Fire Protection at Aims Community College

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.19 stands out immediately—based on comparable fire protection programs nationally, graduates would need just over two months of gross first-year income to clear their estimated $10,370 in debt. That's a favorable starting point for a public safety career, even when working with estimates drawn from peer programs rather than Aims-specific outcomes. The challenge is that fire protection careers don't follow typical earnings trajectories; much depends on securing a permanent position with a fire department versus working part-time or in related safety roles while waiting for openings.

The estimated $56,004 first-year salary reflects national medians for associate-level fire protection programs, but it's worth noting that some programs nationally produce outcomes near $75,500—suggesting significant variation based on local hiring markets and program connections to departments. Colorado's competitive fire service job market means the real question isn't whether the degree is affordable (it is), but whether Aims has the relationships with Front Range fire departments that turn an associate's degree into actual employment. The low debt load gives graduates flexibility to take entry-level positions or continue with EMT work while pursuing career firefighter roles.

For anxious parents, the math works if your student secures fire department employment. The risk isn't financial burden—it's whether this particular program opens doors in Colorado's competitive market, which these estimates can't tell you.