Fire Protection at Odessa College

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.19 puts this program in financially comfortable territory—peer fire protection programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $56,000 against roughly $10,400 in debt. That's manageable by any standard, particularly for a two-year credential that gets students into the workforce quickly. Fire protection is a field with steady demand and clear career progression, where the associate's degree serves as an entry point to municipal fire departments and related public safety roles.

The challenge here is uncertainty. With DOE data suppressed due to small graduate cohorts, we're working entirely from national patterns rather than Odessa College's specific outcomes. Fire protection programs vary considerably—the national range shows some schools producing graduates earning $75,500 or more, while others fall below the median. Geographic location matters enormously in this field, as departments in larger metro areas typically offer higher starting salaries than rural districts. West Texas isn't necessarily where fire protection salaries peak.

For families considering this program, the estimated numbers suggest reasonable financial risk, but you'll want direct information from Odessa College about job placement rates and which departments typically hire their graduates. Talk to current students or recent alumni if possible—their actual experiences will tell you far more than these national estimates can.