WhatGradsMake
Certificate (under 1 year)-10% vs national median103 grads tracked

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

Ranked 81st 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
$54,959
middle 50%: $49,636 – $61,958
Median · 5 years out
$57,562
middle 50%: $48,715 – $65,194
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

Graduates of Mountain Empire Community College's certificate (under 1 year) program in Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services earn a median $54,959 one year after graduating, rising to $57,562 by year five. Five years out, earnings run 10% below the national median of $64,014 for this field, ranking 81st of 138 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
6.6 yrs
≈ $6,975 total interest

Same major at other universities

Victoria College
$58,332 · 5 yrs out
Navarro College
$58,309 · 5 yrs out
Bridgerland Technical College
$58,150 · 5 yrs out
Cedar Valley College
$57,765 · 5 yrs out
McLennan Community College
$57,758 · 5 yrs out
University of Akron (The)
$57,619 · 5 yrs out
Sinclair Community College
$57,471 · 5 yrs out
Eastfield College
$57,063 · 5 yrs out
Colorado Northwestern Community College
$56,877 · 5 yrs out
Horry - Georgetown Technical College
$56,877 · 5 yrs out
Northeastern Junior College
$56,659 · 5 yrs out
Pikes Peak State College
$56,524 · 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
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
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$47,460 · 5 yrs out

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