Last Updated: October 10, 2024
Earning a master’s in emergency management equips you to lead in chaos, blending strategy, resilience, and real-world impact. This degree prepares you to handle disasters—natural, technological, or human-made—through planning, response, and recovery.
For prospective students, it’s a gateway to high-stakes careers in government, nonprofits, or private sectors, where you’ll safeguard communities and shape crisis outcomes.
With growing global risks like climate change and pandemics, this field offers not just a job, but a mission-driven calling that demands sharp skills and a cool head.
What are the Best Master’s in Emergency Management Programs?
We know that you have educational goals that you’re itching to pursue, but you may not know where to start. The editors of CollegeRank utilize a unique ranking methodology based on the following three aspects:
40% Potential Salary After Graduation: Average mid-career salary of school alumni
30% Institutional Accreditation: Regional and National Accreditation for the 2024-2025 school year
30% Overall Degree Affordability: Average cost of undergraduate and graduate tuition per school
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We selected these 10 schools based on these factors that will benefit candidates and graduates alike in their emergency management careers.
- With current regional or national accreditation
- Feature a comprehensive curriculum that prepare candidates for career advancement opportunities
- With faculty members who have advanced academic credentials and extensive experience in emergency management
- Offer financial aid for graduate students
- Enable candidates to earn their degrees and pursue successful careers through extensive student support services
New Jersey Institute of Technology
The New Jersey Institute of Technology was founded in 1885 as the Newark Technical School. This first incarnation of the school was attended by only 88 students, but NJIT has grown; today, it hosts more than 11,000 students on its Newark, NJ campus. Students at NJIT can also cross-register with Rutgers University – Newark, as the schools’ campuses border each other.
NJIT offers a Master of Science program in Emergency Management and Business Continuity. Students complete 30 credit hours of coursework divided into the following categories of courses:
- Fundamental 12
- Elective 6
- Specialty 12
Some of the early fundamental courses in the program include:
- Command and Control Systems
- Emergency Management Informatics
Students then choose two electives from options such as:
- Geographic Information System
- Social Dimensions of Risk
Finally, students select a focus area from the following:
- Critical Infrastructure
- Computer Engineering
- Environmental Science
- Information Systems
- Management
Georgetown University
Located in the heart of the nation’s capital, Washington D.C., Georgetown is the oldest Catholic and Jesuit institution of higher learning in the country. Despite this connection to the church, most students who attend the university are not Catholic, and the school is fully independently governed. Georgetown is home to the nation’s largest student-run business and the oldest continuously running student theater troupe.
Georgetown’s Master’s in Emergency Management program can be completed both on campus and online. Students complete 33 credit hours of coursework, and the program can last anywhere between two and five years (depending on a student’s enrollment status). Students can enter the program in the spring, fall, or summer terms.
Coursework in the program is designed for entry- to mid-level professionals and is taught by faculty who are both experienced professionals and academics. Faculty members bring experience from organizations such as the American Red Cross, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance.
Students take two core courses, four foundation courses, and five electives in the program.
Core courses include:
- Ethics and Critical Decision-Making
- Final capstone course
Foundation courses cover:
- Theory and Legal Framework
- Risk Perception Awareness
- GIS for Emergency & Disaster Management
Electives may cover topics such as:
- Weapons of Mass Destruction & Terrorism
Arkansas State University, Main Campus
Arkansas State University’s main campus is located in Jonesboro, AR. In addition to the main campus, Arkansas State has a campus in Queretaro, Mexico, which opened in September 2017. ASU is the second-largest university in the state of Arkansas, and its athletic teams compete in the Sun Belt Conference.
Arkansas State’s Master of Science in Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management requires students to hold a bachelor’s degree in any discipline and to have completed prerequisite coursework in skills such as using the Incident Control System (a standardized approach to the coordination of emergency response).
The curriculum consists of 36 credit hours of coursework split among:
- Six core courses
- Three emphasis courses
- Practicum experience
- Final project
For the practicum experience, students can choose between:
- Seminar Topics course administered by Arkansas State
- A 60-hour practicum at an approved off-campus site
All applicants to the program are required to complete a personal interview with a program adviser. Students may complete the interview through face-to-face, telephone, or electronic means. In addition to prerequisite coursework, students are expected to be Core Disaster Life Support and Basic Disaster Life Support certified.
