2027 Military-Friendly Online Homeland Security Doctorate Programs: Benefits, Accreditation, and Career Outcomes
Choosing an online homeland security doctorate while serving, transitioning, or using veteran benefits is a high-stakes cost-and-fit decision. The field matters because homeland security now overlaps with cyber risk, disaster response, intelligence, infrastructure protection, and public safety leadership; BLS projects 29% growth for information security analysts from 2024 to 2034, signaling strong demand for security expertise.
This guide helps active-duty service members, veterans, reservists, spouses, and military-connected professionals compare programs, verify benefits, avoid costly mistakes, and choose a doctorate aligned with service obligations and career goals.
Key Things You Should Know
- Military Tuition Assistance is commonly capped at $250 per semester hour, while the 2024-2025 Post-9/11 GI Bill private-school tuition cap was $28,937.09, so benefit strategy can materially change doctorate ROI.
- The strongest programs combine institutional accreditation, asynchronous online delivery, deployment-friendly policies, military advising, and clear dissertation or capstone support-not just a "military-friendly" label.
- Career value depends on target roles: the 2024 median pay for emergency management directors was about $86,130, while cybersecurity leadership pathways may connect to higher-paying information security roles.
Which Military-Friendly Online Homeland Security Doctorate Programs Offer the Best Benefits for Service Members?
The best military-friendly online homeland security doctorate is not always the one with the largest tuition discount. For service members, the better question is whether the program can accommodate deployments, unpredictable duty schedules, relocation, benefit limits, dissertation timelines, and the kind of homeland security work the student wants after graduation.
Homeland security doctorates are relatively uncommon as stand-alone degrees, so many students compare closely related options: doctoral programs in criminal justice, global security, emergency management, public safety, security policy, or homeland security concentrations. Students who are not ready for doctoral research may first consider an online criminal justice degree before committing to a doctorate.
The table below compares examples of online or primarily online doctoral pathways that military-connected students often evaluate for homeland security-related study. Availability, tuition, specializations, and military benefits can change, so use this as a decision framework rather than a final enrollment checklist.
| Program example | Homeland security fit | Military-friendly features to verify | Best-fit student profile |
| Liberty University, PhD in Criminal Justice with homeland security-related study options | Criminal justice leadership, counterterrorism, public safety, and homeland security policy | Military tuition rates, online course format, transfer-credit limits, dissertation support, Yellow Ribbon participation | Military police, public safety leaders, intelligence professionals, and veterans moving into academic or executive roles |
| National University, Doctor of Criminal Justice with homeland security specialization options | Applied criminal justice leadership with homeland security and emergency preparedness relevance | Military tuition assistance processing, one-to-one doctoral mentoring, asynchronous coursework, transfer-credit review | Working professionals who want a practitioner-focused doctorate with flexible pacing |
| Walden University, PhD in Criminal Justice with homeland security-related specialization options | Research-oriented criminal justice and homeland security policy study | Veteran support, doctoral capstone structure, transfer policy, tuition reduction opportunities, residency expectations | Students seeking research, teaching, policy analysis, or senior administrative pathways |
| Colorado Technical University, Doctor of Management with homeland security or security management relevance | Management, organizational leadership, security operations, and public-sector administration | Military education benefits, doctoral symposium expectations, deployment accommodation, prior-learning review | Service members moving from operations into executive security, continuity, or emergency management leadership |
| American Public University System, doctoral security and global security-related pathways | Security studies, strategic risk, intelligence, national security, and global threat analysis | Military-focused advising, tuition policies for military students, online flexibility, dissertation or applied research expectations | Military-connected students who want a security-policy doctorate from an institution with a large military population |
A practical "best benefits" comparison should focus on the policies that affect academic survival, not only marketing claims. The most useful program benefits usually fall into a few categories:
- Cost control: military tuition rates, Yellow Ribbon participation, no or low technology fees, transparent doctoral continuation fees, and clear billing around dissertation terms.
- Schedule protection: asynchronous courses, multiple start dates, deployment holds, military leave policies, and flexibility when duty requirements interrupt coursework.
- Academic fit: faculty expertise in homeland security, emergency management, intelligence, cybersecurity, public safety, infrastructure protection, or counterterrorism.
- Doctoral support: structured dissertation milestones, research methods coaching, library access, writing support, and realistic completion timelines for working adults.
