Fire Protection at Collin County Community College District

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.19 suggests a manageable financial picture for this fire protection program, though the numbers require context. Both the $56,004 first-year earnings and $10,370 debt figures are derived from national medians of similar associate-level fire protection programs, since Collin County's graduate cohort was too small to report individually. That national median—$56,004—sits well below the 75th percentile of $75,502, indicating significant variation in outcomes across fire protection programs. Texas has 27 schools offering this credential, but none have reported data publicly, making it impossible to gauge how Collin County specifically compares to regional competitors.

The estimated debt load is notably modest, staying under $11,000, which is typical for community college programs and would translate to roughly two months of gross income based on the earnings estimate. Fire protection is a field with clear career pathways—firefighting, inspection, prevention—but earnings can vary considerably depending on whether graduates land public sector positions with municipalities or work in private industry. The national data suggests some programs produce substantially higher earners, likely reflecting differences in regional demand, certifications earned, or connections to hiring departments.

For families, the low estimated debt makes this a relatively low-risk investment, but the lack of program-specific data means you're betting on Collin County matching what similar programs deliver nationally. If your student has strong interest in fire services and connections to Texas fire departments, this appears financially viable—just know you're working with borrowed benchmarks rather than this school's actual track record.