WhatGradsMake
Associate+50% vs national median59 grads tracked

Fire Protection at Prairie State College

Ranked 7th of 101 associate programs in Fire Protection by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$100,394
middle 50%: $42,371 – $131,803
Median · 5 years out
$121,802
middle 50%: $99,674 – $137,588
Median · 10 years out
n/a
not enough graduates to report

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 Prairie State College's associate program in Fire Protection earn a median $100,394 one year after graduating, rising to $121,802 by year five. Five years out, earnings run 50% above the national median of $81,295 for this field, ranking 7th 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
3.2 yrs
≈ $3,319 total interest

Same major at other universities

Bunker Hill Community College
$134,767 · 5 yrs out
Cape Cod Community College
$131,379 · 5 yrs out
Houston Community College
$124,854 · 5 yrs out
Navarro College
$122,926 · 5 yrs out
Middlesex Community College
$122,926 · 5 yrs out
Moraine Valley Community College
$122,364 · 5 yrs out
North Shore Community College
$119,874 · 5 yrs out
Saint Louis Community College
$114,831 · 5 yrs out
McHenry County College
$114,157 · 5 yrs out
Collin County Community College District
$112,807 · 5 yrs out
College of Lake County
$112,340 · 5 yrs out
Tarrant County College District
$110,938 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Prairie State College

Precision Production (Certificate)
$111,686 · 5 yrs out
Precision Metal Working (Certificate)
$104,958 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Associate)
$94,389 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Associate)
$90,181 · 5 yrs out
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Associate)
$90,181 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Certificate)
$89,458 · 5 yrs out
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Certificate)
$89,458 · 5 yrs out
Precision Production (Certificate)
$83,557 · 5 yrs out
Precision Metal Working (Certificate)
$83,557 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$80,210 · 5 yrs out
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) (Certificate)
$76,015 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$74,448 · 5 yrs out

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