- Career alignment: outcomes tied to federal, state, local, military, contractor, academic, consulting, or senior public safety roles.
The main red flag is assuming that "military-friendly" means "low-risk." A school may participate in military benefit programs but still have synchronous sessions, short assignment windows, residency requirements, or dissertation processes that are difficult for active-duty students. Ask for the written policy before applying.
What Military Benefits Can Students Use for an Online Homeland Security Doctorate?
Military-connected students may be able to combine federal education benefits, institutional discounts, scholarships, employer support, and federal financial aid. The right mix depends on military status, remaining entitlement, school participation, course load, and whether the student is pursuing a PhD, professional doctorate, or related security doctorate.
The table below summarizes the major benefit categories students usually investigate before enrolling in an online homeland security doctorate. It also shows why each benefit matters at the doctoral level, where per-credit costs and dissertation fees can add up quickly.
| Benefit or funding source | Who may use it | How it may apply to a doctorate | Key limitation to confirm |
| Military Tuition Assistance | Eligible active-duty, Guard, and Reserve members, depending on branch rules | May cover part of tuition for approved courses at participating institutions | Annual caps, semester-hour caps, service-specific rules, and doctoral eligibility can vary |
| Post-9/11 GI Bill | Eligible veterans, service members, and transferred-benefit dependents | May cover tuition and fees, housing allowance, and books or supplies for approved programs | Entitlement months, private-school caps, online housing rules, and enrollment intensity matter |
| Yellow Ribbon Program | Eligible Post-9/11 GI Bill users at participating schools | May help reduce tuition above the annual GI Bill cap at private institutions | Not all schools or doctoral programs participate, and school contribution limits vary |
| Veteran Readiness and Employment | Eligible veterans and service members with qualifying service-connected disabilities | May support graduate education when the doctorate is tied to an approved employment plan | Approval depends on individualized counseling and documented career need |
| Institutional military scholarships or discounts | Service members, veterans, spouses, or dependents, depending on school policy | May reduce per-credit tuition or fees after other benefits are applied | Discounts may not stack with all benefits and may exclude doctoral courses |
| Federal student aid | Eligible U.S. students enrolled in qualifying institutions and programs | Graduate students may use Direct Unsubsidized Loans and, if eligible, Grad PLUS Loans | Borrowing increases ROI risk; interest rates and origination fees should be reviewed before enrollment |
Before choosing a benefit strategy, confirm the sequence in which aid is applied. Some schools apply military discounts before GI Bill billing, while others may apply scholarships, grants, or tuition reductions differently. That sequencing affects out-of-pocket cost.
Students should also pay attention to benefit fit by status:
- Active-duty students should prioritize Tuition Assistance rules, course-load limits, command approval timelines, and deployment policies.
- Veterans should compare remaining GI Bill entitlement, Yellow Ribbon participation, housing allowance implications, and whether federal loans are necessary.
- Guard and Reserve students should check both federal and state education benefits, because state benefits may be separate from federal programs.
- Spouses and dependents should confirm transferred GI Bill eligibility, institutional military-family discounts, and whether the program's format fits caregiving or relocation demands.
A common mistake is assuming benefits will cover the entire doctorate. Doctoral programs can include dissertation continuation courses, research fees, residencies, or repeat-course costs that are not obvious from the advertised tuition rate. Ask for a full degree-cost estimate in writing.

How Does Military Tuition Assistance Work for Online Homeland Security Doctorate Programs?
Military Tuition Assistance can reduce the cost of an online homeland security doctorate, but it usually works course by course rather than as a blanket degree award. The commonly cited cap is $250 per semester hour, and many branches also impose annual funding limits or additional eligibility requirements. At the doctoral level, that means TA may offset part of the bill rather than cover the full tuition rate.
The basic process is simple, but timing matters. Students should follow the branch-specific approval steps before a course starts, because retroactive approvals are often not allowed.
- Confirm that the school is approved for military Tuition Assistance and that the specific doctoral course is eligible.
- Meet with the school's military education office to map the course to the degree plan and estimate uncovered tuition or fees.
- Request command or education-office approval through the appropriate branch portal before the course deadline.
- Register only after the TA request is approved or after the school confirms the correct billing process.
- Track grades and course completion, because withdrawals, failed courses, or incomplete grades may trigger repayment obligations.