Jacksonville State University
Location
Jacksonville, Alabama
Average Net Price
$428/credit (in-state); $696/credit (out-of-state); $428/credit (online)
Jacksonville State University, in Jacksonville, AL, was founded in 1930 as a state normal school, helping to educate teachers. It adopted its current name in 1966, and in 2011, its Doctor of Science in Emergency Management became the school’s first doctoral degree offering. Forty of the school’s academic programs enable students to earn specialized accreditations.
Jacksonville State’s master’s in emergency management program is a 30-credit hour program that includes:
- 21 hours of fundamental emergency management courses
- nine hours of approved emergency management electives
All requirements for the degree must be met through the university’s distance learning service.
In addition to the master’s program, Jacksonville State offers these programs:
- 15-credit hour Graduate Certificate in Emergency Management
- Master of Public Administration with a concentration in Emergency Management.
Elective course options in the program include:
- Disasters and the Media
- Advanced Radiological Incidents Operations
- Terrorism and Homeland Security
North Dakota State University
Location
Fargo, North Dakota
Average Net Price
$421.39/credit base tuition only (In-state and (WRGP) States); $535.16 (Minnesota Residents with Tuition Reciprocity); $632.08 (out-of-state)
North Dakota State University is the fifth-largest employer in the state of North Dakota. The school offers more than 100 undergraduate majors, along with 81 master’s and 47 doctoral degree programs. Around 14,300 students attend the Fargo, ND campus, which is also home to 880 academic staff members. The school’s athletic teams are known as the Bison or the Thundering Herd.
North Dakota State is home to a master’s program in emergency management. This face-to-face program allows students to complete for their capstone requirement either:
- An original thesis
- A comprehensive study course.
Both programs require a total of 39 credit hours of coursework, but these credits are divided differently based on the program.
Students completing the thesis version of the program take:
- Nine hours of core courses
- 12 hours of functional area core
- Nine hours of electives
- Three credits of practicum
- Six thesis hours.
Students in the comprehensive study option complete:
- 15 hours of core courses
- 18 hours of electives
- Six credits of practicum
Eastern Kentucky University
Location
Richmond, Kentucky
Average Net Price
$583/credit (on-campus, resident); $796/credit (on-campus, non-resident); $649/credit (online)
Eastern Kentucky University, in Richmond, KY, offers students 40 on-campus and online degree programs. The school has been undergoing a campus revitalization since 2012 that has used public-private business partnerships to fund new residence and dining halls, as well as new baseball and softball fields.
Eastern Kentucky University offers a Master of Safety, Security, and Emergency Management degree that provides students with a customizable curriculum that allows them to focus on an area of concentration. Students can also pursue a multidisciplinary track, which allows them to draw from each of the concentration areas.
The concentration areas offered are:
- Emergency Management and Disaster Resilience
- Corporate Security Operations
- Occupational Safety
Students complete 12 credit hours of coursework in the concentration area. At the end of the program, students either take or complete:
- A comprehensive examination
- A capstone applied research project
Graduates of the program are immediately qualified to apply for Associate Safety and Health Manager certification. Once graduates have two years of work experience in the safety and health management field, they can apply to take the Certified Safety and Health Manager CSHM exam; this is a three-year reduction in the normal wait time.
Nova Southeastern University
Nova Southeastern University is a private university located in Davie, FL. Nova merged with the Southeastern University of Health Science in 1994, which is also when it adopted its current name. Its athletic teams, known as the Sharks, have won multiple women’s national golf championships, and its Division II baseball team won its division-level national championship in 2016.
Nova Southeastern’s Master of Public Administration program offers a concentration in Disaster and Emergency Management. Students in the program focus on enhancing local and state governments, as well as non-profit organizations, through research, education, and service.
The 39-credit hour curriculum is divided into three sections: core, concentration, and capstone. The core courses cover:
- Entrepreneurial Governance
- Public Sector Statistical Analysis.
The Disaster and Emergency Management Concentration includes courses in:
- Risk Assessment
- Mitigation and Community Disaster Preparedness
- Emergency Management in the Public Sector
For their capstone experience, students can choose to complete one of these three:
- An MPA integrative seminar
- A public administration internship
- A public administration practicum
The program can be completed in as little as 21 months, and students may begin in either August or January. Applicants to the program should have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.
University of New Haven
Location
West Haven, Connecticut
Average Net Price
$19,916 (annual full-time tuition and fees)
The University of New Haven’s main campus is in West Haven, CT, but its graduate school is located in Orange, CT. These campuses are located roughly 90 from New York City and 2.5 hours by train from Boston. New Haven also operates satellite campuses in New London, CT; Albuquerque, NM; and Prato, Italy.
New Haven is home to a Master of Science in Emergency Management program that requires 36 hours of coursework. There are 24 hours of required courses including:
- Catastrophe Readiness and Response
- Social Dimensions of Disaster
Students then complete 12 hours of electives.
In addition to the master’s program, New Haven offers a graduate certificate program in Emergency Management. Students in this program complete four required courses including Holistic Disaster Recovery: Creating a More Sustainable Future. Students at New Haven receive professional support from the school’s Career Development Center, which The Princeton Review has previously recognized as being one of the best in the nation.
Massachusetts Maritime Academy
Buzzard Bay, MA, which is home to the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, was also once home to U.S. President Grover Cleveland. It is the second-oldest maritime academy in the United States and was originally intended to train deck and engineering officers for the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Today, students are not required to serve in the Armed Forces.
Courses in the program include:
- Principles in Emergency Management
- Hazards Risk Management
- National Security in Emergency Management
- Transportation Security Management
Classes are held every other weekend, from Friday evening through Saturday afternoon, at the Waltham Woods Conference Center in Waltham, MA. Students are provided with overnight lodging during these weekend courses. The program ends with a four-credit capstone course, in which students draw from the knowledge learned in their previous courses to develop a capstone presentation related to a specific emergency management scenario. The program is generally structured to last 17 months, and applicants are expected to hold at least a bachelor’s degree (in any subject).
Arkansas Tech University
Location
Russellville, Arkansas
Average Net Price
$314.50/credit (in-state and out-of-state)
Arkansas Tech University, located in Russellville, AR, was originally known as the Second District Agricultural School. The school became a full university in 1976, and since 1996, it has seen a 183% increase in its student enrollment. In July 2014, its Board of Trustees chose Dr. Robin E. Bowen to serve as President of the university, making her the first woman ever to lead a public, four-year Arkansas university.
Arkansas Tech offers a Master of Science degree in Emergency Management and Homeland Security. Students complete 36 credit hours of coursework divided among:
- 18 hours of required core
- nine hours of electives
- nine hours of capstone coursework
Students may transfer in up to nine credit hours of graduate coursework.
For the capstone, students may complete a thesis research option, which includes courses in:
- Independent research
- Applied data analysis course
Students also have the option to complete a practicum research project that includes:
- A research course
- A professional practicum
- A capstone research course
Elective courses in the program include options in:
- Contemporary Issues in Emergency Management
- Grants
How to Choose a Master’s in Emergency Management
While we can’t make this choice for you, we can help you make a great decision.
Here’s a list of the most helpful considerations for prospective students choosing a master’s in emergency management program. Keep these considerations in mind as you evaluate each emergency management master’s to identify the best match for you.
- Specialization Options: Look for programs offering tracks like disaster response, homeland security, or public health preparedness—aligning with your career goals ensures relevance and expertise.
- Hands-On Experience: Prioritize programs with internships, simulations, or capstone projects; real-world practice is critical in a field where theory meets crisis.
- Faculty Expertise: Seek faculty with field experience—former FEMA officials, first responders, or disaster researchers—who bring practical insights over pure academia.
- Networking Opportunities: Programs with strong ties to agencies (e.g., Red Cross, DHS) or alumni in leadership roles can open doors to jobs and mentorship.
