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Intelligence & Security Operations at Mercyhurst University

Erie, PA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $52,211/yr (-7% vs median)

AI Risk High (46% exposed)

Job Market Medium (19,700 openings/yr)

ROI 3.8x earnings multiple

Ranked #2 of 7 Intelligence programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Intelligence & Security Operations graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$693K	$672K	$600K
Earnings Multiple	3.9x	3.8x	3.4x
Probability of Field Employment	51%	45%	35%
DegreeOutlook Score	47	46	41

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$178,040

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$109,052

39% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$25,500

5.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$80,168

54% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $52,211/yr, roughly in line with the $56,279 national median for Intelligence & Security Operations. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

An earnings multiple of 3.8x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

Some AI exposure exists in Intelligence & Security Operations's typical career paths, with 46% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 13% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $52,211 far exceeding the $25,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

This program is one of 7 schools offering Intelligence & Security Operations in our dataset — a specialized field with limited comparison points.

Five-year earnings of $80,168 show a 54% jump from the $52,211 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Mercyhurst University

Mercyhurst University accepts 83% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a compact campus enrolling 2,217 students in Erie, PA. The average net cost of $109,052 over four years represents a 39% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Mercyhurst University →

Top Career Paths

First-line supervisors of police and detectives $105,980/yr

Detectives and criminal investigators $93,580/yr

Cartographers and photogrammetrists $78,380/yr

View all 3 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Intelligence & Security Operations at Other Schools

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Intelligence & Security Operations at Mercyhurst University?

A score of 46/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Intelligence & Security Operations. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Will AI replace Intelligence & Security Operations careers?

With 46% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $599,536 in decade earnings vs $692,631 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →