Location: Elgin, IL•In-State Tuition: $3,180•Out-of-State Tuition: $9,516
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$47,024
Est. from national median (25 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$9,557
Est. from national median (15 programs)

Analysis

Is a fire protection certificate from Elgin Community College worth nearly $10,000 in debt when peer programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $47,000? That 0.20 debt-to-earnings ratio looks reasonable on paper, but here's the complication: the single Illinois program with publicly reported outcomes—Southwestern Illinois College—shows graduates earning $77,935, a striking 66% more than what national comparisons would predict for Elgin's program. That gap should make you investigate further before enrolling.

The difference matters practically. If Elgin's graduates actually earn closer to the Illinois median of nearly $78,000, that $9,557 in estimated debt becomes quite manageable—roughly 1.5 months of gross pay. But if outcomes align more with the $47,000 national figure, you're looking at a program that underperforms the state's fire protection job market significantly. The variance here is too large to ignore, especially when firefighting positions in Illinois are known for competitive municipal salaries.

Before committing, contact Elgin's career services directly and ask what percentage of recent fire protection graduates secured positions in Illinois fire departments and what their starting salaries were. If the school can't provide concrete placement data showing outcomes closer to state norms, you're essentially betting on a program that may not connect effectively to Illinois's better-paying opportunities.

Where Elgin Community College Stands

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

Elgin Community College (estimated ±10%)Other fire protection programs

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Illinois

Fire Protection certificate's programs at peer institutions in Illinois (19 total in state)

Scroll to see more →

SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Elgin Community CollegeElgin$3,180$47,024*—$9,557*—
Southwestern Illinois CollegeBelleville$3,870$77,935*$70,937$12,750*0.16
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 Elgin Community College, approximately 22% 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.