WhatGradsMake
Certificate (under 1 year)+27% vs national median232 grads tracked

Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services at Des Moines Area Community College

Ranked 7th of 138 certificate (under 1 year) programs in Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$52,963
middle 50%: $36,368 – $79,622
Median · 5 years out
$81,357
middle 50%: $55,150 – $95,289
Median · 10 years out
$85,364
middle 50%: $63,214 – $103,276

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (certificate (under 1 year)) graduates.

This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates

Graduates of Des Moines Area Community College's certificate (under 1 year) program in Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services earn a median $52,963 one year after graduating, rising to $85,364 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 27% above the national median of $64,014 for this field, ranking 7th of 138 reporting programs.

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
5.3 yrs
≈ $6,050 total interest

Same major at other universities

Tunxis Community College
$116,855 · 5 yrs out
City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College
$104,211 · 5 yrs out
Metropolitan State University
$90,933 · 5 yrs out
Laredo College
$89,011 · 5 yrs out
Kirkwood Community College
$85,664 · 5 yrs out
Collin County Community College District
$83,631 · 5 yrs out
Tarrant County College District
$81,164 · 5 yrs out
Lamar Institute of Technology
$80,994 · 5 yrs out
Community College of Aurora
$78,237 · 5 yrs out
Hennepin Technical College
$77,603 · 5 yrs out
Lewis and Clark Community College
$77,430 · 5 yrs out
Houston Community College
$77,178 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Des Moines Area Community College

Fire Protection (Certificate)
$85,523 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Associate)
$81,295 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Certificate)
$79,157 · 5 yrs out
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management (Associate)
$78,843 · 5 yrs out
Computer Programming (Associate)
$73,958 · 5 yrs out
Computer Programming (Certificate)
$72,928 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Certificate)
$71,555 · 5 yrs out
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Certificate)
$71,212 · 5 yrs out
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Certificate)
$71,212 · 5 yrs out
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions (Associate)
$68,222 · 5 yrs out
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$68,098 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Associate)
$67,948 · 5 yrs out

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