WhatGradsMake
Certificate (under 1 year)+63% vs national median345 grads tracked

Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services at City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College

Ranked 2nd 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
$74,864
middle 50%: $70,972 – $90,457
Median · 5 years out
$104,211
middle 50%: $96,135 – $110,564
Median · 10 years out
$116,400
middle 50%: $107,122 – $129,701

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 City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College's certificate (under 1 year) program in Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services earn a median $74,864 one year after graduating, rising to $116,400 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 63% above the national median of $64,014 for this field, ranking 2nd 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
4 yrs
≈ $4,372 total interest

Same major at other universities

Tunxis Community College
$116,855 · 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
Des Moines Area Community College
$81,357 · 5 yrs out
Tarrant County College District
$81,164 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College

Criminal Justice and Corrections (Certificate)
$104,211 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Associate)
$77,901 · 5 yrs out
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Associate)
$61,332 · 5 yrs out
Accounting and Related Services (Certificate)
$54,286 · 5 yrs out
Public Administration and Social Service Professions (Associate)
$52,165 · 5 yrs out
Social Work (Associate)
$52,165 · 5 yrs out
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies (Associate)
$51,537 · 5 yrs out
Biological and Physical Sciences (Associate)
$51,537 · 5 yrs out
Transportation and Materials Moving (Certificate)
$50,800 · 5 yrs out
Ground Transportation (Certificate)
$50,800 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Certificate)
$50,050 · 5 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Associate)
$48,258 · 5 yrs out

Related fields of study

Criminal Justice and Corrections
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