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Best Online Intelligence Studies Degree Programs (2026)
Updated September 7, 2026BLS dataCollege ScorecardOn this page
Key takeaway: Intelligence studies is the analysis degree for national security and law-enforcement information: collection disciplines, structured analytic techniques, writing for a decision-maker, and the legal limits on what can be collected. American Public University and ASU sell bachelor’s and master’s versions. It is not homeland security (the emergency-management and policy side) and it is not cybersecurity (the technical defense side), though the three sit next to each other in a lot of catalogs. In IPEDS 2024, 89 institutions reported bachelor’s-or-higher completions in the CIP codes used for this guide, and 84 of those institutions reported offering distance-education programs (IPEDS 2024). Compare accredited programs below.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish an occupation called intelligence analyst. Most of that work is classified under detectives and criminal investigators (SOC 33-3021), management analysts, or information security analysts depending on the employer. Wage figures on this page are those proxy occupations, named as such.
These accredited schools offer online programs. Request information to compare programs, costs, and formats.
How We Rank Schools
Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most
recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS).
To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the
U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked
against schools at the same credential level:
BOCSCORE
Graduation rate 30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
Average net price (lower is better) 20%
Retention rate 15%
Fully online availability 10%
Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score.
Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
BOC
Ranked by BOC Score — U.S. Dept. of Education outcome data. Advertising never affects rankings.
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#1
Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey
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Projected job growth (2024-2034) for intelligence studies careers. Source: BLS Employment Projections. Chart: Best Online College.View the data behind this chart
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Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsSOC 33-3021
$93,790Median annual pay
Median hourly$45.09
Mean annual$99,430
Employment (US)114,430
Pay range (25-75%)$69,330 - $120,520
Political ScientistsSOC 19-3094
$142,080Median annual pay
Median hourly$68.31
Mean annual$142,510
Employment (US)5,540
Pay range (25-75%)$114,030 - $174,180
Management AnalystsSOC 13-1111
$101,860Median annual pay
Median hourly$48.97
Mean annual$113,790
Employment (US)898,280
Pay range (25-75%)$77,950 - $133,370
Compliance OfficersSOC 13-1041
$80,730Median annual pay
Median hourly$38.81
Mean annual$88,400
Employment (US)417,070
Pay range (25-75%)$61,280 - $109,010
Information Security AnalystsSOC 15-1212
$129,180Median annual pay
Median hourly$62.11
Mean annual$132,510
Employment (US)190,650
Pay range (25-75%)$97,810 - $163,500
Private Detectives and InvestigatorsSOC 33-9021
$51,220Median annual pay
Median hourly$24.62
Mean annual$60,150
Employment (US)35,580
Pay range (25-75%)$40,700 - $73,990
Managers, All OtherSOC 11-9199
$141,900Median annual pay
Median hourly$68.22
Mean annual$153,890
Employment (US)622,190
Pay range (25-75%)$102,880 - $186,300
Business Operations Specialists, All OtherSOC 13-1199
$83,050Median annual pay
Median hourly$39.93
Mean annual$93,970
Employment (US)1,087,090
Pay range (25-75%)$62,640 - $114,010
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
The degree does not get you a security clearance, a badge, or a GS-12. Those come from a sponsoring agency after you pass a background investigation. Foreign language skill and a clean record matter more than the concentration name.
A intelligence studies degree covers intelligence collection, analytic writing, geospatial and open-source methods, counterintelligence, ethics and law, and a research or simulation capstone. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish an occupation called intelligence analyst. Most of that work is classified under detectives and criminal investigators (SOC 33-3021), management analysts, or information security analysts depending on the employer. Wage figures on this page are those proxy occupations, named as such.
Can I earn a intelligence studies degree online?
Yes. In IPEDS 2024, 89 institutions reported bachelor’s-or-higher completions in the CIP codes used for this guide, and 84 of those institutions reported offering distance-education programs (IPEDS 2024).
Is intelligence studies accredited?
There is no programmatic accreditor for intelligence studies. Federal analyst jobs are gated by a background investigation and, for most seats, a security clearance. The degree does not grant a clearance. Institutional accreditation is the first academic check.
What do intelligence studies graduates earn?
Detectives and Criminal Investigators The national median annual wage was $93,790, with the 10th percentile at $55,390 and the 90th at $160,540 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 OEWS). Employment was 117,900 in 2024, projected to grow -0.7 percent through 2034, with 7,800 openings per year (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034). Individual outcomes vary by employer, geography, and experience.
