Certificate (under 1 year)0% vs national median430 grads tracked
Fire Protection at College of the Mainland
Ranked 28th of 64 certificate (under 1 year) programs in Fire Protection by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$44,978
middle 50%: $29,583 – $63,959
Median · 5 years out
$71,068
middle 50%: $49,611 – $87,574
Median · 10 years out
$83,018
middle 50%: $60,837 – $110,938
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 earn $44,978 in their first year. Median earnings hit $83,018 by the tenth year.
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
6.1 yrs
≈ $7,085 total interest
Same major at other universities
Community College of Aurora
$72,896 · 5 yrs out
Southwestern Illinois College
$72,441 · 5 yrs out
McHenry County College
$72,384 · 5 yrs out
Odessa College
$72,258 · 5 yrs out
Oakton College
$71,899 · 5 yrs out
Northland Community and Technical College
$71,084 · 5 yrs out
Trinity Valley Community College
$70,870 · 5 yrs out
Casper College
$70,497 · 5 yrs out
Wharton County Junior College
$69,441 · 5 yrs out
Weatherford College
$68,154 · 5 yrs out
Del Mar College
$67,746 · 5 yrs out
Hill College
$67,607 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at College of the Mainland
Science Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$137,483 · 5 yrs out
Physical Science Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$137,483 · 5 yrs out
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$96,791 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$93,472 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$89,572 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$81,941 · 5 yrs out
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$81,671 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$76,554 · 5 yrs out
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (Certificate)
$72,585 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Certificate)
$71,529 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Certificate)
$70,915 · 5 yrs out
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Certificate)
$70,584 · 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