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Emergency management professionals may work in homeland security, crisis management, and disaster recovery roles. Their work involves coordinating agencies and resources following natural and other large-scale disasters.
Individuals with backgrounds in emergency management, the military, law enforcement, fire safety, and related fields often pursue undergraduate or graduate degrees in this field to advance in their careers. Emergency management degrees prepare graduates to respond to man-made or natural disasters.
Other degrees can prepare you to work as an emergency management director in government agencies, educational institutions, hospitals, or private companies. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that emergency management directors earned a median salary of $76,730 as of May 2021.
Many professionals earn their emergency management degrees online. Some colleges and universities offer general bachelor's degrees in emergency management, while others feature degrees that focus on specific sectors within emergency management.
Learn more about emergency management careers and the types of online degrees commonly held by professionals in this field.
Pursuing an Affordable Emergency Management Degree
People interested in saving lives and protecting the safety of millions can consider degrees in emergency management. The field commonly involves four areas of disaster relief work: preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation.
Start by determining the agency you'd like to work in to find your ideal online emergency management degree. For instance, students looking to work with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security can prioritize programs focusing on homeland security.
Professionals in the field aim to prevent and respond to natural and man-made emergencies. They may work as emergency management directors, firefighters, and community health workers.
Featured Online Management Programs
Find a program that meets your affordability, flexibility, and education needs through an accredited, online school.
What Can You Do With a Degree in Emergency Management?
Graduates with online degrees in emergency management can pursue work in all areas of disaster response. Depending on your experience, you might pursue emergency management roles in cybersecurity, firefighting, law enforcement, or public administration. Job titles held by people with emergency management degrees include crisis and risk managers, relief organization personnel, and public information officers.
Graduates can pursue work in public and private organizations. These might include nonprofit, federal, or state institutions, such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the American Red Cross, the National Guard, or the Department of Homeland Security.
What Kind of Emergency Management Degree Should You Get?
Broad emergency management programs often suit most aspiring professionals in this field. In these programs, learners can select concentrations in their areas of interest, such as homeland security or firefighting. These specializations help tailor their studies to their career goals.
Busy students or those who plan to continue working while earning their degree may benefit from online programs. An online emergency management degree gives students flexibility in scheduling, completing assignments, and school choice.
Individuals looking for other affordable online degrees can browse our list of the most affordable online schools.
How Much Money Do People Make With an Emergency Management Degree?
Salary for graduates with emergency management degrees varies by job, employer, and location. According to the BLS, emergency management directors earn a median annual salary of $76,730 as of May 2021. However, the BLS projects jobs for these professionals to grow at a slower-than-average rate of 3% from 2021-2031.
Graduates can also pursue work as firefighters, who earn a median salary of $50,700 per year, or law enforcement officers, who take home a median of $66,020 per year. Emergency management degree-holders can also pursue cybersecurity careers. They may work as information security analysts to protect organizations' computer networks from security breaches. As of May 2021, these professionals earn a median annual salary of $102,600.
What Are The Requirements for a Degree in Emergency Management?
Most bachelor's degrees in emergency management require at least 120 credits. However, this varies by institution, as many provide prior learning credit for past work, military service, or transferable college courses. Students receive training in communication, homeland security, and disaster response.
While enrolled in undergraduate studies, most learners take general education courses. These courses may include writing and college algebra. Enrollees also complete coursework in emergency management and their chosen specialty areas.
A broad, interdisciplinary mindset can benefit candidates for online emergency management degrees. Students also need strong communication skills and a passion to serve the needs of society.
What Are The Best Emergency Management Degrees?
The best online programs in emergency management tailor their curricula to busy working students. Many schools offer quality, asynchronous online programs that allow emergency management students to gain industry knowledge through interactive classes without set login times.
General education, electives, and advanced courses comprise a typical emergency management curriculum. Experiential learning opportunities supplement enrollees' academic experiences, as degree-seekers gain first-hand knowledge of working in the emergency management field through research, internships, and externships.
Admissions offices can tell applicants more about the eligibility requirements for enrollment. Students should always meet with financial aid departments to see if they qualify. Funding opportunities, such as scholarships and fellowships, help qualified learners decrease their educational expenses.
Most Affordable Online Emergency Management Degrees 2023
#1 Most Affordable Online Emergency Management Degrees
Bellevue University
- Bellevue, NE
- 4 years
- Online + Campus
Looking for a flexible education that prepares you for the emergency management field? Consider Bellevue University’s online bachelor of science in emergency management. The 11,008 distance learners at the private college choose from 54 premier online bachelor's programs.
The bachelor's program gives students the tools they need for success in a future emergency management career. The curriculum includes a variety of coursework, giving enrollees broad knowledge of both foundational and advanced emergency management topics. If it makes sense for their career aspirations, degree-seekers can complete hands-on learning experiences to strengthen the knowledge they gain from the program. Industry-specific research projects, internships, and externships impart valuable knowledge to learners. Throughout the degree, students can get guidance from their academic advisor and career counselor.
