WhatGradsMake
Certificate (under 1 year)-5% vs national median172 grads tracked

Fire Protection at Del Mar College

Ranked 33rd of 64 certificate (under 1 year) programs in Fire Protection by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$44,737
middle 50%: $30,647 – $73,376
Median · 5 years out
$67,746
middle 50%: $45,127 – $88,267
Median · 10 years out
$72,585
middle 50%: $53,202 – $89,668

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

Graduates of Del Mar College's certificate (under 1 year) program in Fire Protection earn a median $44,737 one year after graduating, rising to $72,585 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 5% below the national median of $71,068 for this field, ranking 33rd of 64 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
6.3 yrs
≈ $7,297 total interest

Same major at other universities

Northland Community and Technical College
$71,084 · 5 yrs out
College of the Mainland
$71,068 · 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
Hill College
$67,607 · 5 yrs out
South Plains College
$67,403 · 5 yrs out
Richland Community College
$67,204 · 5 yrs out
Austin Community College
$66,990 · 5 yrs out
Navarro College
$66,598 · 5 yrs out
Sauk Valley Community College
$66,438 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Del Mar College

Physical Science Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$116,020 · 5 yrs out
Science Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$112,512 · 5 yrs out
Physical Science Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$101,251 · 5 yrs out
Science Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$99,192 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Associate)
$93,589 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Associate)
$85,664 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics (Associate)
$85,664 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$85,617 · 5 yrs out
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$79,787 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$75,855 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$75,063 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Certificate)
$74,110 · 5 yrs out

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