WhatGradsMake
Associate-12% vs national median55 grads tracked

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

Ranked 10th of 18 associate programs in Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$34,040
middle 50%: $25,287 – $43,892
Median · 5 years out
$46,663
middle 50%: $32,345 – $55,464
Median · 10 years out
$52,839
middle 50%: $39,556 – $62,158

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other (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, Other earn a median $34,040 one year after graduating, rising to $52,839 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 12% below the national median of $53,181 for this field, ranking 10th of 18 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
9.2 yrs
≈ $10,706 total interest

Same major at other universities

Brightpoint Community College
$59,105 · 5 yrs out
Virginia Peninsula Community College
$53,793 · 5 yrs out
New River Community College
$53,181 · 5 yrs out
Piedmont Virginia Community College
$52,963 · 5 yrs out
Danville Community College
$49,855 · 5 yrs out
Germanna Community College
$47,119 · 5 yrs out
Virginia Western Community College
$45,881 · 5 yrs out
Southside Virginia Community College
$45,881 · 5 yrs out
Central Virginia Community College
$45,751 · 5 yrs out
Paul D. Camp Community College
$45,751 · 5 yrs out
Southwest Virginia Community College
$42,709 · 5 yrs out
Virginia Highlands Community College
$42,555 · 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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