WhatGradsMake
Associate+19% vs national median200 grads tracked

Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services at Rock Valley College

Ranked 61st of 359 associate programs in Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$39,708
middle 50%: $29,726 – $58,574
Median · 5 years out
$63,750
middle 50%: $42,596 – $84,479
Median · 10 years out
$90,782
middle 50%: $59,353 – $108,926

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (associate) graduates.

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

Graduates of Rock Valley College's associate program in Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services earn a median $39,708 one year after graduating, rising to $90,782 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 19% above the national median of $53,511 for this field, ranking 61st of 359 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
6.8 yrs
≈ $7,985 total interest

Same major at other universities

Ridgewater College
$64,280 · 5 yrs out
Three Rivers Community College
$64,114 · 5 yrs out
Bunker Hill Community College
$64,114 · 5 yrs out
Metropolitan Community College
$64,057 · 5 yrs out
Corning Community College - SUNY Office of Community Colleges
$64,036 · 5 yrs out
William Rainey Harper College
$63,902 · 5 yrs out
Orange County Community College
$63,394 · 5 yrs out
Inver Hills Community College
$63,372 · 5 yrs out
Northern Virginia Community College
$63,285 · 5 yrs out
Oakton College
$62,818 · 5 yrs out
Suffolk County Community College
$62,528 · 5 yrs out
Richland Community College
$62,520 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Rock Valley College

Construction Trades (Associate)
$101,595 · 5 yrs out
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Certificate)
$101,595 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Certificate)
$96,422 · 5 yrs out
Precision Production (Certificate)
$76,015 · 5 yrs out
Precision Metal Working (Certificate)
$76,015 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$74,260 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$73,728 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Associate)
$72,966 · 5 yrs out
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$71,961 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$70,489 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$69,834 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$69,154 · 5 yrs out

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