Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, and Firefighting, Other at Mountain Empire Community College
VA · Associate's Degree · CIP 43.99
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, and Firefighting, Other degree from Mountain Empire Community College earn a median salary of $46,663 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in VA, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $45,525. The degree typically pays for itself in 16.4 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$32,345
Typical Career
$46,663
Top Performers
$55,464
Estimated break-even: 16.4 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$311
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $3,889. Most students can comfortably afford about a $311 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.2x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.6x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Virginia buys what costs $1.03 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Educational Services, Public Administration.
Where Associate's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$45,525
Nominal: $46,663 in Virginia (COL 102.5% of national avg) · 2.4% lower purchasing power
10-Year Earnings Curve
Break-Even Timeline
How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).
Total Investment
$155,168
4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost
HS Graduate Baseline
$38,792/yr
BLS 2023 median, HS diploma
View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
| Timeframe | 25th Pct. | Median (50th) | 75th Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year After Graduation | $25,287 | $34,040 | $43,892 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $32,345 | $46,663 | $55,464 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $39,556 | $52,839 | $62,158 |
Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).
How We Calculate Purchasing Power
The median salary of $46,663 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in VA, which has a cost-of-living index of 102.5% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $46,663 × (1.0 ÷ 1.0250)
= $45,525 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The primary industries that graduates enter are predominantly within Health Care & Social Assistance, with 52.0%, 40.1%, and 39.3% of graduates finding employment in this sector. This concentration suggests a strong alignment between the program's training and the demands of the job market. Considering the estimated break-even point of approximately 16.4 years compared to a high-school-only path, the return on investment for pursuing this program appears favorable, particularly given the potential for career advancement and increased earnings over time.
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Other Degrees at Mountain Empire Community College
Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.