Certificate (1-2 years)-8% vs national median309 grads tracked
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services at Northern Virginia Community College
Ranked 44th of 90 certificate (1-2 years) programs in Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$42,776
middle 50%: $28,042 – $65,620
Median · 5 years out
$52,872
middle 50%: $38,015 – $75,035
Median · 10 years out
$70,402
middle 50%: $52,435 – $97,820
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (certificate (1-2 years)) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Protective services certificate holders earn $43k initially. Median salaries reach $70k 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
7.5 yrs
≈ $8,580 total interest
Same major at other universities
Columbus State University
$56,577 · 5 yrs out
City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College
$55,817 · 5 yrs out
Stark State College
$55,464 · 5 yrs out
Portland Community College
$53,536 · 5 yrs out
Illinois Valley Community College
$53,107 · 5 yrs out
Metropolitan Community College
$52,920 · 5 yrs out
Eastfield College
$52,636 · 5 yrs out
Klamath Community College
$52,636 · 5 yrs out
Kaskaskia College
$51,929 · 5 yrs out
Piedmont Virginia Community College
$51,929 · 5 yrs out
College of Lake County
$51,828 · 5 yrs out
Manchester Community College
$51,223 · 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
Engineering (Certificate)
$88,826 · 5 yrs out
Surveying Engineering (Certificate)
$88,826 · 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