Fire Protection (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) at Rio Hondo College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$47,024

Est. from national median (25 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$9,557

Est. from national median (15 programs)

Analysis

Is this fire protection certificate worth the investment when earnings data barely exists? Rio Hondo's program lacks reported outcomes, forcing reliance on national estimates that suggest $47,000 in first-year earnings against roughly $9,600 in debt. That 0.20 debt-to-earnings ratio looks manageable on paper, but these figures tell you nothing about what Rio Hondo's actual graduates experience in Southern California's competitive fire services market.

The comparison to other California programs raises questions. Modesto Junior College reports $50,400 for graduates, while Santa Ana shows $46,700—both actual outcomes, not estimates. The statewide median sits at $48,500, slightly above the national benchmark used here. More concerning, California programs typically carry $15,000 in debt, substantially more than the $9,600 estimate applied to Rio Hondo. If the actual debt picture mirrors other California schools while earnings stay flat, the value proposition deteriorates quickly.

Fire protection is one of those fields where local connections and academy reputations matter enormously for hiring. Without visibility into Rio Hondo's actual placement rates or graduate outcomes, you're betting on a program's quality blind. Before committing, demand specific data: How many recent graduates are working as firefighters? What departments hire from this program? If the school can't answer those questions with concrete numbers, that absence of transparency should tell you something.

Where Rio Hondo 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
Rio Hondo CollegeWhittier	$1,388	$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 Rio Hondo 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 25 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.