Fire Protection at McLennan Community College

Waco, TX · Public · Certificate

a smaller institution with 4,997 students in Waco, TX.

Program Analysis

At $47,467/yr, Fire Protection graduates from McLennan Community College land near the $51,103 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 173.4x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Fire Protection programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Fire Protection's career paths, with 34% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 23% gap from the optimistic case.

At #17 of 37 Fire Protection programs, McLennan Community College scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $47,467 to $61,609 over five years — a 30% increase that's moderate and in line with typical trade career progression.

Fire Protection offers 16 registered apprenticeship pathways — an unusually broad set of earn-while-you-learn alternatives to the classroom track.

77 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
73
Low End
77
Score
79
High End
Earnings $47,467/yr (-7% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (66% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (150,900 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$648K
6.7% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
177.0x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
6 of 6
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition (In-State)
$3,660
Out-of-state: $5,910
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$61,609
30% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Fire Protection graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Managers, all other $136,550 +4.5% 53%
First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers $92,430 +3.4% 58%
Fire inspectors and investigators $78,060 +3.8% 71%
Managers, all other
$136,550
+4.5% growth 53% AI-proof
First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
$92,430
+3.4% growth 58% AI-proof
Fire inspectors and investigators
$78,060
+3.8% growth 71% AI-proof

View all 6 career paths with full salary data →

Fire Protection Career Guide

What can you do with a Fire Protection credential from McLennan Community College? Our career guide maps every occupation path with earnings and growth data.

Read the full Fire Protection career guide →

Compare & Explore

Fire Protection Overview

Fire Protection at Other Schools

Other Majors at McLennan Community College

How Does a Bachelor's Degree Compare?

Four-year programs take longer but may unlock different career trajectories. See the data.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does McLennan Community College's Fire Protection program score?
At 77/100, this is a high-performing trade program. The TradeSchoolOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
Can I learn Fire Protection through an apprenticeship instead of McLennan Community College?
The DOL recognizes 16 apprenticeship pathways related to Fire Protection. For students weighing McLennan Community College's program cost against alternatives, apprenticeships offer zero-tuition entry with paid employment from day one.
How many job openings are there for Fire Protection graduates?
The career paths mapped to Fire Protection have roughly 150,900 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Demand is driven by public safety staffing needs and retirement-driven turnover.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →