Fire Protection at Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City

Kansas City, MO · Public · Certificate

serving 10,412 students in Kansas City, MO.

Program Analysis

Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City's Fire Protection program produces graduates earning $48,321/yr — within striking distance of the $51,103 national average for this trade.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 156.6x 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 12% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $5,343 in median debt clears fast against $48,321 in annual earnings.

At #16 of 37 Fire Protection programs, Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $56,118 are relatively flat compared to the $48,321 starting salary — typical of trades with stable but capped salary bands.

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 $48,321/yr (-5% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (66% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (150,900 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$575K
3.8% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
158.4x
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)
$3,630
Out-of-state: $9,600
Median Debt at Graduation
$5,343
1.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$56,118
16% 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

Fire Protection opens doors to multiple career tracks. Our pillar guide covers every mapped occupation with salary data and AI resilience ratings.

Read the full Fire Protection career guide →

Compare & Explore

Fire Protection Overview

Fire Protection at Other Schools

Other Majors at Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City

Trade Certificate vs. Bachelor's Degree

Weigh shorter time-to-career against higher earning ceilings. The numbers tell the story.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 77/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Fire Protection at Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City?
A score of 77/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City's Fire Protection graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How affordable is Fire Protection at Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City?
At $5,343 in median debt, Fire Protection graduates from Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City carry minimal financial burden. The debt-to-income ratio of 0.1x is well below the trade program average.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Fire Protection graduates?
There are 16 registered apprenticeships connected to Fire Protection occupations, such as Arson And Bomb Investigator and Fire Apparatus Engineer. The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
What's the job market like for Fire Protection from Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City?
The very large job market (150,900 annual openings) works in favor of Fire Protection graduates. The national outlook is driven by public safety staffing needs and retirement-driven turnover, though regional variation matters.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →