Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting at St Petersburg College

St. Petersburg College's homeland security program places graduates in solid-paying positions right away—earning above both the national and state medians—but carries debt loads that deserve careful consideration. First-year earnings of $49,271 put graduates in the 60th percentile among Florida programs and well above the national median. The problem? Debt averaging $38,000 is nearly twice what's typical for this field both nationally and in-state, placing this program in the bottom 5% for affordability. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.77, graduates can expect their first-year salary to cover most, but not all, of what they borrowed.

The earnings trajectory offers little relief—income grows only 2% by year four, essentially tracking with inflation. Compare this to Florida State College at Jacksonville, which achieves similar outcomes with typical debt under $22,000. That's a difference of roughly $16,000 in borrowing for comparable career prospects. For families considering this program, the question is whether the convenience or specific advantages of SPC justify paying substantially more than peers at other Florida colleges.

If your child is committed to public safety careers and SPC is the most practical option, the earnings support repayment—just plan for tighter budgets in those early years. But if Jacksonville or Fort Myers programs are accessible, they deliver the same career entry point at half the financial cost.