WhatGradsMake
Certificate (under 1 year)+2% vs national median301 grads tracked

Fire Protection at Odessa College

Ranked 25th of 64 certificate (under 1 year) programs in Fire Protection by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$49,022
middle 50%: $37,316 – $61,381
Median · 5 years out
$72,258
middle 50%: $56,170 – $90,494
Median · 10 years out
$89,645
middle 50%: $73,442 – $107,726

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 Odessa College's certificate (under 1 year) program in Fire Protection earn a median $49,022 one year after graduating, rising to $89,645 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 2% above the national median of $71,068 for this field, ranking 25th 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
5.8 yrs
≈ $6,689 total interest

Same major at other universities

San Jacinto Community College District
$73,425 · 5 yrs out
Midland College
$73,042 · 5 yrs out
Waubonsee Community College
$72,966 · 5 yrs out
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
Oakton College
$71,899 · 5 yrs out
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

Other majors at Odessa College

Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$105,476 · 5 yrs out
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$104,398 · 5 yrs out
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$102,499 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$101,838 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$98,136 · 5 yrs out
Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$88,474 · 5 yrs out
Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$86,367 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$83,306 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$81,108 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Certificate)
$80,834 · 5 yrs out
Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$80,325 · 5 yrs out
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$78,709 · 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