Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, and Firefighting, Other at Southside Virginia Community College
VA · Associate's Degree · CIP 43.99
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, and Firefighting, Other degree from Southside Virginia Community College earn a median salary of $45,881 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in VA, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $44,762. The degree typically pays for itself in 15.9 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
$36,617
Typical Career
$45,881
Top Performers
$54,580
Estimated break-even: 15.9 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$306
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $3,823. Most students can comfortably afford about a $306 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
$44,762
Nominal: $45,881 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 | $25,998 | $39,655 | $50,359 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $36,617 | $45,881 | $54,580 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $41,054 | $52,452 | $62,372 |
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 $45,881 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)
= $45,881 × (1.0 ÷ 1.0250)
= $44,762 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The top industries for graduates are predominantly in Health Care & Social Assistance, with 50.0% entering this sector immediately after graduation, followed by 28.9% and 19.3% in subsequent years. The estimated break-even point for this educational path compared to a high-school-only route is approximately 15.9 years, suggesting a long-term return on investment for those who pursue further education in this field. Overall, while the initial earnings may not be significantly high, the gradual increase in salary and the stability of employment in health-related sectors provide a reasonable outlook for graduates.
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See how the Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, and Firefighting, Other degree at Southside Virginia Community College stacks up against another institution side-by-side.
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Other Degrees at Southside Virginia 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.