Fire Protection at American Public University System

American Public University System's online Fire Protection bachelor's actually delivers above-average outcomes with manageable debt, though you should know these numbers come from a small graduating class. With median earnings just above $73,000 and debt under $20,000, graduates face a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.27—meaning they owe about three months' salary. That's substantially better than many bachelor's programs and should be relatively easy to manage on a fire protection professional's salary.

The program ranks in the 59th percentile nationally for earnings, outperforming most competitors while charging less than the typical program in this field. This online format likely appeals to working firefighters looking to advance their careers, which might explain why earnings stay flat rather than growing over the first four years—these students may already be employed in the field before graduation.

The caveat matters here: with fewer than 30 graduates in the data, one or two outliers could shift these numbers significantly. But the fundamentals look solid—reasonable debt, above-average pay, and a program structure that seems designed for career advancement rather than career entry. For a student already working in fire services or committed to this career path, the risk-reward balance appears favorable.