Fire Protection at Oakland Community College

Auburn Hills, MI · Public · Certificate

enrolling 11,772 students in Auburn Hills, MI.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $44,178 track close to the $51,103 national median for Fire Protection programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 153.0x 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 0% gap from the optimistic case.

Ranked #19 of 37 Fire Protection programs, Oakland Community College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

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

76 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
72
Low End
76
Score
77
High End
Earnings $44,178/yr (-14% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (66% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (150,900 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$462K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
153.0x
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)
$3,020
Out-of-state: $5,560

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

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Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare how bachelor's degree graduates fare on earnings, ROI, and AI resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Fire Protection at Oakland Community College?
At 76/100, the score looks reasonable — but Fire Protection is a high-scoring trade overall. Compared to peers, this program's earnings and ROI fall below the median.
Should I consider an apprenticeship over a Fire Protection program at Oakland Community College?
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.
Is there demand for Fire Protection workers?
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 →