Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $104,017 put Southern Illinois University-Carbondale's Fire Protection program 53% above the national median of $68,084 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.
The 13.6x 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 12% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
With first-year pay of $104,017 far exceeding the $15,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
At #12 out of 20 programs, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale's financial outcomes for Fire Protection trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.