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Fire Protection at California State University-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $48,289/yr (-29% vs median)

AI Risk Moderate (34% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (150,900 openings/yr)

ROI 21.0x earnings multiple (7.7x out-of-state)

Ranked #9 of 20 Fire Protection programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Fire Protection graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$577K	$573K	$524K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	21.2x	21.0x	19.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	7.7x	7.7x	7.0x
Probability of Field Employment	34%	32%	26%
DegreeOutlook Score	66	65	56

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$27,252

Out-of-state: $74,792 (7.7x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$16,452

40% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$12,500

3.1 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$68,683

42% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

California State University-Los Angeles's Fire Protection graduates start at $48,289/yr, trailing the $68,084 national average by 29%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

The 21.0x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 34% task exposure — and the 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $12,500 in median debt clears quickly against $48,289 in annual earnings.

Ranked #9 out of 20 programs, California State University-Los Angeles's Fire Protection offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $48,289 to $68,683 shows 42% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About California State University-Los Angeles

A 92% acceptance rate means California State University-Los Angeles is accessible to most applicants, serving a student body of 21,478 in Los Angeles, CA. With 66% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum. After financial aid, the average student pays $16,452 over four years — 40% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at California State University-Los Angeles →

Top Career Paths

Managers, all other $136,550/yr

First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers $92,430/yr

Fire inspectors and investigators $78,060/yr

View all 6 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Fire Protection at Other Schools

Other Majors at California State University-Los Angeles

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does California State University-Los Angeles's Fire Protection program score?

This program scores 65/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Fire Protection graduates.

Why are Fire Protection earnings lower at California State University-Los Angeles?

Lower starting pay at California State University-Los Angeles may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →