Location: Las Vegas, NV•In-State Tuition: $4,110•Out-of-State Tuition: $12,209
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$47,024
Est. from national median (25 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$9,557
Est. from national median (15 programs)

Analysis

Tracking the national median for fire protection certificates—around $47,000 in first-year earnings against roughly $9,500 in debt—this program aligns with what comparable credentials typically deliver. That 0.20 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests manageable repayment: graduates would owe about two months' salary, which is reasonable for a certificate program that gets students into the workforce quickly.

The fire protection field offers a clear advantage over many certificate programs: stable public sector employment with benefits and defined career ladders. While these national benchmarks can't tell us specifically how College of Southern Nevada graduates fare in the Las Vegas market, the broader pattern shows fire protection credentials lead to jobs that pay bills. Nevada's shortage of programs offering this credential—just two statewide—could actually work in graduates' favor if local fire departments face hiring needs.

The uncertainty here matters more for understanding salary growth than initial viability. Entry-level fire protection work tends to follow structured pay scales, so your child's trajectory will depend heavily on whether they're targeting municipal departments, airport fire services (Las Vegas has a major hub), or private sector fire safety roles. If they're committed to this career path and can handle the physical demands, the financial foundation looks solid enough to build on.

Where College of Southern Nevada Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all fire protection certificate's programs nationally

College of Southern Nevada (estimated ±10%)Other fire protection programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Compare to Similar Programs Nationally

Fire Protection certificate's programs at top institutions nationally

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
College of Southern NevadaLas Vegas$4,110$47,024*—$9,557*—
Southwestern Illinois CollegeBelleville$3,870$77,935*$70,937$12,750*0.16
St Petersburg CollegeSt. Petersburg$2,682$55,829*—$9,557*0.17
Lamar Institute of TechnologyBeaumont$2,844$55,778*——*—
Northwest Florida State CollegeNiceville$3,246$52,856*——*—
Modesto Junior CollegeModesto$1,270$50,364*——*—
National Median—$47,024*—$9,557*0.20
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with fire protection graduates

Fire Inspectors and Investigators

Inspect buildings to detect fire hazards and enforce local ordinances and state laws, or investigate and gather facts to determine cause of fires and explosions.

$75,480/yrJobs growth:

Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists

Enforce fire regulations, inspect forest for fire hazards, and recommend forest fire prevention or control measures. May report forest fires and weather conditions.

$75,480/yrJobs growth:

Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach vocational courses intended to provide occupational training below the baccalaureate level in subjects such as construction, mechanics/repair, manufacturing, transportation, or cosmetology, primarily to students who have graduated from or left high school. Teaching takes place in public or private schools whose primary business is academic or vocational education.

$62,910/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Firefighters

Control and extinguish fires or respond to emergency situations where life, property, or the environment is at risk. Duties may include fire prevention, emergency medical service, hazardous material response, search and rescue, and disaster assistance.

$59,530/yrJobs growth:Postsecondary nondegree award

Managers, All Other

All managers not listed separately.

Regulatory Affairs Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate production activities of an organization to ensure compliance with regulations and standard operating procedures.

Compliance Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization to ensure compliance with ethical or regulatory standards.

Loss Prevention Managers

Plan and direct policies, procedures, or systems to prevent the loss of assets. Determine risk exposure or potential liability, and develop risk control measures.

First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers

Directly supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in firefighting and fire prevention and control.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At College of Southern Nevada, approximately 30% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the national median of 25 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.