Certificate (under 1 year)+3% vs national median235 grads tracked
Fire Protection at Community College of Aurora
Ranked 22nd of 64 certificate (under 1 year) programs in Fire Protection by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$57,781
middle 50%: $31,844 – $68,602
Median · 5 years out
$72,896
middle 50%: $47,392 – $89,225
Median · 10 years out
$96,151
middle 50%: $60,484 – $122,734
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Fire Protection (certificate (under 1 year)) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Fire Protection certificate holders earn a median of $58k in year one. By year ten, salaries reach $96k.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.
Will the degree pay for itself?
Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.
Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).
Paid off in
5.5 yrs
≈ $5,996 total interest
Same major at other universities
Lone Star College System
$75,144 · 5 yrs out
Tyler Junior College
$74,301 · 5 yrs out
Blinn College
$74,080 · 5 yrs out
San Jacinto Community College District
$73,425 · 5 yrs out
Midland College
$73,042 · 5 yrs out
Waubonsee Community College
$72,966 · 5 yrs out
Southwestern Illinois College
$72,441 · 5 yrs out
McHenry County College
$72,384 · 5 yrs out
Odessa College
$72,258 · 5 yrs out
Oakton College
$71,899 · 5 yrs out
Northland Community and Technical College
$71,084 · 5 yrs out
College of the Mainland
$71,068 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Community College of Aurora
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other (Certificate)
$87,106 · 5 yrs out
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Certificate)
$78,315 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Certificate)
$78,237 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Certificate)
$77,044 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Certificate)
$77,044 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Associate)
$71,441 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$70,870 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Associate)
$70,870 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Associate)
$69,154 · 5 yrs out
Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$68,702 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Certificate)
$66,500 · 5 yrs out
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Certificate)
$66,452 · 5 yrs out
Related fields of study
Criminal Justice and Corrections
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Homeland Security
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Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other
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Security Science and Technology
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