WhatGradsMake
Certificate (1-2 years)-2% vs national median1,446 grads tracked

Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services at Columbus State University

Ranked 38th 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
$56,260
middle 50%: $44,939 – $73,580
Median · 5 years out
$56,577
middle 50%: $43,978 – $72,871
Median · 10 years out
$55,910
middle 50%: $42,699 – $71,633

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

This certificate program in protective services yields a first-year median of $56k. Salaries remain steady at approximately $56k through year ten.

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
6.6 yrs
≈ $6,916 total interest

Same major at other universities

Cedar Valley College
$58,363 · 5 yrs out
Eastern Gateway Community College
$58,363 · 5 yrs out
University of Hawaii - West Oahu
$58,100 · 5 yrs out
Pueblo Community College
$57,946 · 5 yrs out
South Suburban College
$57,726 · 5 yrs out
Lewis and Clark Community College
$57,619 · 5 yrs out
City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College
$55,817 · 5 yrs out
Stark State College
$55,464 · 5 yrs out
Portland Community College
$53,536 · 5 yrs out
Illinois Valley Community College
$53,107 · 5 yrs out
Metropolitan Community College
$52,920 · 5 yrs out
Northern Virginia Community College
$52,872 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Columbus State University

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$101,595 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Master's)
$97,530 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$84,053 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's)
$81,722 · 5 yrs out
Social Sciences (Master's)
$80,758 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$77,607 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$77,607 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Bachelor's)
$71,812 · 5 yrs out
Chemistry (Bachelor's)
$69,154 · 5 yrs out
Education (Master's)
$65,581 · 5 yrs out
Natural Resources and Conservation (Master's)
$63,874 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Bachelor's)
$60,118 · 5 yrs out

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