Fire Protection at Belmont College

Ohio's fire protection programs typically launch graduates into strong first-year earnings—Cincinnati State's associate degree holders earn $91,944—but Belmont's estimated figures paint a different picture. Based on national benchmarks for similar programs, this associate's degree appears to generate around $56,004 in first-year earnings, nearly $36,000 below what comparable Ohio programs report. That's a significant gap in a state where fire protection careers generally pay well from the start.

The estimated debt load of $10,370 is modest and sits below both state and national medians for this field, yielding a comfortable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.19. If the earnings estimate holds true, graduates would dedicate roughly 19% of their first-year income to debt—a manageable burden by any standard. The real question is whether those earnings will actually materialize at that level or if graduates can tap into Ohio's stronger fire protection job market despite lower-than-typical starting figures.

For parents, the challenge here is substantial uncertainty. When actual program outcomes aren't available and estimates fall well short of state peers, you're making a decision with limited visibility. If your student is committed to fire protection in Ohio, investigating why this program's estimated outcomes diverge so sharply from Cincinnati State and exploring placement rates directly with Belmont becomes essential before committing.