Bachelor's-16% vs national median814 grads tracked
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other at Virginia Commonwealth University
Ranked 7th of 9 bachelor's programs in Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$41,920
middle 50%: $29,842 – $56,074
Median · 5 years out
$68,420
middle 50%: $52,228 – $86,900
Median · 10 years out
$90,807
middle 50%: $62,075 – $121,308
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other (bachelor's) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
VCU graduates in protective services enter the field with $42k median salaries. Earnings reach $91k by year ten.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.
Will the degree pay for itself?
Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.
Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).
Paid off in
6.3 yrs
≈ $7,488 total interest
Same major at other universities
Pennsylvania State University (The)
$109,506 · 5 yrs out
Massachusetts Maritime Academy
$88,474 · 5 yrs out
Oklahoma State University - Oklahoma City
$87,447 · 5 yrs out
Penn State World Campus
$81,403 · 5 yrs out
University of Central Missouri
$72,585 · 5 yrs out
University of New Haven
$68,802 · 5 yrs out
Western Illinois University
$61,827 · 5 yrs out
Savannah State University
$56,877 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Virginia Commonwealth University
Dentistry (Doctorate)
$175,347 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$157,685 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$154,279 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$152,472 · 5 yrs out
Medicine (Doctorate)
$131,725 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$130,026 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Doctorate)
$128,182 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$123,259 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$122,217 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Master's)
$105,799 · 5 yrs out
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs (Master's)
$105,500 · 5 yrs out
Education (Doctorate)
$105,054 · 5 yrs out