Fire Protection (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) at South Georgia Technical College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$47,024

Est. from national median (25 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$9,557

Est. from national median (15 programs)

Analysis

Fire protection training typically delivers strong financial returns, and the estimated figures for South Georgia Technical College suggest this pattern holds. Based on national benchmarks for similar certificate programs, graduates likely earn around $47,000 in their first year while carrying roughly $9,600 in debt—a 0.20 debt-to-earnings ratio that's quite manageable. For context, Augusta Technical College's fire protection graduates in Georgia report median earnings of $48,265, close to what peer programs nationally suggest you might expect here.

The economics make sense for the right student: fire protection is a skills-focused field with clear career pathways, and a certificate keeps both time investment and borrowing low. With half of South Georgia Tech's students receiving Pell grants, the program appears designed for working-class Georgians seeking practical credentials. Similar programs across the state show consistent outcomes, suggesting the fire service offers stable entry points regardless of which technical college you choose.

The caveat is that these are estimated figures based on comparable programs, not actual tracked outcomes for South Georgia Tech's specific graduates. Still, the fundamentals—low debt for a technical credential leading to immediate employment—align with what makes fire protection training a reliably solid investment. If your child is serious about firefighting as a career, a certificate program with manageable borrowing is exactly the pragmatic route most professionals in the field recommend.

Where South Georgia Technical College Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Georgia

Fire Protection certificate's programs at peer institutions in Georgia (15 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
South Georgia Technical CollegeAmericus	$3,782	$47,024*	—	$9,557*	—
Augusta Technical CollegeAugusta	$4,022	$48,265*	—	—*	—
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 South Georgia Technical College, approximately 51% 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.