $22,063 |
| 10 | Capella UniversityMaster's Degree | Minneapolis, MN | $105,757 | Not available | Baseline needed | $17,956 |
| 11 | West Virginia UniversityMaster's Degree | Morgantown, WV | $98,517 | Not available | Baseline needed | $15,634 |
| 12 | Carlow UniversityMaster's Degree | Pittsburgh, PA | $95,368 | Not available | Baseline needed | $20,786 |
| 13 | CUNY John Jay College of Criminal JusticeMaster's Degree | New York, NY | $93,984 | Not available | Baseline needed | $3,203 |
| 14 | La Salle UniversityMaster's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $93,485 | Not available | Baseline needed | $19,409 |
| 15 | California State University, Los AngelesMaster's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $92,683 | Not available | Baseline needed | $3,967 |
| 16 | George Mason UniversityMaster's Degree | Fairfax, VA | $92,064 | Not available | Baseline needed | $17,915 |
| 17 | George Washington UniversityMaster's Degree | Washington, DC | $91,985 | Not available | Baseline needed | $36,586 |
| 18 | Stevenson UniversityMaster's Degree | Owings Mills, MD | $86,344 | Not available | Baseline needed | $26,505 |
| 19 | University of BaltimoreMaster's Degree | Baltimore, MD | $85,028 | Not available | Baseline needed | $13,868 |
| 20 | University of California, DavisMaster's Degree | Davis, CA | $84,479 | Not available | Baseline needed | $14,741 |
| 21 | Boston UniversityMaster's Degree | Boston, MA | $77,554 | Not available | Baseline needed | $24,402 |
| 22 | Syracuse UniversityMaster's Degree | Syracuse, NY | $76,631 | Not available | Baseline needed | $38,793 |
| 23 | Pfeiffer UniversityMaster's Degree | Misenheimer, NC | $76,181 | Not available | Baseline needed | $19,076 |
| 24 | Towson UniversityMaster's Degree | Towson, MD | $74,405 | Not available | Baseline needed | $17,413 |
| 25 | Hofstra UniversityMaster's Degree | Hempstead, NY | $73,028 | Not available | Baseline needed | $34,176 |
| 26 | Pace UniversityMaster's Degree | New York, NY | $72,614 | Not available | Baseline needed | $30,892 |
| 27 | University of New HavenMaster's Degree | West Haven, CT | $68,812 | Not available | Baseline needed | $34,192 |
| 28 | Philadelphia College of Osteopathic MedicineMaster's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $68,789 | Not available | Baseline needed | Not available |
| 29 | Arcadia UniversityMaster's Degree | Glenside, PA | $67,378 | Not available | Baseline needed | $29,466 |
| 30 | Duquesne UniversityMaster's Degree | Pittsburgh, PA | $66,985 | Not available | Baseline needed | $37,730 |
| 31 | Virginia Commonwealth UniversityMaster's Degree | Richmond, VA | $66,695 | Not available | Baseline needed | $23,433 |
| 32 | Marshall UniversityMaster's Degree | Huntington, WV | $66,450 | Not available | Baseline needed | $7,502 |
| 33 | National UniversityMaster's Degree | San Diego, CA | $66,173 | Not available | Baseline needed | $22,878 |
| 34 | Indiana University-IndianapolisMaster's Degree | Indianapolis, IN | $62,465 | Not available | Baseline needed | $11,668 |
| 35 | Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Gurabo CampusMaster's Degree | Gurabo, PR | $35,659 | Not available | Baseline needed | $7,051 |
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.