2023 Best Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Associate Degree Colleges for Veterans in the Southwest Region
41
Ranked Colleges
4,150
Degrees Awarded
$30,059
Avg Salary
With all of the options veterans have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Most Veteran Friendly in the Southwest Region for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting for an Associate” ranking.
In 2020-2021, 142,610 people earned their degree in homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting, making the major the 12th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $37,355 and had an average of $25,230 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Southwest region, there were 19,493 homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,065 and $25,607 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 4,150 homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting graduates with average earnings and debt of $35,810 and $18,681 respectively.
For this year’s “Most Veteran Friendly in the Southwest Region for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting for an Associate” ranking, we looked at 41 colleges that offer a degree in homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting programs, but they also offer a lot of support to veterans and active service members.
To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as veteran satisfaction, veteran affordability, and overall quality of the homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
More Ways to Rank Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Schools
When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Most Veteran Friendly in the Southwest Region for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting for an Associate” list to help you make the college decision.
In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
Most Veteran Friendly in the Southwest Region for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting for an Associate
The following schools top our list of the Best “Most Veteran Friendly in the Southwest Region for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting for an Associate”.
Top 25 Best Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Associate Degree Colleges for Veterans in the Southwest Region
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Phoenix - Arizona. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Southwest Region for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting for an Associate list. University of Phoenix - Arizona is a large private for-profit school situated in Tempe, Arizona. It awarded 502 associates’s homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting degrees in 2020-2021.
UOPX - Arizona not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list.Of the 89,763 students enrolled at University of Phoenix - Arizona, 135 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 157 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $6,437. To help with additional expenses, 1 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend San Antonio College. The school came in at #2 for the Most Veteran Friendly in the Southwest Region for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting for an Associate. San Antonio College is a public institution located in San Antonio, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 48 associates’s degrees in 2020-2021.
San Antonio College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list.Our most recent data shows that 2,054 of the 19,231 students enrolled at San Antonio College were GI Bill® students, of which 1,362 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $1,249. During this same period, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. San Antonio College does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend South Texas College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Southwest Region for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting for an Associate list. Located in McAllen, Texas, this large public school handed out 333 diplomas to qualified associates’s homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at South Texas College, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking.According to our most recent data, South Texas College supports 28,233 students, and 532 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 193 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $1,731. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
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Out of the 41 schools in the Most Veteran Friendly in the Southwest Region for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting for an Associate that were part of this year’s ranking, Austin Community College District landed the #4 spot on the list. This large school is located in Austin, Texas, and it awarded 123 associates’s homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting degrees in 2020-2021.
Austin Community College District also made our “Best Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #11.According to our most recent data, Austin Community College District supports 39,896 students, and 2,473 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 59 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $735. To help with additional expenses, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
Full Austin Community College District Veteran Student Life Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend El Paso Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Southwest Region for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting for an Associate list. This large school is located in El Paso, Texas, and it awarded 295 associates’s homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting degrees in 2020-2021.
El Paso Community College also made our “Best Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #12.According to our most recent data, El Paso Community College supports 26,034 students, and 1,324 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 511 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $1,459. On top of their other funding sources, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
Full El Paso Community College Veteran Student Life Report
With a ranking of #6, American InterContinental University - Online did quite well on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Southwest Region for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting for an Associate list. AIU Online is a fairly large school located in Schaumburg, Illinois that handed out 175 associates’s homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting degrees in 2020-2021.
AIU Online did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list.Of the 15,415 students enrolled at AIU Online, 640 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 665 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $6,136. To help with additional expenses, 9 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
[Read full report on veteran student life at AIU Online]](/colleges/american-intercontinental-university-online/student-life/veterans/)
Rio Salado College landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Southwest Region for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting for an Associate ranking. Rio Salado College is a public institution located in Tempe, Arizona. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 76 associates’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Rio Salado College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list.According to our most recent data, Rio Salado College supports 17,362 students, and 335 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 206 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $630. In addition to receiving other benefits, 4 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Rio Salado College offers credit for military training for eligible students.
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Yavapai College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Veteran Friendly in the Southwest Region for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting for an Associate ranking. Yavapai College is a public institution located in Prescott, Arizona. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 28 associates’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our southwest region associate degree vets studying homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting list, Yavapai College has also earned the #24 rank in our “Best Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking.Among the 6,009 students enrolled at Yavapai College, 257 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 166 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $6,293. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Yavapai College offers credit for military training for eligible students.
[Read full report on veteran student life at Yavapai College]](/colleges/yavapai-college/student-life/veterans/)
South Plains College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Veteran Friendly in the Southwest Region for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting for an Associate ranking. Levelland, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting degrees to 54 students in 2020-2021.
South Plains College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list.Our most recent data shows that 284 of the 8,880 students enrolled at South Plains College were GI Bill® students, of which 106 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $2,097. To help with additional expenses, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. South Plains College offers credit for military training for eligible students.
[Read full report on veteran student life at South Plains College]](/colleges/south-plains-college/student-life/veterans/)
With a ranking of #10, Phoenix College did quite well on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Southwest Region for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting for an Associate list. Phoenix College is located in Phoenix, Arizona and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 44 associates’s homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting degrees to qualified students.
Phoenix College also took the #21 spot in our “Best Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking.Among the 9,538 students enrolled at Phoenix College, 228 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 155 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $1,104. During this same period, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
[Read full report on veteran student life at Phoenix College]](/colleges/phoenix-college/student-life/veterans/)
Tarrant County College District landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Southwest Region for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting for an Associate ranking. Tarrant County College is a public institution located in Fort Worth, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 52 associates’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Tarrant County College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list.Our most recent data shows that 1,862 of the 43,000 students enrolled at Tarrant County College were GI Bill® students, of which 1,172 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $1,319. To help with additional expenses, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
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Lone Star College System did quite well in the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Southwest Region for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting for an Associate ranking, coming in at #12. Located in The Woodlands, Texas, this large public school awarded 197 diplomas to qualified associates’s homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at North Harris Montgomery, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking.Among the 70,109 students enrolled at North Harris Montgomery, 1,932 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 1,202 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $2,042. To help with additional expenses, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
[Read full report on veteran student life at North Harris Montgomery]](/colleges/lone-star-college-system/student-life/veterans/)
Rose State College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Veteran Friendly in the Southwest Region for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting for an Associate ranking. Located in Midwest City, Oklahoma, this medium-sized public school handed out 78 diplomas to qualified associates’s homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting students in 2020-2021.
Among the 6,722 students enrolled at RSC, 540 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 282 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $2,113. During this same period, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. RSC offers credit for military training for eligible students.
Full RSC Veteran Student Life Report
Wayland Baptist University ranked #14 on this year’s Most Veteran Friendly in the Southwest Region for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting for an Associate list. Wayland Baptist University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Plainview, Texas. It awarded 16 associates’s homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting degrees in 2020-2021.
Wayland Baptist University also made our “Best Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #3.Among the 4,062 students enrolled at Wayland Baptist University, 2 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 4 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $6,578. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Wayland Baptist University offers credit for military training for eligible students.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
[Read full report on veteran student life at Wayland Baptist University]](/colleges/wayland-baptist-university/student-life/veterans/)
With a ranking of #15, Pima Community College did quite well on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Southwest Region for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting for an Associate list. This fairly large school is located in Tucson, Arizona, and it awarded 19 associates’s homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting degrees in 2020-2021.
Of the 15,544 students enrolled at Pima County Community College District, 853 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 426 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $1,036. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Pima County Community College District offers credit for military training for eligible students.
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With a ranking of #16, Glendale Community College did quite well on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Southwest Region for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting for an Associate list. Glendale Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Glendale, Arizona. It awarded 26 associates’s homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Glendale Community College, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking.Among the 14,374 students enrolled at Glendale Community College, 637 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 418 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $1,071. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
Full Glendale Community College Veteran Student Life Report
Tyler Junior College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Most Veteran Friendly in the Southwest Region for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting for an Associate ranking. This fairly large school is located in Tyler, Texas, and it awarded 80 associates’s homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our southwest region associate degree vets studying homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting list, Tyler Junior College has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking.Of the 11,749 students enrolled at Tyler Junior College, 416 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 173 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $2,366. During this same period, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
[Read full report on veteran student life at Tyler Junior College]](/colleges/tyler-junior-college/student-life/veterans/)
Houston Community College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Most Veteran Friendly in the Southwest Region for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting for an Associate ranking. Houston Community College is a large public school situated in Houston, Texas. It awarded 20 associates’s homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting degrees in 2020-2021.
Among the 48,329 students enrolled at Houston Community College, 1,421 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 783 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $1,632. During this same period, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Houston Community College does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
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Cameron University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Most Veteran Friendly in the Southwest Region for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting for an Associate ranking. This small school is located in Lawton, Oklahoma, and it awarded 10 associates’s homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting degrees in 2020-2021.
According to our most recent data, Cameron University supports 3,771 students, and 892 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 284 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $3,633. On top of their other funding sources, 1 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
Full Cameron University Veteran Student Life Report
Amarillo College did quite well in the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Southwest Region for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting for an Associate ranking, coming in at #20. Located in Amarillo, Texas, this medium-sized public school awarded 64 degrees to qualified associates’s homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting students in 2020-2021.
Amarillo College also took the #9 spot in our “Best Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking.Among the 9,079 students enrolled at Amarillo College, 260 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 141 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $1,795. During this same period, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
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Arizona Western College did quite well in the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Southwest Region for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting for an Associate ranking, coming in at #21. Arizona Western College is a medium-sized public school situated in Yuma, Arizona. It awarded 98 associates’s homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting degrees in 2020-2021.
AWC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list.Among the 6,487 students enrolled at Arizona Western College, 254 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 166 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $1,156. To help with additional expenses, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
[Read full report on veteran student life at AWC]](/colleges/arizona-western-college/student-life/veterans/)
Western New Mexico University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Veteran Friendly in the Southwest Region for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting for an Associate ranking. Western New Mexico University is located in Silver City, New Mexico and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 4 associates’s homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting degrees to qualified students.
Of the 2,896 students enrolled at Western New Mexico University, 99 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 50 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $4,538. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
[Read full report on veteran student life at Western New Mexico University]](/colleges/western-new-mexico-university/student-life/veterans/)
Central New Mexico Community College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Most Veteran Friendly in the Southwest Region for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting for an Associate ranking. Central New Mexico Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It awarded 54 associates’s homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting degrees in 2020-2021.
CNM also took the #25 spot in our “Best Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking.Our most recent data shows that 839 of the 21,398 students enrolled at CNM were GI Bill® students, of which 390 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $1,171. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
Full CNM Veteran Student Life Report
With a ranking of #24, New Mexico State University - Dona Ana did quite well on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Southwest Region for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting for an Associate list. New Mexico State University - Dona Ana is a medium-sized public school situated in Las Cruces, New Mexico. It awarded 85 associates’s homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting degrees in 2020-2021.
NMSU Dona Ana did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list.Of the 7,028 students enrolled at New Mexico State University - Dona Ana, 288 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 164 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $1,016. During this same period, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. New Mexico State University - Dona Ana offers credit for military training for eligible students.
Full New Mexico State University - Dona Ana Veteran Student Life Report
With a ranking of #25, College of the Mainland did quite well on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Southwest Region for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting for an Associate list. Texas City, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting degrees to 31 students in 2020-2021.
According to our most recent data, COM supports 4,335 students, and 118 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 96 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $1,327. On top of their other funding sources, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
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