WhatGradsMake
Certificate (under 1 year)+2% vs national median60 grads tracked

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

Ranked 45th 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
$47,574
middle 50%: $33,162 – $60,837
Median · 5 years out
$65,081
middle 50%: $42,853 – $85,137
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 Northern Virginia Community College's certificate (under 1 year) program in Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services earn a median $47,574 one year after graduating, rising to $65,081 by year five. Five years out, earnings run 2% above the national median of $64,014 for this field, ranking 45th 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
6.4 yrs
≈ $7,201 total interest

Same major at other universities

Alvin Community College
$66,800 · 5 yrs out
Sauk Valley Community College
$66,779 · 5 yrs out
Lincoln Land Community College
$65,771 · 5 yrs out
Temple College
$65,590 · 5 yrs out
El Paso Community College
$65,502 · 5 yrs out
Odessa College
$65,148 · 5 yrs out
Central Ohio Technical College
$64,930 · 5 yrs out
Aims Community College
$64,898 · 5 yrs out
Richland Community College
$64,297 · 5 yrs out
Southwestern Illinois College
$64,014 · 5 yrs out
Central Lakes College
$63,874 · 5 yrs out
South Texas College
$63,681 · 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

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