TA works best for students taking a modest course load while on active duty. Doctoral study requires sustained reading, research design, and writing, so maximizing course volume may not be the best strategy if duty demands are unpredictable.
Several mistakes can make TA less useful than expected:
- Starting courses before approval: students may lose eligibility for that course's funding if they miss the branch deadline.
- Ignoring annual caps: a doctorate can exceed annual TA limits quickly, especially at private institutions.
- Choosing compressed terms during heavy duty cycles: short doctoral terms may increase withdrawal risk if operational requirements change.
- Overlooking repayment rules: grades, incompletes, or withdrawals can create unexpected debt.
- Assuming TA and school discounts stack automatically: schools may have specific billing rules that affect the final balance.
The best use of TA is strategic: apply it to required courses that fit your operational calendar, reserve GI Bill months when they provide greater value, and avoid enrolling in dissertation-heavy terms during known deployment or PCS windows.
Are Military-Friendly Online Homeland Security Doctorate Programs Accredited?
Many military-friendly online homeland security doctorate programs are offered by institutionally accredited universities, but students should verify accreditation rather than assume it. Accreditation affects federal financial aid, GI Bill approval, transferability, employer recognition, and doctoral credibility.
For homeland security doctorates, the most important baseline is institutional accreditation from a U.S. Department of Education-recognized accreditor. There is no single required programmatic accreditor for all homeland security doctorates, unlike fields such as nursing, counseling, or clinical psychology. That makes institutional accreditation especially important.
The table below explains the accreditation checks that matter most for military-connected doctoral students. Use it to separate legitimate academic quality indicators from marketing language.
| Accreditation or approval item | Why it matters | What to verify |
| Institutional accreditation | Supports federal aid eligibility, transfer recognition, and employer confidence | The current accreditor, accreditation status, and any probation or warning notices |
| State authorization for online education | Determines whether the school can enroll students in your state or location | Eligibility in your home of record, duty station, and possible relocation state |
| GI Bill approval | Confirms that eligible students may use VA education benefits for the program | Program approval, modality, school facility code, and benefit billing process |
| Special recognitions | May be useful for related fields such as cybersecurity, emergency management, or public safety | Whether recognitions apply to the doctoral program or only to another department |
| Licensure relevance | Some careers require separate credentials that a homeland security doctorate may not satisfy | Employer, agency, or state requirements for the target role |
To verify accreditation, check the accreditor listed on the university website against the federal accreditation database and the accreditor's own institution directory. Then ask the school whether the exact online doctorate, not just the university, is approved for military and VA benefits.
Red flags include vague claims such as "internationally accredited," pressure to enroll immediately, unclear dissertation requirements, no public accreditation status, or promises that the degree will qualify you for federal leadership roles. A doctorate can strengthen credentials, but it does not replace required experience, clearance eligibility, agency hiring processes, or professional licensure when those apply.
How Do Online Homeland Security Doctorate Programs Support Active-Duty and Veteran Students?
Strong support for military-connected doctoral students goes beyond a veterans webpage. The best programs build support into advising, billing, course scheduling, research expectations, and interruption policies, because military students may face deployments, irregular duty hours, medical transitions, relocation, or family responsibilities.
The most valuable supports are the ones that reduce administrative friction and help students keep making academic progress. Look for written policies and named offices rather than general promises.
- Military education advising: advisors should understand TA, GI Bill certification, Yellow Ribbon rules, and branch-specific deadlines.
- Veteran services: support may include benefits counseling, disability-resource coordination, career coaching, peer groups, and transition support.
- Doctoral writing and research support: students should have access to research librarians, methodology help, writing centers, and dissertation milestone tracking.
- Deployment and interruption policies: the school should explain leave of absence, incomplete grades, course withdrawals, readmission, and tuition liability.
- Career services for experienced professionals: doctoral students need executive-level resume support, federal hiring guidance, contractor-market insight, and networking help.
Military students should ask whether support is available during evenings, weekends, or across time zones. A school may be online but still operate advising and faculty support on a schedule that is hard to access from overseas or shift-based assignments.
A useful test is to ask the admissions team to route you to a military education specialist, a doctoral advisor, and a current student-support representative before enrollment. If those offices give inconsistent answers about costs, withdrawals, or deployment holds, treat that as a warning sign.

