Fire Protection at Crafton Hills College

Fire protection programs across California consistently deliver solid early earnings, with the state median at $48,512—and Crafton Hills College's program appears positioned right in that range. Based on comparable fire protection certificates nationally, graduates can expect around $47,000 in first-year earnings, which tracks closely with what nearby Modesto Junior College and Santa Ana College report for their students. For a certificate program, these are encouraging numbers that reflect the strong demand for trained fire personnel in California.

The estimated debt picture looks particularly manageable. At roughly $9,557, the borrowing appears significantly lower than California's state median of $15,000 for similar programs. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.20 means students would owe less than three months of their first year's salary—a threshold that typically allows for comfortable repayment while building financial stability. Given that fire protection careers often come with benefits packages and clear advancement paths, this initial earning level represents a floor rather than a ceiling.

The caveat here is that these figures are drawn from peer programs rather than Crafton Hills College's own graduate outcomes. Still, fire protection is a field where certification standards and hiring practices create fairly consistent results across programs. If your child is serious about entering fire service, a certificate with minimal debt that gets them qualified faster than a four-year degree could be the smarter route.