WhatGradsMake
Associate-13% vs national median374 grads tracked

Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services at Palo Alto College

Ranked 258th of 359 associate programs in Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$31,073
middle 50%: $22,631 – $42,527
Median · 5 years out
$46,808
middle 50%: $34,184 – $60,995
Median · 10 years out
$58,032
middle 50%: $44,821 – $75,872

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (associate) graduates.

This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates

Associate degree graduates in Homeland Security and Protective Services earn a median starting salary of $31k. Ten-year earnings rise to $58k for this group.

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
9.1 yrs
≈ $11,030 total interest

Same major at other universities

Central Virginia Community College
$47,315 · 5 yrs out
Rose State College
$47,315 · 5 yrs out
City Colleges of Chicago - Richard J. Daley College
$47,167 · 5 yrs out
Rappahannock Community College
$47,119 · 5 yrs out
Trident Technical College
$47,078 · 5 yrs out
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana- Region 3
$47,046 · 5 yrs out
Illinois Valley Community College
$46,777 · 5 yrs out
Tri-County Technical College
$46,772 · 5 yrs out
Hill College
$46,663 · 5 yrs out
Northwest Vista College
$46,571 · 5 yrs out
Cisco College
$46,373 · 5 yrs out
Mountain Gateway Community College
$46,142 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Palo Alto College

Engineering (Associate)
$87,351 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$64,834 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$62,224 · 5 yrs out
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs (Associate)
$56,877 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$56,272 · 5 yrs out
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies (Associate)
$55,746 · 5 yrs out
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other (Associate)
$55,746 · 5 yrs out
Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services (Certificate)
$55,181 · 5 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Associate)
$54,286 · 5 yrs out
Marketing (Associate)
$53,921 · 5 yrs out
Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Associate)
$53,793 · 5 yrs out
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Associate)
$53,094 · 5 yrs out

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