Can Military Training and Experience Transfer Into an Online Homeland Security Doctorate?
Military training and prior graduate coursework may help shorten a doctoral path, but students should not assume that leadership experience automatically converts into doctoral credit. Doctoral programs usually have stricter transfer rules than undergraduate programs because they require advanced theory, research methods, and original scholarship or applied doctoral work.
Transfer credit policies vary by school, but most doctoral programs review prior graduate coursework for level, grade, age, subject match, accreditation, and fit with the program's required sequence. Military training may be more likely to support admissions strength or topic expertise than direct doctoral credit.
The table below shows the difference between the types of prior learning a military-connected student might bring and how a doctorate program may treat them.
| Prior experience or credit source | How it may help | What to confirm |
| Graduate coursework from an accredited institution | May transfer into electives, cognates, or foundational requirements | Maximum transfer credits, minimum grade, time limits, and course equivalency |
| Professional military education | May strengthen admissions and demonstrate leadership preparation | Whether the program grants graduate or doctoral credit for the training |
| Joint Services Transcript or Community College of the Air Force credits | Often more useful at undergraduate level than doctoral level | Whether any credits can apply to prerequisites rather than doctoral requirements |
| Command, intelligence, law enforcement, or emergency management experience | Can support research topics, capstone projects, interviews, and career positioning | Whether experience can be used for portfolio review or only for admissions context |
| Master's thesis, capstone, or publications | May demonstrate research readiness and help shape a dissertation agenda | Whether the school requires new original doctoral work regardless of prior projects |
To avoid disappointment, request a preliminary transfer evaluation before committing. Send official transcripts, military training records, course syllabi, and descriptions of professional military education. Ask which credits reduce total degree cost and which merely satisfy admissions or prerequisite expectations.
Students should also consider whether transferring the maximum number of credits is always best. If the previous coursework is old or weak in research methods, retaking a methods course may improve dissertation readiness and reduce delays later.
How Flexible Are Military-Friendly Online Homeland Security Doctorate Programs for Service Members?
Online delivery is usually more flexible than campus-based doctoral study, but not all online doctorates work the same way. Active-duty students should evaluate course rhythm, live attendance rules, assignment windows, residencies, dissertation expectations, and leave policies before assuming a program can survive deployment or relocation.
The table below compares flexibility features that matter most to military-connected students. These details often make a bigger difference than the school's general online format.
| Flexibility feature | Why it matters for military students | Lower-risk option | Higher-risk option |
| Course delivery | Duty schedules may prevent fixed class attendance | Mostly asynchronous courses with recorded materials | Frequent mandatory live sessions |
| Term length | Short terms can be efficient but intense | Multiple start dates with manageable workload expectations | Compressed terms during known operational periods |
| Residency requirements | Travel can be difficult during deployment, PCS, or family obligations | Virtual residencies or optional in-person events | Mandatory multi-day campus visits with limited scheduling options |
| Dissertation or capstone structure | Unstructured doctoral work can stall during service disruptions | Clear milestones, committee timelines, and research support | Open-ended dissertation phases with limited faculty access |
| Leave and reentry policies | Military obligations may interrupt study without warning | Written deployment leave, readmission, and tuition-adjustment policies | Case-by-case policies with no published deadlines |
Online study is usually a better fit than campus study for active-duty personnel because it reduces commuting and relocation problems. However, campus or hybrid doctorates may still be valuable for students who need intensive research mentoring, local agency partnerships, or in-person networking in a specific metro area.
Before enrolling, service members should test the program against a realistic duty scenario:
- Identify the busiest duty periods expected in the next 12 months.
- Ask how missed deadlines, field assignments, deployment, or restricted internet access are handled.
- Review whether assignments can be submitted early or whether weekly discussion posts are mandatory.
- Confirm whether the dissertation phase requires synchronous committee meetings.
- Ask how long students may pause enrollment without losing catalog rights, committee assignment, or financial-aid eligibility.
The biggest flexibility mistake is focusing only on "100% online." A program can be fully online and still be inflexible if it has rigid weekly participation, required live meetings, or limited leave options.
How Much Do Military-Friendly Online Homeland Security Doctorate Programs Cost After Military Benefits?
