WhatGradsMake
Certificate (under 1 year)-2% vs national median245 grads tracked

Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services at Prairie State College

Ranked 56th 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
$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 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 Prairie State College's certificate (under 1 year) program in Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services earn a median $36,399 one year after graduating, rising to $83,557 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 2% below the national median of $64,014 for this field, ranking 56th 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
7 yrs
≈ $8,399 total interest

Same major at other universities

Central Lakes College
$63,874 · 5 yrs out
South Texas College
$63,681 · 5 yrs out
Century College
$63,451 · 5 yrs out
Amarillo College
$63,396 · 5 yrs out
Bunker Hill Community College
$63,394 · 5 yrs out
Red Rocks Community College
$63,247 · 5 yrs out
Wharton County Junior College
$62,871 · 5 yrs out
Hill College
$62,487 · 5 yrs out
Weatherford College
$62,483 · 5 yrs out
James A. Rhodes State College
$62,446 · 5 yrs out
University of Massachusetts - Lowell
$62,224 · 5 yrs out
South Plains College
$61,602 · 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
Fire Protection
Compare universities
Homeland Security
Compare universities
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other
Compare universities
Security Science and Technology
Compare universities