Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting at Florida SouthWestern State College

First-year earnings of $48,873 place this program solidly above the national median for law enforcement bachelor's degrees, landing at the 68th percentile nationwide. While the debt figure is estimated from similar Florida programs rather than this school's actual graduates, the projected $21,722 represents a manageable burden—less than half of first-year earnings and below both state and national norms for this field. The estimated debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.44 suggests graduates could realistically handle repayment even on entry-level public safety salaries.

The earnings trajectory shows steady growth to $56,721 by year four, a 16% increase that reflects typical advancement in law enforcement and emergency services careers. Within Florida, this program performs near the median, competitive with larger state colleges like St. Petersburg and Florida State College at Jacksonville. The fact that a third of students receive Pell grants indicates the program serves working-class students who often pursue these careers—making the below-average debt load particularly important.

For a parent considering this investment, the combination of above-average starting pay and below-average estimated debt creates favorable conditions. The caveat is that we're using proxy figures for debt rather than outcomes specific to FSW graduates, so the actual borrowing burden could differ. Still, peer programs in Florida consistently show manageable debt levels for this field, and the earnings data—which is actual, not estimated—demonstrates that graduates enter the workforce at competitive salaries.