Certificate (1-2 years)-15% vs national median283 grads tracked
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services at Otero College
Ranked 56th of 90 certificate (1-2 years) programs in Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$41,244
middle 50%: $30,525 – $51,129
Median · 5 years out
$49,197
middle 50%: $39,196 – $61,630
Median · 10 years out
$56,877
middle 50%: $42,446 – $73,347
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (certificate (1-2 years)) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Homeland Security graduates at Otero College earn a median of $41k in year one. Ten-year earnings reach $57k.
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
8.2 yrs
≈ $9,260 total interest
Same major at other universities
Manchester Community College
$51,223 · 5 yrs out
Kankakee Community College
$50,949 · 5 yrs out
Northshore Technical Community College
$50,676 · 5 yrs out
Lorain County Community College
$50,197 · 5 yrs out
Georgia Southern University
$50,010 · 5 yrs out
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana
$49,452 · 5 yrs out
City Colleges of Chicago - Richard J. Daley College
$49,035 · 5 yrs out
Chemeketa Community College
$48,736 · 5 yrs out
Trinidad State College
$48,276 · 5 yrs out
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana - Region 4
$48,030 · 5 yrs out
University of Hawaii Maui College
$47,802 · 5 yrs out
College Of DuPage
$47,492 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Otero College
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$76,545 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$76,015 · 5 yrs out
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (Certificate)
$70,441 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Certificate)
$69,310 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Certificate)
$49,960 · 5 yrs out
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations (Certificate)
$49,399 · 5 yrs out
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Certificate)
$49,197 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Certificate)
$46,845 · 5 yrs out
Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields (Certificate)
$45,324 · 5 yrs out
Agricultural Business and Management (Certificate)
$44,669 · 5 yrs out
Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$42,092 · 5 yrs out
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$42,092 · 5 yrs out