WhatGradsMake
Certificate (under 1 year)-2% vs national median1,157 grads tracked

Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services at Wharton County Junior College

Ranked 57th 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
$48,334
middle 50%: $36,572 – $60,777
Median · 5 years out
$62,871
middle 50%: $49,792 – $78,514
Median · 10 years out
$76,482
middle 50%: $59,269 – $96,747

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

Homeland Security certificate holders earn a median $48k in their first year. Ten-year median salaries reach $76k.

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
6.4 yrs
≈ $7,242 total interest

Same major at other universities

Central Lakes College
$63,874 · 5 yrs out
South Texas College
$63,681 · 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
Hill College
$62,487 · 5 yrs out
Weatherford College
$62,483 · 5 yrs out
University of Massachusetts - Lowell
$62,224 · 5 yrs out
South Plains College
$61,602 · 5 yrs out
San Antonio College
$60,990 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Wharton County Junior College

Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$147,658 · 5 yrs out
Science Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$140,234 · 5 yrs out
Physical Science Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$133,973 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$86,887 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$74,416 · 5 yrs out
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions (Associate)
$72,884 · 5 yrs out
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs (Associate)
$71,728 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$71,212 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Certificate)
$69,441 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$67,570 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services (Associate)
$67,476 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Associate)
$65,590 · 5 yrs out

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