Certificate (under 1 year)-11% vs national median245 grads tracked
Fire Protection at Prairie State College
Ranked 47th of 64 certificate (under 1 year) programs in Fire Protection by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$36,399
middle 50%: $25,664 – $56,288
Median · 5 years out
$62,949
middle 50%: $45,810 – $85,532
Median · 10 years out
$83,557
middle 50%: $54,051 – $117,996
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Fire Protection (certificate (under 1 year)) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Fire Protection certificate holders from Prairie State College earn $36k in their first year. Ten-year median salaries reach $84k.
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
7 yrs
≈ $8,399 total interest
Same major at other universities
Aims Community College
$65,230 · 5 yrs out
Vernon College
$64,280 · 5 yrs out
Sinclair Community College
$64,207 · 5 yrs out
Kilgore College
$63,866 · 5 yrs out
Temple College
$63,723 · 5 yrs out
Pikes Peak State College
$63,451 · 5 yrs out
Victoria College
$62,224 · 5 yrs out
Red Rocks Community College
$60,515 · 5 yrs out
San Antonio College
$60,199 · 5 yrs out
Cedar Valley College
$59,848 · 5 yrs out
South Texas College
$59,253 · 5 yrs out
Rock Valley College
$58,858 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Prairie State College
Fire Protection (Associate)
$121,802 · 5 yrs out
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
Related fields of study
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Compare universities
Homeland Security
Compare universities
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services
Compare universities
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other
Compare universities
Security Science and Technology
Compare universities