Certificate (under 1 year)-1% vs national median348 grads tracked
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services at South Texas College
Ranked 51st 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
$44,978
middle 50%: $30,669 – $56,473
Median · 5 years out
$63,681
middle 50%: $43,993 – $74,407
Median · 10 years out
n/a
not enough graduates to report
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
Protective services certificate holders earn $45k initially. Median earnings hit $64k by year five.
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
6.7 yrs
≈ $7,536 total interest
Same major at other universities
Northern Virginia Community College
$65,081 · 5 yrs out
Central Ohio Technical College
$64,930 · 5 yrs out
Aims Community College
$64,898 · 5 yrs out
Richland Community College
$64,297 · 5 yrs out
Southwestern Illinois College
$64,014 · 5 yrs out
Central Lakes College
$63,874 · 5 yrs out
Century College
$63,451 · 5 yrs out
Amarillo College
$63,396 · 5 yrs out
Bunker Hill Community College
$63,394 · 5 yrs out
Red Rocks Community College
$63,247 · 5 yrs out
Prairie State College
$62,949 · 5 yrs out
Wharton County Junior College
$62,871 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at South Texas College
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$89,484 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$82,389 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Certificate)
$74,301 · 5 yrs out
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Certificate)
$67,042 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Associate)
$66,918 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Certificate)
$66,346 · 5 yrs out
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (Certificate)
$65,986 · 5 yrs out
Precision Production (Associate)
$65,698 · 5 yrs out
Precision Metal Working (Associate)
$65,698 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services (Associate)
$64,854 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Associate)
$61,749 · 5 yrs out
Engineering, General (Associate)
$61,749 · 5 yrs out