Fire Protection (Associate's Degree) at Kansas City Kansas 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

Fire protection programs typically produce solid employment outcomes in Kansas, though this specific program's numbers rely on national averages rather than tracked graduate data. Based on comparable programs nationwide, first-year earnings around $56,000 against estimated debt of $10,370 create a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.19—meaning graduates would owe less than three months of their annual salary.

The wrinkle here is that Kansas programs tend to run cooler financially than the national average. Hutchinson Community College's fire protection graduates, for instance, earn around $51,000—about $5,000 less than the national benchmark this estimate is drawn from. If Kansas City Kansas tracks closer to state norms than national ones, the financial picture tightens slightly, though still remains reasonable. The relatively low debt estimate helps cushion this uncertainty.

For parents, the takeaway is straightforward: fire protection associates degrees generally lead to stable employment with manageable debt loads, and the fundamentals here look sound even accounting for Kansas's slightly lower wages. The lack of tracked data means you're betting on Kansas City Kansas performing like peer programs rather than seeing their actual track record, but the broader field's consistency offers some reassurance.

Where Kansas City Kansas Community College Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Kansas

Fire Protection associates's programs at peer institutions in Kansas (7 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Kansas City Kansas Community CollegeKansas City	$3,150	$56,004*	—	$10,370*	—
Hutchinson Community CollegeHutchinson	$3,420	$51,007*	$50,275	—*	—
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 Kansas City Kansas Community College, approximately 31% 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.