Fire Protection (Associate's Degree) at Des Moines Area Community College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$56,004

Est. from national median (12 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$10,370

Est. from national median (9 programs)

Analysis

Iowa's fire protection programs typically produce stronger outcomes than what national peer programs suggest this degree might deliver. While comparable associate's programs nationwide point to first-year earnings around $56,000, the median for Iowa graduates is $76,000—a substantial difference that reflects the state's robust demand for trained firefighters and emergency responders. If DMACC's graduates follow the Iowa pattern rather than the national one, this program could deliver significantly better returns than the estimates indicate.

The estimated debt load of $10,370 is manageable regardless of which earnings scenario materializes. Even at the conservative national figure, graduates would owe less than 20% of their first-year salary—well within sustainable territory. But if actual outcomes align more closely with Iowa's stronger market, the debt becomes almost negligible relative to earning potential.

The critical question is whether DMACC's specific program connects graduates to Iowa's higher-paying opportunities or produces outcomes closer to the national average. Given that this is a community college training students for a local workforce with documented higher pay, betting on Iowa-level outcomes seems reasonable. The low debt provides cushion even if reality falls somewhere between the two scenarios.

Where Des Moines Area Community College Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Iowa

Fire Protection associates's programs at peer institutions in Iowa (8 total in state)

Scroll to see more →

School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Des Moines Area Community CollegeAnkeny	$5,550	$56,004*	—	$10,370*	—
Waldorf UniversityForest City	$25,220	$76,032*	$71,661	$12,609*	0.17
National Median	—	$56,004*	—	$11,250*	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 Des Moines Area Community College, approximately 16% 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 12 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.