WhatGradsMake
Certificate (under 1 year)-10% vs national median181 grads tracked

Fire Protection at Vernon College

Ranked 42nd of 64 certificate (under 1 year) programs in Fire Protection by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$53,343
middle 50%: $47,087 – $60,972
Median · 5 years out
$64,280
middle 50%: $53,793 – $81,043
Median · 10 years out
$77,273
middle 50%: $59,353 – $92,948

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 Vernon College's certificate (under 1 year) program in Fire Protection earn a median $53,343 one year after graduating, rising to $77,273 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 10% below the national median of $71,068 for this field, ranking 42nd 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
6.1 yrs
≈ $6,717 total interest

Same major at other universities

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
El Paso Community College
$65,717 · 5 yrs out
Aims Community College
$65,230 · 5 yrs out
Sinclair Community College
$64,207 · 5 yrs out
Kilgore College
$63,866 · 5 yrs out
Temple College
$63,723 · 5 yrs out
Pikes Peak State College
$63,451 · 5 yrs out
Prairie State College
$62,949 · 5 yrs out
Victoria College
$62,224 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Vernon College

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$80,639 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$78,898 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Associate)
$72,585 · 5 yrs out
Precision Production (Associate)
$71,899 · 5 yrs out
Precision Metal Working (Associate)
$71,899 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$67,570 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$59,307 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Certificate)
$58,704 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Certificate)
$58,675 · 5 yrs out
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Certificate)
$54,656 · 5 yrs out
Precision Production (Certificate)
$53,306 · 5 yrs out
Precision Metal Working (Certificate)
$53,306 · 5 yrs out

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