Applicants who qualify can bring down the price of their degree with internal and external funding opportunities like scholarships and fellowships. An online education leader, the college connects degree-seekers with financial aid to support their academic journey, awarding aid to 84% of all enrollees.
Admission Rate
Not provided
Percent Online Enrollment
95%
Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes
Higher Learning Commission
#2 Most Affordable Online Emergency Management Degrees
Utah Valley University
- Orem, UT
- 4 years
- Online + Campus
All kinds of degree-seekers choose Utah Valley University because the public institution offers learning opportunities with a great deal of flexibility. Virtual learners nationwide select from nine remote bachelor's programs at the Orem, Utah school. Of these, the top-ranking bachelor of science in emergency services administration attracts people interested in a emergency management-related career.
The program features premier faculty members and a tight-knit learning community to support students. The remote classroom environment lets degree-seekers do coursework and projects relevant to their personal and professional goals. Some learners get involved with faculty-led research, internships, or externships. Enrollees customize their academic experience by working with an advisor to choose electives and an individualized plan of study.
Since education can be costly, the college offers a variety of internal and external funding opportunities. Different types of financial assistance, like fellowships and scholarships, benefit students who qualify for them. Of all the college's enrollees, 74% get some kind of financial assistance to help lower educational expenses.
Admission Rate
Not provided
Percent Online Enrollment
32%
Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
#3 Most Affordable Online Emergency Management Degrees
West Texas A&M University
- Canyon, TX
- 4 years
- Online + Campus
Its flexibility makes the bachelor of applied arts and sciences in emergency management administration at West Texas A&M University a good choice for many people seeking an online education in emergency management. A total of 5,886 online degree-seekers receive an industry-relevant education from the public institution, choosing from 10 remote bachelor's programs. The college offers institutional resources from its Canyon campus that benefit its online learners, including a supportive remote learning community.
Students gain industry knowledge through interactive classes. The curriculum includes general education and advanced topics, with the opportunity to customize courses and pick electives. Hands-on experiential opportunities let enrollees supplement their classroom learning. Getting first-hand experience of working in the field is possible for degree-seekers who complete research, internships, or externships.
Prospective applicants can learn about enrollment criteria by talking to the admissions office. Some form of financial aid is awarded to 90% of all enrollees, so students should check with the financial aid office to explore funding opportunities. Learners who meet the proper criteria can bring down degree expenses with scholarships, fellowships, and other types of financial aid.
Percent Online Enrollment
59%
Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
#4 Most Affordable Online Emergency Management Degrees
Arkansas State University-Main Campus
- Jonesboro, AR
- 4 years
- Online + Campus
For individuals seeking a flexible education to prepare them for the emergency management field, the bachelor of science in disaster preparedness and emergency management at Arkansas State University is a great choice. The public college provides a premier education to 7,939 remote learners and offers 10 bachelor's programs virtually.
The bachelor of science in disaster preparedness and emergency management gives students the tools needed for a successful career in emergency management. The curriculum includes a variety of coursework, giving enrollees broad knowledge of both foundational and advanced emergency management topics. Depending on their career aspirations, degree-seekers can complete hands-on learning experiences to increase their industry knowledge. Students gain many benefits from internships, externships, and applied research projects. During the degree, participants can talk to their academic advisor and career counselor to receive guidance.
Scholarships, fellowships, and other internal and external funding opportunities help applicants decrease their educational expenses. The college supports degree-seekers in their educational journey with financial assistance, providing aid to 97% of its enrollees.
Percent Online Enrollment
59%
Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes
Higher Learning Commission
#5 Most Affordable Online Emergency Management Degrees
SUNY College of Technology at Canton
- Canton, NY
- 4 years
- Online + Campus
Many people looking for a flexible virtual education in emergency management find the bachelor of science in emergency management at SUNY College of Technology at Canton to be a great option. The 12 industry-relevant online bachelor's programs at the public institution educate 2,072 remote degree-seekers. A supportive virtual community and other institutional resources benefit distance learners at the Canton, New York, college.
Emergency management students gain industry knowledge through interactive classes. General education and advanced courses make up the emergency management curriculum, which also allows for modifying classes and choosing electives. Experiential learning opportunities supplement enrollee's academic experiences. Degree-seekers gain first-hand knowledge of what it's like working in the emergency management field by completing research, internships, and externships.
The admissions office can tell applicants more about the eligibility requirements for enrollment. Financial aid is awarded to 95% of all enrollees, so students should meet with the financial aid office to see if they qualify. Funding opportunities, such as scholarships and fellowships, help qualified learners decrease their educational expenses.
Out-of-state
Not provided
Percent Online Enrollment
64%
Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
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