WhatGradsMake
Certificate (under 1 year)-28% vs national median101 grads tracked

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

Ranked 124th 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
$37,247
middle 50%: $25,778 – $48,898
Median · 5 years out
$45,999
middle 50%: $34,211 – $54,875
Median · 10 years out
$67,042
middle 50%: $57,301 – $82,803

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 Southern State Community College's certificate (under 1 year) program in Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services earn a median $37,247 one year after graduating, rising to $67,042 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 28% below the national median of $64,014 for this field, ranking 124th 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
8.5 yrs
≈ $10,058 total interest

Same major at other universities

Central Texas College District
$48,076 · 5 yrs out
Portland Community College
$47,939 · 5 yrs out
Jefferson College
$47,666 · 5 yrs out
Trinidad State College
$46,845 · 5 yrs out
York Technical College
$46,663 · 5 yrs out
Greenville Technical College
$46,435 · 5 yrs out
Denmark Technical College
$45,751 · 5 yrs out
City Colleges of Chicago - Richard J. Daley College
$45,600 · 5 yrs out
Tri-County Technical College
$44,669 · 5 yrs out
Northeastern Technical College
$42,709 · 5 yrs out
Howard County Junior College District
$41,455 · 5 yrs out
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College
$41,357 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Southern State Community College

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$65,566 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$64,930 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$61,594 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Associate)
$58,511 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$57,346 · 5 yrs out
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (Certificate)
$53,783 · 5 yrs out
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$53,735 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Certificate)
$52,354 · 5 yrs out
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (Certificate)
$51,789 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Certificate)
$51,789 · 5 yrs out
Computer Systems Analysis (Associate)
$51,223 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Associate)
$47,224 · 5 yrs out

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