Certificate (1-2 years)-19% vs national median379 grads tracked
Fire Protection at Metropolitan Community College
Ranked 9th of 10 certificate (1-2 years) programs in Fire Protection by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$34,117
middle 50%: $25,317 – $47,067
Median · 5 years out
$53,355
middle 50%: $41,336 – $66,111
Median · 10 years out
$67,760
middle 50%: $51,899 – $83,638
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Fire Protection (certificate (1-2 years)) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Fire Protection certificate holders earn a median $34k in their first year. Salaries rise to $53k after five years and $68k after ten years.
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
8 yrs
≈ $9,618 total interest
Same major at other universities
Oakton College
$95,189 · 5 yrs out
Lewis and Clark Community College
$87,772 · 5 yrs out
Delgado Community College
$78,215 · 5 yrs out
Louisiana State University at Eunice
$74,872 · 5 yrs out
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College
$69,154 · 5 yrs out
Utah Valley University
$65,723 · 5 yrs out
Elgin Community College
$65,590 · 5 yrs out
Minnesota State Community and Technical College
$60,590 · 5 yrs out
Itasca Community College
$38,967 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Metropolitan Community College
Engineering, General (Associate)
$76,913 · 5 yrs out
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$75,872 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Associate)
$75,689 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Associate)
$74,055 · 5 yrs out
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (Associate)
$72,057 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Certificate)
$71,212 · 5 yrs out
Computer Programming (Certificate)
$71,212 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$70,337 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$68,298 · 5 yrs out
Computer Programming (Certificate)
$67,204 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Certificate)
$66,850 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Associate)
$66,726 · 5 yrs out
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