Fire Protection (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) at Suncoast Technical College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$46,952

Est. from FL median (10 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$9,557

Est. from FL median (5 programs)

Analysis

A debt load around $9,500 for a fire protection certificate looks manageable—if the earnings estimate of roughly $47,000 holds up. Based on the median of similar programs across Florida, this translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.20, meaning graduates would owe about 20% of their first-year salary. That's a reasonable figure for a technical credential, putting monthly loan payments well within reach of a typical firefighter or fire inspector's budget.

The challenge is that these numbers are estimates drawn from peer programs since Suncoast's graduate pool is too small for the Department of Education to report. Looking at Florida fire protection programs with actual data, earnings vary considerably—from $47,200 at Indian River State to nearly $56,000 at St. Petersburg College. Location and local fire department hiring patterns play an enormous role in outcomes. Sarasota County's fire services market may differ substantially from what graduates experience in Tampa or Jacksonville, where some of the higher-earning programs operate.

For parents, the upside is clear: low debt and specialized training for a stable public safety career. The downside is uncertainty about whether Suncoast specifically delivers the networking and placement support that helps grads land the better-paying positions. Before committing, talk to current students or alumni about job placement rates and where graduates actually end up working.

Where Suncoast Technical College Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Florida

Fire Protection certificate's programs at peer institutions in Florida (32 total in state)

Scroll to see more →

School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Suncoast Technical CollegeSarasota	—	$46,952*	—	$9,557*	—
St Petersburg CollegeSt. Petersburg	$2,682	$55,829*	—	$9,557*	0.17
Northwest Florida State CollegeNiceville	$3,246	$52,856*	—	—*	—
Hillsborough Community CollegeTampa	$2,506	$50,331*	$58,626	$14,735*	0.29
Florida State College at JacksonvilleJacksonville	$2,878	$49,810*	—	—*	—
Indian River State CollegeFort Pierce	$2,764	$47,206*	$49,227	$5,500*	0.12
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 Suncoast Technical College, approximately 11% 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 median of 10 similar programs in FL. Actual outcomes may vary.