Fire Protection at Purdue University Global

West Lafayette, IN · Public · Associate Degree

with 31,502 students enrolled in West Lafayette, IN.

Program Analysis

At $70,749 per year, Fire Protection graduates from Purdue University Global significantly outpace the $51,103 national average for this trade, reflecting strong employer demand for this program's graduates.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 40.4x 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 10% gap from the optimistic case.

The median debt load of $20,252 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

Ranked #27 of 37 Fire Protection programs, Purdue University Global falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $80,826 are relatively flat compared to the $70,749 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.

68 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
65
Low End
68
Score
70
High End
Earnings $70,749/yr (38% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (66% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (150,900 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$826K
3.4% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
40.8x
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)
$20,220
Out-of-state: $28,842
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,252
3.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$80,826
14% 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 Purdue University Global? 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 Purdue University Global

How Does a Bachelor's Degree Compare?

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Fire Protection at Purdue University Global?
A score of 68/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Purdue University Global trails the majority of Fire Protection programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
How affordable is Fire Protection at Purdue University Global?
At $20,252 in median debt, Fire Protection graduates from Purdue University Global carry minimal financial burden. The debt-to-income ratio of 0.3x is well below the trade program average.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Fire Protection graduates?
Beyond Purdue University Global's classroom route, 16 registered apprenticeships map to Fire Protection careers — including Arson And Bomb Investigator. Apprenticeships trade shorter program length for longer on-the-job training, typically 2-4 years.
What's the job market like for Fire Protection from Purdue University Global?
At 150,900 annual openings, Fire Protection has a very large employment base. Purdue University Global graduates benefit from broad demand, particularly given public safety staffing needs and retirement-driven turnover.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →