Analysis
Southwestern Illinois College's fire protection certificate produces first-year earnings of nearly $78,000—well above the $47,000 national median and landing in the 95th percentile nationwide. The $12,750 in debt translates to just 16 cents owed per dollar earned, making this one of the more affordable paths into fire protection careers. However, the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these figures could shift substantially with more data.
The earnings trajectory deserves attention: graduates see median pay drop from $78,000 to $71,000 between years one and four. This 9% decline is unusual for a technical field and might reflect Illinois-specific hiring patterns in fire services, or simply the limitations of tracking a small cohort. Within Illinois, this program sits at the 60th percentile for earnings—solid but not exceptional—suggesting that geography and local department budgets play a significant role in outcomes.
For families focused on minimizing debt while accessing well-paying work quickly, the numbers look promising. That said, the declining earnings pattern and small sample size mean you're working with limited information about long-term career progression. If your student is committed to fire protection and values staying local, the low debt load makes this a reasonable bet, but understand you're relying on data from fewer than 30 graduates.
Where Southwestern Illinois College Stands
Earnings vs. debt across all fire protection certificate's programs nationally
Earnings Distribution
How Southwestern Illinois College graduates compare to all programs nationally
Earnings Over Time
How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation
| School | 1 Year | 4 Years | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southwestern Illinois College | $77,935 | $70,937 | -9% |
| Palm Beach State College | $46,698 | $59,892 | +28% |
| Austin Community College District | $47,024 | $59,080 | +26% |
| Hillsborough Community College | $50,331 | $58,626 | +16% |
| Indian River State College | $47,206 | $49,227 | +4% |
Compare to Similar Programs Nationally
Fire Protection certificate's programs at top institutions nationally
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| School | In-State Tuition | Earnings (1yr) | Earnings (4yr) | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Southwestern Illinois CollegeBelleville | $3,870 | $77,935 | $70,937 | $12,750 | 0.16 |
 St Petersburg CollegeSt. Petersburg | $2,682 | $55,829 | — | $9,557 | 0.17 |
 Lamar Institute of TechnologyBeaumont | $2,844 | $55,778 | — | — | — |
 Northwest Florida State CollegeNiceville | $3,246 | $52,856 | — | — | — |
 Modesto Junior CollegeModesto | $1,270 | $50,364 | — | — | — |
 Hillsborough Community CollegeTampa | $2,506 | $50,331 | $58,626 | $14,735 | 0.29 |
| National Median | — | $47,024 | — | $9,557 | 0.20 |
Career Paths
Occupations commonly associated with fire protection graduates
Fire Inspectors and Investigators
Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary
Firefighters
Managers, All Other
Regulatory Affairs Managers
Compliance Managers
Loss Prevention Managers
First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers
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 Southwestern Illinois College, approximately 26% 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.
Sample Size: Based on 22 graduates with reported earnings and 30 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.