Certificate (under 1 year)-21% vs national median477 grads tracked
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services at Elgin Community College
Ranked 108th 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
$32,615
middle 50%: $22,226 – $47,591
Median · 5 years out
$50,422
middle 50%: $35,495 – $71,283
Median · 10 years out
$66,976
middle 50%: $45,300 – $101,874
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
Protective services certificate earners start at a median of $33k. By year ten, earnings reach $67k.
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
8.4 yrs
≈ $10,162 total interest
Same major at other universities
Germanna Community College
$52,165 · 5 yrs out
Cisco College
$51,875 · 5 yrs out
Bristol Community College
$51,627 · 5 yrs out
Hocking Technical College
$51,223 · 5 yrs out
Brightpoint Community College
$50,676 · 5 yrs out
Chemeketa Community College
$50,539 · 5 yrs out
John A. Logan College
$50,402 · 5 yrs out
Pueblo Community College
$50,402 · 5 yrs out
Holyoke Community College
$50,311 · 5 yrs out
Mountain View College
$49,703 · 5 yrs out
Piedmont Virginia Community College
$49,659 · 5 yrs out
Northeast Texas Community College
$49,651 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Elgin Community College
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$79,834 · 5 yrs out
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$76,251 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Associate)
$75,786 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$75,752 · 5 yrs out
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (Certificate)
$75,598 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$72,585 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$69,841 · 5 yrs out
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) (Associate)
$69,154 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Associate)
$68,521 · 5 yrs out
Engineering, General (Associate)
$68,521 · 5 yrs out
Science Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$67,887 · 5 yrs out
Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$67,887 · 5 yrs out