Fire Protection (Associate's Degree) at Southwestern Oregon Community College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$56,004

Est. from national median (12 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$10,370

Est. from national median (9 programs)

Analysis

Fire protection programs in Oregon typically carry higher debt loads than what's suggested here—the state median sits at $16,419, making Southwestern Oregon's estimated $10,370 look relatively manageable. Combined with first-year earnings around $56,000 based on national peer programs, this translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.19, which means graduates would owe roughly two months' salary. That's a workable starting point for a career in fire services.

The caveat: both figures are estimates derived from similar programs elsewhere, not actual outcomes from Southwestern Oregon's graduates. The small cohort size makes it impossible to know whether this specific program consistently delivers on these projections. Fire protection careers can vary significantly based on whether graduates land positions with municipal departments, wildland agencies, or private sector roles, and local employment opportunities in Coos Bay versus larger Oregon metro areas will matter considerably.

For parents weighing this investment, the estimated debt burden appears reasonable for an associate's degree, particularly if your student has clear career goals in fire services and understands the competitive hiring landscape. The bigger question is whether this location offers the networking and placement support needed to convert the credential into employment—something no earnings estimate can answer.

Where Southwestern Oregon Community College Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs Nationally

Fire Protection associates's programs at top institutions nationally

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Southwestern Oregon Community CollegeCoos Bay	$6,840	$56,004*	—	$10,370*	—
Cincinnati State Technical and Community CollegeCincinnati	$5,400	$91,944*	—	$6,125*	0.07
North Shore Community CollegeDanvers	$5,352	$90,948*	$110,475	$10,192*	0.11
Waldorf UniversityForest City	$25,220	$76,032*	$71,661	$12,609*	0.17
Columbia Southern UniversityOrange Beach	$5,808	$75,326*	$68,139	$10,500*	0.14
Purdue University GlobalWest Lafayette	$10,110	$70,749*	$75,553	$21,244*	0.30
National Median	—	$56,004*	—	$11,250*	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 Southwestern Oregon Community College, approximately 36% 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 12 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.