WhatGradsMake
Associate-14% vs national median128 grads tracked

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

Ranked 11th of 18 associate programs in Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$37,105
middle 50%: $25,654 – $52,839
Median · 5 years out
$45,881
middle 50%: $33,639 – $60,484
Median · 10 years out
$50,493
middle 50%: $39,284 – $68,476

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 Virginia Western Community College's associate program in Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other earn a median $37,105 one year after graduating, rising to $50,493 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 14% below the national median of $53,181 for this field, ranking 11th 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
9.1 yrs
≈ $10,395 total interest

Same major at other universities

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
Mountain Empire Community College
$46,663 · 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
Wytheville Community College
$41,695 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Virginia Western Community College

Engineering (Associate)
$78,669 · 5 yrs out
Engineering, General (Associate)
$78,669 · 5 yrs out
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$75,525 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Certificate)
$72,371 · 5 yrs out
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions (Associate)
$71,728 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$70,578 · 5 yrs out
Management Information Systems and Services (Associate)
$68,098 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$65,353 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$64,494 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$64,102 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Associate)
$60,076 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Associate)
$60,076 · 5 yrs out

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