The out-of-pocket cost of an online homeland security doctorate depends on tuition, fees, transfer credits, benefit eligibility, enrollment pace, dissertation length, and whether the student uses loans. Because doctorate costs vary widely by institution, students should calculate the full program cost rather than compare only per-credit tuition.
Use current benefit caps and school-specific tuition quotes as your baseline. These figures are important because they show where military benefits may reduce costs and where a student may still face a balance.
- Military Tuition Assistance is commonly capped at $250 per semester hour.
- The 2024-2025 Post-9/11 GI Bill private-school tuition and fee cap was $28,937.09.
- Graduate Direct Unsubsidized Loans for the 2024-2025 academic year carried an 8.08% fixed interest rate.
- Grad PLUS Loans for the 2024-2025 academic year carried a 9.08% fixed interest rate.
These amounts do not tell you whether a doctorate is affordable by themselves. They tell you what to compare against each school's tuition, fees, and required credits. Students comparing security-related degrees can also use a broader criminal justice degree price benchmark to understand how doctoral costs differ from undergraduate or master's-level online programs.
A practical cost estimate should include more than tuition. Ask the school for a written projection that covers:
- Required credits: total credits after transfer evaluation, not the advertised minimum alone.
- Per-credit tuition: standard tuition, military rate, and whether the discount applies to doctoral coursework.
- Fees: technology, library, graduation, residency, dissertation, continuation, and course-material fees.
- Benefit application order: how TA, GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon, scholarships, and discounts are applied.
- Completion risk: how much additional dissertation time costs if research approval, data collection, or committee review takes longer than expected.
The key ROI question is not "Can I afford the first term?" but "Can I finish without taking on debt that exceeds the career value of the credential?" If your target role does not require a doctorate, a graduate certificate, master's degree, or professional certification may offer a better near-term return.
What Career Outcomes Can Military Students Expect After an Online Homeland Security Doctorate?
An online homeland security doctorate can support senior-level, research, teaching, consulting, and policy roles, especially for students who already bring military, law enforcement, intelligence, emergency management, cybersecurity, or public administration experience. It is usually most valuable as a leadership multiplier, not as an entry-level credential.
Career outcomes vary because "homeland security" is an umbrella field. Graduates may work in emergency management, federal contracting, infrastructure security, cyber risk, intelligence analysis, public safety administration, higher education, training, or policy consulting. Students interested in behavioral analysis or federal investigative pathways should compare education expectations and compensation data, including resources on FBI profiler salary, before assuming a homeland security doctorate is the most direct route.
The table below connects common career directions with the doctorate's practical value. It also highlights where experience, clearance eligibility, or certifications may matter as much as the degree.
| Career direction | How a doctorate may help | Additional factors employers may value |
| Emergency management director or senior continuity leader | Supports executive decision-making, policy design, risk analysis, and interagency coordination | Incident command experience, FEMA training, public-sector leadership, budget responsibility |
| Homeland security policy analyst | Builds research, evaluation, threat-assessment, and strategic planning skills | Writing samples, agency knowledge, data analysis, security clearance eligibility |
| Cybersecurity or critical infrastructure leader | May strengthen governance, risk, and strategic leadership credentials | Technical experience, cyber certifications, infrastructure-sector knowledge, regulatory awareness |
| Federal contractor or consultant | Can support credibility for senior advisory, training, evaluation, or program-management work | Prior military specialization, contract experience, client network, PMP or related credentials |
| College instructor, researcher, or academic administrator | May meet doctoral expectations for teaching, curriculum development, or applied research roles | Publications, teaching experience, dissertation topic, institutional hiring standards |
| Public safety executive | Supports strategic planning, ethics, leadership, and evidence-based policy development | Command experience, community relations, labor management, emergency operations background |
Current labor-market trends favor professionals who can connect physical security, cybersecurity, emergency preparedness, and data-informed decision-making. The doctorate can help students develop those integrative skills, but it should be paired with practical evidence: projects, publications, agency experience, tabletop exercises, certifications, or measurable leadership outcomes.
Students should be careful with salary expectations. BLS reported a 2024 median pay of about $86,130 for emergency management directors, but doctorate holders may work in many different occupations with different pay structures. Federal General Schedule roles, contractor positions, academic jobs, and local government leadership positions each use different compensation models.
How Should Military Students Choose the Best Online Homeland Security Doctorate Program?
