Location: Lewiston, ID•In-State Tuition: $7,388•Out-of-State Tuition: $21,386•Admission Rate: 90%
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$56,004
Est. from national median (12 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$10,370
Est. from national median (9 programs)

Analysis

Based on national patterns in fire protection programs, Lewis-Clark State College's associate degree appears to offer solid entry into a stable field, though the absence of program-specific data means families should verify outcomes directly with the school. The estimated $56,004 first-year earnings aligns with the national median for fire protection associate degrees, while the projected $10,370 debt load sits comfortably below the national median of $11,250. That 0.19 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests manageable repayment—roughly two months of pre-tax income to cover the entire debt.

Fire protection credentials typically lead to municipal firefighting positions or fire safety inspector roles, careers with structured advancement and strong benefits packages that don't show up in raw salary figures. The national data reflects this practical reality: these programs consistently place graduates into jobs that justify the educational investment. With 423 programs nationwide competing for attention, the field itself appears healthy, though Idaho's six programs mean limited local benchmarks for comparison.

The key question is whether this specific program delivers similar outcomes. Since the Department of Education couldn't publish data due to small class sizes, request placement rates and starting salary information directly from Lewis-Clark State's program administrators. Ask where recent graduates landed jobs and whether they secured positions before graduation—firefighting often involves civil service exams and hiring processes that good programs prepare students to navigate.

Where Lewis-Clark State College Stands

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

Lewis-Clark State College (estimated ±10%)Other fire protection programs

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

Compare to Similar Programs Nationally

Fire Protection associates's programs at top institutions nationally

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Lewis-Clark State CollegeLewiston$7,388$56,004*—$10,370*—
Cincinnati State Technical and Community CollegeCincinnati$5,400$91,944*—$6,125*0.07
North Shore Community CollegeDanvers$5,352$90,948*$110,475$10,192*0.11
Waldorf UniversityForest City$25,220$76,032*$71,661$12,609*0.17
Columbia Southern UniversityOrange Beach$5,808$75,326*$68,139$10,500*0.14
Purdue University GlobalWest Lafayette$10,110$70,749*$75,553$21,244*0.30
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 Lewis-Clark State College, approximately 24% 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.