Fire Protection at Purdue University Global

West Lafayette, IN · Public · Bachelor's Degree
74 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
74
Optimistic
74
Base Case
69
Pessimistic
Earnings $89,622/yr (32% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (34% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (150,900 openings/yr)
ROI 16.5x earnings multiple (11.6x out-of-state)
Ranked #2 of 20 Fire Protection programs Top 10%

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 $675K $666K $599K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 16.7x 16.5x 14.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 11.7x 11.6x 10.4x
Probability of Field Employment 34% 32% 26%
DegreeOutlook Score 74 74 69
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$40,440
Out-of-state: $57,684 (11.6x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$49,068
-21% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$29,363
3.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$87,490
Small cohort — data may not reflect typical outcomes

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $89,622 put Purdue University Global's Fire Protection program 32% above the national median of $68,084 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.

The 16.5x 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 11% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $89,622 far exceeding the $29,363 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

A #2 ranking out of 20 Fire Protection programs nationally puts Purdue University Global in the top 10% — a strong but not elite position.

About Purdue University Global

with 31,502 students enrolled in West Lafayette, IN. With 48% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at Purdue University Global →

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 Purdue University Global

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Purdue University Global's Fire Protection program score?
A score of 74/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Purdue University Global's Fire Protection graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →