Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations: is it worth it?
A 0–100 score blending this major’s national earnings, ROI and typical debt. How it’s scored.
National picture across 7 college programs, at a typical net price.
Graduate earnings clearly outpace the cost and debt — this degree pays back quickly.
What Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations pays
Career outlook for Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations graduates
The job market for the occupations Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations graduates typically enter, projected through 2034 — from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This is the demand side, complementing the IRS-verified graduate earnings above.
Top jobs for this major
| Occupation | U.S. jobs | Growth to 2034 | Median pay | Typical entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First-line supervisors of police and detectives | 160,800 | +2.9% | $105,980 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Detectives and criminal investigators | 117,900 | -0.7% | $93,580 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Cartographers and photogrammetrists | 13,400 | +6.4% | $78,380 | Bachelor's degree |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections (2024–34) & the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupation pay is the national median wage for the role — not the same as graduate earnings, which we draw from IRS records.
Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations vs similar majors
How Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations stacks up against the closest fields in Military Technologies on pay, debt, ROI and the DR Rating. The best figure in each row is highlighted.
| Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations Military Technologies · this major | Military Technologies and Applied Sciences, Other | Military Applied Sciences | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DR Rating | 81 A | 80 A | 46 D |
| ROI verdict | Strong return | Strong return | Strong return |
| Median earnings (5 yr) | $76,093 | $74,586 | $58,787 |
| Median earnings (1 yr) | $57,724 | $75,492 | — |
| ROI vs cost | +288% | +311% | +92% |
| Typical debt | $22,528 | — | — |
| Colleges offering it | 7 | 1 | 2 |
Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations earnings over time
National median earnings one year after graduating, by cohort year — the consistent measure available across the federal data’s history.
Best colleges for Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations
Ranked by the ROI of this major at each college — its graduate earnings against the cost.
| # | College | Credential | Earnings (5 yr) | Median debt | 10-yr ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cochise County Community College District Sierra Vista, AZ | Certificate | $76,577 | — | +3,883% | Strong return |
| 2 | Norwich University Northfield, VT | Associate's | $98,404 | $13,167 | +983% | Strong return |
| 3 | Northland Community and Technical College Thief River Falls, MN | Certificate | $55,979 | — | +686% | Strong return |
| 4 | Mercyhurst University Erie, PA | Associate's | $80,168 | $25,500 | +630% | Strong return |
| 5 | Liberty University Lynchburg, VA | Certificate | $103,977 | $28,195 | +362% | Strong return |
| 6 | Point Park University Pittsburgh, PA | Certificate | $68,260 | — | +124% | Strong return |
| 7 | Coastal Carolina University Conway, SC | Associate's | $49,288 | $23,250 | +18% | Break-even |
Related majors
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.