- Accreditation & Reputation: Choose a program accredited by bodies like the Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP) or recognized in the field—credibility matters to employers.
- Flexibility & Format: Consider online, hybrid, or part-time options if you’re working; emergency management often attracts mid-career professionals needing balance.
- Cost vs. ROI: Weigh tuition against outcomes—look for scholarships, assistantships, or data on graduate salaries (e.g., $60K-$90K starting range) to justify the investment.
- Location Advantage: Programs near disaster-prone areas (e.g., coasts, urban hubs) may offer local partnerships or fieldwork opportunities tied to regional risks.
- Curriculum Focus: Ensure it covers key skills—risk assessment, GIS mapping, crisis communication—not just broad theory, to build a competitive edge.
- Job Placement Rates: Check program stats on graduate employment; a degree is only as good as the career it launches in this fast-evolving field.
These factors boil down to fit: match the program to your ambitions, lifestyle, and the tangible skills employers demand in emergencies. A master’s here isn’t just education—it’s preparation for leadership when it counts most.
Frequently Asked Questions
Emergency management refers to the cooperation that happens between multiple organizations that respond to man-made or natural catastrophes. It deals not only with response to and recovery from such disasters but also with the readiness for and mitigation of them. Emergency management programs typically aim to equip students with knowledge of each of these areas, plus the ability to specialize.
You’ll study the kinds of small and large-scale disasters that can occur and focus on the implementation of preventative measures. You’ll look at how to reduce the impact of natural or man-made crisis scenarios. You’ll study disaster response, recovery, and how to reduce vulnerabilities and strengthen communities.
Some emergency management graduates opt for a career in emergency medical aid, working as an EMT or a paramedic. But with broad specializations available, you’re not limited to a specific career and can instead pursue managerial positions. If your preference is for the logistical side of emergency management, you may follow the emergency management director’s career path.
Behind the scenes, information security analysts work with technology to support their colleagues in the field. You might be installing and monitoring software to bolster international cyber security or carrying out penetration tests to detect weaknesses in infrastructure. Following a disaster, you could be working to restore critical systems and mitigate weaknesses.
Beyond this program of study, graduates gain accreditation for certain licenses and other certifications. Depending on your specialization, you could obtain certification as an Associate business continuity professional or associate emergency manager. There’s also the certified emergency manager and certified functional continuity professional, though this list is not exhaustive.
Like any profession, the salaries available in the field of emergency management can vary based on experience in the role. The average salary for an emergency management degree can vary from around $46,920 to $147,870, with a median of around $79,180. However, certain career paths can exceed this number, for example, working within the federal executive branch.
State government or local government roles pay from $60-70,000 on average, while hospital roles average at $85,000. Working with a college or university averages around $93,000, while working in electric power distribution and generation averages around $100,000. Salaries over $100,000 are routinely found within general roles or those in scientific research and large enterprises or corporations.
In some areas of the country, particularly where demand for workers is greater, the earning potential can be higher. Additionally, by studying for an advanced degree, you’ll typically earn more than if you only have a bachelor’s degree. With one of the above specializations or another approved accreditation, you’ll increase your subject matter expertise and your earning potential.
A Master’s in Emergency Management can be worthwhile for those passionate about disaster response and public safety. It offers specialized knowledge, advanced skills, and leadership training critical for managing emergencies and advancing in the field. However, its value depends on personal career goals, as some positions may require or highly value advanced degrees, while others prioritize experience and certifications.
For emergency management, degrees in Emergency Management, Homeland Security, or Public Administration are beneficial. These programs provide coursework in disaster preparedness, response strategies, and policy-making, preparing individuals for roles in managing crises and ensuring public safety. Additionally, gaining practical experience through internships or volunteering in emergency services can complement formal education in this field.
You can work with firefighters, police, or help plan how to keep people safe during emergencies, making a big difference in protecting others and saving lives. It’s a job that’s always important because we always need people who know how to keep everyone safe.
Some opportunities include:
• government agencies
• nonprofit organizations
• private sectors
• international organizations