Fire Protection at Hawaii Community College

Based on comparable fire protection programs nationwide, this associate's degree appears positioned around the national median with estimated first-year earnings near $56,000 and debt around $10,370. That 0.19 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests graduates could theoretically pay off loans in under three months of earnings—a manageable burden if the salary estimates hold true.

The challenge lies in Hawaii's reality versus national benchmarks. The only other fire protection program in the state—at Honolulu Community College—reports actual median earnings of just $37,817, roughly $18,000 below what national peer programs suggest. That's a significant gap that raises questions about whether Hawaii's job market for fire protection associates mirrors mainland opportunities, or whether geographic constraints, cost of living, and limited local demand create a different outcome entirely.

Without this program's actual graduate data, you're making a decision based on what happens elsewhere. If your child plans to stay in Hawaii long-term, the Honolulu figure might be the more realistic benchmark, which would push that debt ratio into less favorable territory. If they're willing to relocate to the mainland where fire protection jobs appear more lucrative, the national estimate becomes relevant. The debt load itself isn't alarming, but verify local career prospects and typical salaries with Hawaii fire departments before assuming national patterns will apply.