Fire Protection (Associate's Degree) at Merritt College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$56,004

Est. from national median (12 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$10,370

Est. from national median (9 programs)

Analysis

This associate's degree carries an estimated $10,370 in debt—lower than both California's $14,000 median and the national $11,250 benchmark for fire protection programs. Based on comparable programs nationwide, graduates typically earn around $56,004 in their first year, putting the debt-to-earnings ratio at a manageable 0.19. That means roughly two months of gross pay to cover the educational investment, which compares favorably to many technical programs.

The caveat: these figures come from peer programs rather than Merritt's actual graduate outcomes, so there's inherent uncertainty about how this specific program performs. Fire protection earnings in California show considerable range—the national 75th percentile reaches $75,502, suggesting strong performers can substantially exceed the median. Much depends on whether graduates land positions with well-compensated fire departments versus lower-paying prevention or inspection roles.

The financial framework looks reasonable if your student can reach typical outcomes for fire protection graduates. The debt burden won't be crushing even if earnings start lower than estimated, and California's robust fire service sector offers pathways to higher compensation. Just recognize you're making this decision with limited visibility into how Merritt's graduates specifically fare in the job market.

Where Merritt College Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in California

Fire Protection associates's programs at peer institutions in California (61 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Merritt CollegeOakland	$1,167	$56,004*	—	$10,370*	—
Santa Ana CollegeSanta Ana	$1,180	$53,847*	$95,342	$14,000*	0.26
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 Merritt College, approximately 9% 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.