WhatGradsMake
Certificate (under 1 year)+17% vs national median632 grads tracked

Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services at Lone Star College System

Ranked 16th 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
$44,295
middle 50%: $30,500 – $59,276
Median · 5 years out
$75,144
middle 50%: $59,467 – $90,199
Median · 10 years out
$92,501
middle 50%: $71,370 – $112,304

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

Lone Star College System certificates in Homeland Security and related services yield a $44k median first-year salary. Earnings climb to $93k 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
5.9 yrs
≈ $6,940 total interest

Same major at other universities

Community College of Aurora
$78,237 · 5 yrs out
Hennepin Technical College
$77,603 · 5 yrs out
Lewis and Clark Community College
$77,430 · 5 yrs out
Houston Community College
$77,178 · 5 yrs out
Rochester Community and Technical College
$76,958 · 5 yrs out
Dallas College
$75,724 · 5 yrs out
Stark State College
$74,144 · 5 yrs out
Arapahoe Community College
$73,872 · 5 yrs out
Minneapolis Community and Technical College
$73,413 · 5 yrs out
McHenry County College
$72,384 · 5 yrs out
Oakton College
$71,899 · 5 yrs out
Lorain County Community College
$71,671 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Lone Star College System

Fire Protection (Associate)
$108,135 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Certificate)
$90,782 · 5 yrs out
Accounting and Related Services (Certificate)
$90,782 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$88,842 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Certificate)
$87,304 · 5 yrs out
Precision Production (Associate)
$83,557 · 5 yrs out
Precision Metal Working (Associate)
$83,557 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Certificate)
$82,784 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$81,191 · 5 yrs out
Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$79,787 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Certificate)
$77,306 · 5 yrs out
Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$76,015 · 5 yrs out

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