WhatGradsMake
Associate+18% vs national median1,012 grads tracked

Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services at Northern Virginia Community College

Ranked 64th of 359 associate programs in Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$45,691
middle 50%: $29,799 – $74,643
Median · 5 years out
$63,285
middle 50%: $43,380 – $89,650
Median · 10 years out
$79,675
middle 50%: $57,690 – $108,749

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

Protective Services certificate earners start with a median salary of $46k. Salaries reach $63k after five years and $80k after ten years.

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
6.5 yrs
≈ $7,459 total interest

Same major at other universities

Bunker Hill Community College
$64,114 · 5 yrs out
Metropolitan Community College
$64,057 · 5 yrs out
Corning Community College - SUNY Office of Community Colleges
$64,036 · 5 yrs out
William Rainey Harper College
$63,902 · 5 yrs out
Rock Valley College
$63,750 · 5 yrs out
Orange County Community College
$63,394 · 5 yrs out
Inver Hills Community College
$63,372 · 5 yrs out
Oakton College
$62,818 · 5 yrs out
Suffolk County Community College
$62,528 · 5 yrs out
Richland Community College
$62,520 · 5 yrs out
Alvin Community College
$62,360 · 5 yrs out
Nassau Community College
$61,654 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Northern Virginia Community College

Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$105,430 · 5 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Certificate)
$103,697 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Associate)
$100,794 · 5 yrs out
Accounting and Related Services (Certificate)
$95,510 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Associate)
$95,189 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades, General (Associate)
$95,189 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$92,628 · 5 yrs out
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions (Associate)
$87,210 · 5 yrs out
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) (Associate)
$86,799 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Associate)
$86,785 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Certificate)
$83,557 · 5 yrs out
Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$81,671 · 5 yrs out

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