Military students should choose an online homeland security doctorate by matching the program to their mission schedule, benefit eligibility, academic goals, and post-service career plan. A military-friendly label is a starting point, not a decision standard.
Use a structured evaluation process before applying. This reduces the risk of enrolling in a program that looks affordable or flexible but becomes difficult during deployment, dissertation work, or transition to civilian employment.
- Define the target outcome: identify whether you need the doctorate for executive leadership, academia, consulting, promotion, federal employment, or personal scholarly goals.
- Verify accreditation and approvals: confirm institutional accreditation, state authorization, GI Bill approval, and the exact online doctorate's eligibility.
- Request a full cost projection: include tuition, fees, transfer credits, dissertation terms, military discounts, GI Bill use, TA limits, and possible loan borrowing.
- Test schedule flexibility: ask how the school handles deployment, PCS orders, limited internet access, time-zone conflicts, incompletes, and reentry.
- Review faculty and curriculum fit: look for homeland security, emergency management, intelligence, cyber risk, infrastructure protection, or public safety expertise.
- Evaluate doctoral support: ask about dissertation milestone timelines, committee assignment, methodology support, writing help, and average barriers to completion.
- Compare alternatives: determine whether a certificate, master's degree, professional certification, or adjacent program would produce a better return for your goal.
Some students may be better served by a related pathway. For example, professionals focused on workplace safety, environmental risk, disaster prevention, or compliance may want to compare homeland security doctorates with the best online environmental health and safety programs, especially if their target roles emphasize safety systems rather than national security policy.
Ask admissions and military advisors direct questions before committing:
- Is the doctoral program itself approved for my military or VA benefit, and can you provide that in writing?
- What is the total estimated cost if I transfer the maximum credits allowed?
- What happens financially and academically if I deploy or receive PCS orders mid-term?
- Are courses asynchronous, and are any live sessions mandatory?
- Are residencies required, virtual, optional, or in person?
- What are the dissertation or capstone milestones, and what fees apply if I need extra terms?
- How many faculty members actively supervise homeland security-related research topics?
- What career services are available for senior military, veterans, and federal-sector applicants?
The best choice is the program that you can realistically finish, afford, and defend to future employers. If a school cannot explain costs, accreditation, benefit processing, transfer credit, and deployment policies clearly, keep comparing options.
Other Things You Should Know About Homeland Security
No. Homeland security is broader and may include terrorism prevention, border security, intelligence, cybersecurity, infrastructure protection, and public safety policy. Emergency management focuses more specifically on preparing for, responding to, recovering from, and mitigating disasters.
Usually no. A doctorate program itself typically does not require a clearance. However, some federal, contractor, intelligence, or defense-related jobs may require clearance eligibility, and a degree does not guarantee that eligibility.
Common topics include disaster resilience, cyber risk governance, counterterrorism policy, interagency coordination, critical infrastructure protection, emergency communication, public safety leadership, intelligence oversight, and community preparedness.
Yes, depending on the career path. Certifications in emergency management, project management, cybersecurity, risk management, or continuity planning can provide practical validation that complements doctoral research and leadership training.
References
- Military Friendly Colleges Offering Degrees in Emergency Management https://www.militarysupportivecolleges.com/careers/guide-homeland-security-emergency-management-degrees-careers/
- Types of Homeland Security Degrees | Compare Schools https://www.criminaljusticeprograms.com/specialty/homeland-security-degrees/
- 2025 Best Military-Friendly Online Colleges https://www.onlineu.com/online-schools/military-friendly
- Earning an Online Doctorate in Homeland Security https://www.gograd.org/online-phd-programs/best-homeland-security-degrees/
- Military-friendly Online Master’s Programs for Service Members https://www.onlinemastersdegrees.org/features/military-friendly-programs/
- Homeland Security Career And Salary Information https://www.criminaljusticedegreeschools.com/careers/homeland-security/
- From Service to Scholarship: The Military Veteran's Guide to Pursuing a PhD https://www.phds.me/resources/military-personnel-veterans/
- Homeland Security Requirements (Degrees, Jobs & Salary) https://www.allcriminaljusticeschools.com/federal-law-enforcement/homeland-security/
- A Guide to Worldwide Recognized Accrediting Agencies https://www.qahe.org/article/a-guide-to-worldwide-recognized-accrediting-agencies/