UnisHub University Compass

Protective Services: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries

Program Overview

Protective Services programs prepare individuals for critical roles in safeguarding communities, infrastructure, and national security through comprehensive training in emergency response, public safety, and threat mitigation. This multidisciplinary field integrates principles from law enforcement, fire protection, emergency management, and homeland security to address evolving risks in both civilian and governmental contexts.

  • Emergency Management: Focuses on planning, coordinating, and executing responses to natural disasters, technological failures, and other large-scale incidents to minimize harm and restore stability.
  • Homeland Security: Involves strategies and policies designed to protect the nation from terrorism, cyber threats, and other transnational dangers through intelligence, surveillance, and interagency collaboration.
  • Law Enforcement Operations: Covers investigative techniques, legal procedures, criminal justice systems, and ethical conduct essential for maintaining public order and enforcing laws.
  • Firefighting and Fire Prevention: Emphasizes fire suppression methods, hazardous materials handling, structural safety protocols, and community education to reduce fire-related risks.
  • Security Risk Assessment: Teaches systematic evaluation of vulnerabilities, threat identification, and development of protective measures for facilities, events, and personnel.
  • Disaster Preparedness and Response: Addresses the development of contingency plans, resource allocation, communication systems, and recovery frameworks for rapid, effective crisis intervention.

Protective Services Graduate Trends (2010-2024)

1,217
Total Graduates (2023-2024)
62
Universities & Colleges
N/A
Career Pathways

Protective Services Career Pathways & Salary Outlook

The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Protective Services degrees, including . These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements.


Career salary data is not available for this program.

Top Universities for Protective Services by Graduate Enrollment

Below are the top 62 institutions offering Protective Services programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Protective Services is found at Miami Dade College (MDC) (123 graduates), Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) (88 graduates), Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) (82 graduates), Massachusetts Maritime Academy (MMA) (71 graduates), and Michigan State University (MSU) (70 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 1,217 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.

College Name Award Levels Graduates Location Control Website
Miami Dade College (MDC)
Bachelor's
123 Miami, Florida Public mdc.edu
Eastern Kentucky University (EKU)
Master's
88 Richmond, Kentucky Public eku.edu
Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
82 Richmond, Virginia Public vcu.edu
Massachusetts Maritime Academy (MMA)
Bachelor's
Master's
71 Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts Public maritime.edu
Michigan State University (MSU)
Master's
70 East Lansing, Michigan Public msu.edu
St Petersburg College (SPC)
Bachelor's
62 St. Petersburg, Florida Public spcollege.edu
Tiffin University (TU)
Bachelor's
Master's
59 Tiffin, Ohio Private tiffin.edu
Florida Atlantic University (FAU)
Bachelor's
51 Boca Raton, Florida Public fau.edu
University of New Haven (UNH)
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Other Award
49 West Haven, Connecticut Private newhaven.edu
Webster University
Master's
45 Saint Louis, Missouri Private webster.edu
Neumann University
Bachelor's
42 Aston, Pennsylvania Private neumann.edu
Klamath Community College (KCC)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Residency
Other Award
38 Klamath Falls, Oregon Public klamathcc.edu
Tulane University of Louisiana
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
33 New Orleans, Louisiana Private tulane.edu
Florida State College (FSCJ)
Bachelor's
31 Jacksonville, Florida Public fscj.edu
Thomas Edison State University (TESU)
Bachelor's
26 Trenton, New Jersey Public tesu.edu
Ivy Tech Community College (Ivy Tech)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
23 Indianapolis, Indiana Public ivytech.edu
California State University (CSULB)
Master's
21 Long Beach, California Public csulb.edu
State College of Florida (SCF)
Bachelor's
19 Bradenton, Florida Public scf.edu
University of Massachusetts
Postbac Cert.
19 Lowell, Massachusetts Public uml.edu
ICPR Junior College
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
19 Hato Rey, Puerto Rico Private icprjc.edu
Anne Arundel Community College (AACC)
Associate's
Other Award
18 Arnold, Maryland Public aacc.edu
Franklin University
Bachelor's
18 Columbus, Ohio Private franklin.edu
Florida SouthWestern State College (FSW)
Bachelor's
16 Fort Myers, Florida Public fsw.edu
Madonna University
Other Award
14 Livonia, Michigan Private madonna.edu
Pennsylvania State University
Postbac Cert.
14 University Park, Pennsylvania Public worldcampus.psu.edu
Columbus State University
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
13 Columbus, Georgia Public columbusstate.edu
Catawba Valley Community College (CVCC)
Associate's
Other Award
11 Hickory, North Carolina Public cvcc.edu
Vance-Granville Community College (VGCC)
Associate's
11 Henderson, North Carolina Public vgcc.edu
Cape Fear Community College (CFCC)
Associate's
Other Award
8 Wilmington, North Carolina Public cfcc.edu
Owens Community College (OCC)
Associate's
8 Perrysburg, Ohio Public owens.edu
ICPR Junior College (ICPR)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
8 Mayaguez, Puerto Rico Private icprjc.edu
Martinsburg College (MC)
Other Award
8 Martinsburg, West Virginia Private martinsburgcollege.edu
Seminole State College of Florida
Bachelor's
7 Sanford, Florida Public seminolestate.edu
Western Illinois University (WIU)
Bachelor's
7 Macomb, Illinois Public wiu.edu
Capitol Technology University
Doctorate (Research)
6 Laurel, Maryland Private captechu.edu
Pierce College District
Residency
Other Award
6 Lakewood, Washington Public pierce.ctc.edu
University of West Alabama (UWA)
Bachelor's
5 Livingston, Alabama Public uwa.edu
Gaston College
Associate's
5 Dallas, North Carolina Public gaston.edu
Utah Valley University (UVU)
Master's
5 Orem, Utah Public uvu.edu
Charlie's Guard-Detective Bureau and Academy Inc
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
5 Aguadilla, Puerto Rico Private charliesacademy.edu
Barton County Community College
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
4 Great Bend, Kansas Public bartonccc.edu
Frederick Community College (FCC)
Associate's
4 Frederick, Maryland Public frederick.edu
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College (A-B Tech)
Associate's
Other Award
4 Asheville, North Carolina Public abtech.edu
Blue Ridge Community College (BRCC)
Associate's
4 Flat Rock, North Carolina Public blueridge.edu
Wake Technical Community College (Wake Tech)
Associate's
Other Award
4 Raleigh, North Carolina Public waketech.edu
New Jersey City University (NJCU)
Doctorate (Research)
3 Jersey City, New Jersey Public njcu.edu
Bladen Community College (BCC)
Associate's
3 Dublin, North Carolina Public bladencc.edu
Fayetteville Technical Community College (FTCC)
Associate's
3 Fayetteville, North Carolina Public faytechcc.edu
Piedmont Community College (PCC)
Associate's
3 Roxboro, North Carolina Public piedmontcc.edu
Pennsylvania State University
Postbac Cert.
3 University Park, Pennsylvania Public psu.edu
Schoolcraft Community College District
Associate's
2 Livonia, Michigan Public schoolcraft.edu
Great Bay Community College (GBCC)
Other Award
2 Portsmouth, New Hampshire Public greatbay.edu
Passaic County Community College (PCCC)
Other Award
2 Paterson, New Jersey Public web.pccc.edu
Durham Technical Community College (Durham Tech)
Associate's
2 Durham, North Carolina Public durhamtech.edu
Martin Community College (MCC)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
2 Williamston, North Carolina Public martincc.edu
Montgomery County Community College (MCCC)
Associate's
2 Blue Bell, Pennsylvania Public mc3.edu
Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU)
Other Award
1 Tempe, Arizona Public asu.edu
Rio Salado College
Other Award
1 Tempe, Arizona Public rio.maricopa.edu
South Piedmont Community College (SPCC)
Associate's
1 Polkton, North Carolina Public spcc.edu
Brunswick Community College (BCC)
Associate's
1 Bolivia, North Carolina Public brunswickcc.edu
Butler County Community College (BC3)
Associate's
1 Butler, Pennsylvania Public bc3.edu
Pennsylvania State University
Postbac Cert.
1 Malvern, Pennsylvania Public greatvalley.psu.edu

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to the most common questions about Protective Services programs

Which universities have the largest Protective Services programs?

Currently 62 accredited institutions offer Protective Services degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Miami Dade College (MDC) (123 graduates), Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) (88 graduates), and Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) (82 graduates).

Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.

Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.

Is enrollment in Protective Services growing or declining?

Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 2,132 in 2010 to a peak of 1,793 in 2020, before declining slightly to 1,217 in 2023-24. This represents a 43% decrease overall from 2010.

The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.

Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.

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