WhatGradsMake
Associate-2% vs national median185 grads tracked

Fire Protection at Illinois Central College

Ranked 56th of 101 associate programs in Fire Protection by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$61,036
middle 50%: $35,244 – $97,714
Median · 5 years out
$79,950
middle 50%: $58,858 – $96,791
Median · 10 years out
$92,948
middle 50%: $72,341 – $110,538

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Fire Protection (associate) graduates.

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

Graduates of Illinois Central College's associate program in Fire Protection earn a median $61,036 one year after graduating, rising to $92,948 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 2% below the national median of $81,295 for this field, ranking 56th of 101 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
5.1 yrs
≈ $5,555 total interest

Same major at other universities

Georgia State University
$83,557 · 5 yrs out
Oakton College
$82,614 · 5 yrs out
Bristol Community College
$82,300 · 5 yrs out
College Of DuPage
$81,833 · 5 yrs out
Des Moines Area Community College
$81,295 · 5 yrs out
Utah Valley University
$80,278 · 5 yrs out
Trinity Valley Community College
$79,368 · 5 yrs out
Richland Community College
$78,529 · 5 yrs out
Hocking Technical College
$78,372 · 5 yrs out
Central Oregon Community College
$78,278 · 5 yrs out
Tidewater Community College
$78,072 · 5 yrs out
Suffolk County Community College
$77,755 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Illinois Central College

Engineering (Associate)
$84,400 · 5 yrs out
Engineering, General (Associate)
$84,400 · 5 yrs out
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$77,901 · 5 yrs out
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$77,273 · 5 yrs out
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$76,487 · 5 yrs out
Computer Programming (Associate)
$74,872 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$71,397 · 5 yrs out
Agricultural Mechanization (Associate)
$70,211 · 5 yrs out
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$69,154 · 5 yrs out
Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$68,443 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$67,694 · 5 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Certificate)
$66,779 · 5 yrs out

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