Fire Protection at City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College

Fire protection programs in Illinois consistently deliver strong earnings outcomes, and while Malcolm X College's specific graduate data isn't available, peer programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $56,000—competitive with the $58,160 median for Illinois fire protection graduates. The estimated debt load of roughly $10,400 translates to a manageable 0.19 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates would owe less than three months of their first-year salary. For a two-year credential leading to a public safety career with solid pay and benefits, these fundamentals look sound.

The caveat: we're working with estimates here because the actual graduate cohort was too small for the Department of Education to publish. This isn't unusual for specialized technical programs, but it means you're evaluating potential rather than this school's proven track record. Neighboring College of DuPage reports actual earnings of $58,160 for their fire protection graduates, which aligns closely with what similar programs nationwide produce. If your child is committed to firefighting as a career and Malcolm X offers the location and scheduling flexibility they need, the estimated numbers suggest reasonable value—but verify current job placement rates and connections to Chicago-area fire departments directly with the program.