Fire Protection at Parkland College

Illinois fire protection programs typically produce first-year earnings around $58,000, and comparable associate's degree programs at community colleges suggest debt loads near $10,400. That's a manageable 0.19 debt-to-earnings ratio—meaning graduates would owe less than 20% of their first-year salary. For a field where credentials matter for career advancement and municipal employment, these numbers indicate a pathway that won't burden your child with problematic debt.

The estimate draws from peer programs because Parkland's graduate sample was too small for the Department of Education to publish separately. Among Illinois's 26 fire protection programs, the reported data from schools like College of DuPage suggests first-year earnings in the upper $50,000s are realistic for the state. Nationally, the field shows variability—the top quarter of programs produce graduates earning above $75,000—but even at median performance levels, the debt burden remains reasonable for an associate's degree that leads directly to employment.

Fire protection careers often involve municipal hiring with structured advancement, which means initial earnings matter less than the trajectory. The estimated debt here won't prevent your child from taking entry-level positions while gaining experience and certifications. If Parkland connects students with local fire departments or emergency services for training and placement, that practical advantage matters more than any marginal difference in starting salary.