WhatGradsMake
Associate-20% vs national median199 grads tracked

Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services at Mountain Empire Community College

Ranked 318th of 359 associate programs in Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$34,745
middle 50%: $25,364 – $45,156
Median · 5 years out
$42,838
middle 50%: $30,087 – $55,111
Median · 10 years out
$45,525
middle 50%: $34,351 – $57,434

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

Graduates of Mountain Empire Community College's associate program in Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services earn a median $34,745 one year after graduating, rising to $45,525 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 20% below the national median of $53,511 for this field, ranking 318th of 359 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
10 yrs
≈ $11,441 total interest

Same major at other universities

Illinois Eastern Community Colleges - Olney Central College
$43,047 · 5 yrs out
Indiana Institute of Technology
$43,047 · 5 yrs out
Edison State Community College
$43,047 · 5 yrs out
Southwest Virginia Community College
$42,960 · 5 yrs out
Bluefield State University
$42,853 · 5 yrs out
Kent State University
$42,850 · 5 yrs out
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana - Region 5
$42,467 · 5 yrs out
University of Maine at Presque Isle
$42,371 · 5 yrs out
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana - Region 6
$42,371 · 5 yrs out
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana - Region 10
$42,146 · 5 yrs out
University of South Carolina - Lancaster
$42,092 · 5 yrs out
West Virginia University - Potomac State College
$42,006 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Mountain Empire Community College

Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$64,930 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$63,309 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$61,827 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$59,216 · 5 yrs out
Natural Resources and Conservation (Associate)
$57,867 · 5 yrs out
Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Associate)
$57,867 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Certificate)
$57,562 · 5 yrs out
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Certificate)
$57,562 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Associate)
$51,418 · 5 yrs out
Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$50,129 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$48,694 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$47,682 · 5 yrs out

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