Fire Protection (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) at Mt San Antonio College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$47,024

Est. from national median (25 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$9,557

Est. from national median (15 programs)

Analysis

California's fire protection field offers strong entry points, and this certificate program appears positioned in the middle of that landscape. Based on comparable programs nationally, graduates can expect around $47,000 in first-year earnings—slightly below the state median of $48,500 but competitive with established programs like Santa Ana College. The estimated debt of $9,600 is notably lower than California's typical $15,000, suggesting Mt San Antonio keeps costs contained even as a community college serving a significant population of Pell-eligible students.

The 0.20 debt-to-earnings ratio translates to manageable monthly payments—roughly $110 over ten years—which shouldn't strain a firefighter's budget. Fire protection careers typically include benefits packages and pension systems that raw salary figures don't capture, plus clear advancement pathways as professionals gain certifications and experience. That said, these are estimated figures drawn from peer programs since this specific certificate hasn't generated reportable graduate outcomes yet, which means your child would be investing in a program without a verified track record at this particular school.

The practical question is whether Mt San Antonio's fire science instruction and industry connections can deliver results matching nearby competitors. If the program offers hands-on training facilities, connections to local fire departments, and instructors with active field experience, the lower debt load creates real financial breathing room. Request placement statistics and ask which fire departments recruit from campus—that's where you'll find whether this certificate opens the right doors.

Where Mt San Antonio College Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in California

Fire Protection certificate's programs at peer institutions in California (58 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Mt San Antonio CollegeWalnut	$1,364	$47,024*	—	$9,557*	—
Modesto Junior CollegeModesto	$1,270	$50,364*	—	—*	—
Santa Ana CollegeSanta Ana	$1,180	$46,660*	—	$15,000*	0.32
National Median	—	$47,024*	—	$9,557*	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 Mt San Antonio College, approximately 34% 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 25 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.