Fire Protection: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 21 reporting college programs.
+$188,126 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
This is a positive modeled result. Price, time to finish and future earnings can still change the outcome.
Observed national outcomes
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $61,737
- Federal debt
- $9,557
- Reporting programs
- 38
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $73,375
- Federal debt
- $11,250
- Reporting programs
- 27
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $87,428
- Federal debt
- $22,723
- Reporting programs
- 21
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $74,656
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)
- Year-4 earnings
- $54,917
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 3
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
See the spread, not just the national number.
1Anna Maria College$110,0442Southern Illinois University-Carbondale$108,1353Waldorf University$100,0604Oklahoma State University-Main Campus$99,5575Colorado State University-Fort Collins$98,0196Purdue University Global$97,9677University of Florida$97,8398University of Florida-Online$97,8399Columbia Southern University$88,73510American Public University System$87,428Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anna Maria CollegeBachelor's Degree | Paxton, MA | $110,044 | $22,875 | +122% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleBachelor's Degree | Carbondale, IL | $108,135 | $17,725 | +171% | Strong payoff |
| 3 | Waldorf UniversityBachelor's Degree | Forest City, IA | $100,060 | $21,783 | +113% | Strong payoff |
| 4 | Oklahoma State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Stillwater, OK | $99,557 | $26,500 | +118% | Strong payoff |
| 5 | Colorado State University-Fort CollinsBachelor's Degree | Fort Collins, CO | $98,019 | $34,008 | +100% | Positive payoff |
| 6 | Purdue University GlobalBachelor's Degree | West Lafayette, IN | $97,967 | $29,636 | +151% | Strong payoff |
| 7 | University of FloridaBachelor's Degree | Gainesville, FL | $97,839 | $12,296 | +156% | Strong payoff |
| 8 | University of Florida-OnlineBachelor's Degree | Gainesville, FL | $97,839 | $12,296 | +165% | Strong payoff |
| 9 | Columbia Southern UniversityBachelor's Degree | Orange Beach, AL | $88,735 | $21,248 | +84% | Positive payoff |
| 10 | American Public University SystemBachelor's Degree | Charles Town, WV | $87,428 | $19,434 | +94% | Positive payoff |
| 11 | Utah Valley UniversityBachelor's Degree | Orem, UT | $83,807 | $20,036 | +89% | Positive payoff |
| 12 | Eastern Kentucky UniversityBachelor's Degree | Richmond, KY | $80,497 | $27,000 | +58% | Positive payoff |
| 13 | University of New HavenBachelor's Degree | West Haven, CT | $79,199 | $26,375 | +8% | Positive payoff |
| 14 | Fayetteville State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Fayetteville, NC | $73,969 | $15,777 | +37% | Positive payoff |
| 15 | CUNY John Jay College of Criminal JusticeBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $72,228 | $16,500 | +41% | Positive payoff |
| 16 | University of Akron Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Akron, OH | $71,482 | $25,750 | +12% | Positive payoff |
| 17 | New Jersey City UniversityBachelor's Degree | Jersey City, NJ | $69,444 | $26,000 | +0% | Positive payoff |
| 18 | Western Illinois UniversityBachelor's Degree | Macomb, IL | $68,753 | $22,723 | +2% | Positive payoff |
| 19 | Methodist UniversityBachelor's Degree | Fayetteville, NC | $53,649 | $27,000 | -69% | Negative payoff |
| 20 | California State University, Los AngelesBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | Not available | $11,750 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $3,967 |
| 21 | Eastern Oregon UniversityBachelor's Degree | La Grande, OR | Not available | $25,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $17,148 |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.