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Fire Protection at Santa Ana College

Santa Ana, CA · Public · Certificate

serving a student body of 22,011 in Santa Ana, CA.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $46,660 track close to the $51,103 national median for Fire Protection programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 413.7x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. Trade programs often deliver strong ratios, and this one is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 34% task exposure — and the 0% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook for Fire Protection graduates.

Ranked #8 out of 37 programs, Santa Ana College's Fire Protection program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

With 16 registered apprenticeships mapped to Fire Protection, graduates have substantial options for hands-on training paths that pay from day one.

78 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
74
Low End
78
Score
80
High End
Earnings $46,660/yr (-9% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (66% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (150,900 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$488K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
413.7x
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)
$1,180
Out-of-state: $9,460

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

Explore what Fire Protection graduates do, from entry-level roles to long-term career paths across 37 programs nationwide.

Read the full Fire Protection career guide →

Compare & Explore

Fire Protection Overview

View all 37 schools offering Fire Protection →

Fire Protection at Other Schools

Cincinnati State Technical and Community College ($91,944) North Shore Community College ($90,948) Southwestern Illinois College ($77,935) Waldorf University ($76,032) Columbia Southern University ($75,326) Purdue University Global ($70,749) College of DuPage ($58,160) St Petersburg College ($55,829)

Other Majors at Santa Ana College

Nursing ($98,493) Precision Metalworking ($45,864) Vehicle Repair Technology ($36,380) Business Administration ($30,315) Liberal Arts & Humanities ($30,117) Medical Assisting ($28,687) Medical Assisting ($28,200) Liberal Arts & Humanities ($27,782)

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare Fire Protection degree programs on DegreeOutlook →

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 Santa Ana College?
At 78/100, this is a high-performing trade program. The TradeSchoolOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
What makes Santa Ana College's Fire Protection program stand out?
Among 37 Fire Protection programs, Santa Ana College's #8 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Fire Protection graduates?
Beyond Santa Ana College'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 Santa Ana College?
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 →