Fire Protection at Wilson Community College

A debt-to-earnings ratio under 0.2 is what any parent should hope for, and based on national data from similar fire protection programs, Wilson's associate degree appears positioned to deliver that outcome. With estimated first-year earnings around $56,000 against roughly $10,400 in debt, graduates would owe less than two months' salary—a manageable burden for a field where starting pay typically covers basic living expenses and then some.

The challenge is that we're working entirely with estimates here since Wilson's graduate cohort is too small for the Department of Education to report actual outcomes. The $56,000 figure comes from the national median across fire protection associate programs, which means it tells us what's typical nationwide but nothing specific about job prospects in Wilson or eastern North Carolina. Fire protection salaries can vary significantly by region depending on municipal budgets, department size, and whether positions include paramedic duties.

What matters most is the local employment landscape. If your student has connections to fire departments in the area or a clear path to certification, this program's low estimated debt makes it a low-risk credential. But if job prospects are uncertain or if comparable training is available through department-sponsored academies with less cost, that changes the calculation. The favorable debt numbers give you room to take the risk, but you'll need to do the legwork on placement that the missing data can't answer.