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Fire Protectionat Eastern Kentucky University

Graduates earn $66,617/yr in their first year — about 2.0% below the national Fire Protection average. Base-case 10-year earnings $581K; scenarios range from $531K to $585K depending on AI disruption.

Richmond, KY Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
68 SOLID
69
Optimistic
62
Pessimistic
Earnings
$66,617
1-year post-graduation
ROI
17.5x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$581K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Moderate
35% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Eastern Kentucky University

Eastern Kentucky's Fire Protection program stands out nationally, a testament to its long-standing reputation and deep industry connections. While the financial outcomes reflect the regional labor market, with salaries often aligning with Kentucky's cost of living and public sector pay scales, this program is a recognized pipeline for careers throughout the Midwest and Southeast. You'll find graduates serving in municipal fire departments, state fire marshal offices, and various federal agencies, as well as in private sector roles focused on risk management, investigations, and safety compliance. The consistent demand for qualified professionals in these essential services provides excellent stability. To maximize your earning potential and career trajectory, actively pursue internships and engage with professional organizations during your studies; your network will be just as crucial as your coursework in securing desirable positions and advancing within the field.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$531K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score62/100
Earnings Multiple13.1x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$581K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score68/100
Earnings Multiple14.3x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$585K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score69/100
Earnings Multiple14.4x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Eastern Kentucky University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Fire Protection graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Managers, all other
+4.5% 10-yr growth · 106,700 openings/yr
$136,550/yr
Moderate
2
First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
+3.4% 10-yr growth · 6,500 openings/yr
$92,430/yr
Moderate
3
Fire inspectors and investigators
+3.8% 10-yr growth · 1,500 openings/yr
$78,060/yr
Low
4
Career/technical education teachers, postsecondary
+0.7% 10-yr growth · 8,800 openings/yr
$61,490/yr
Moderate
5
Firefighters
+3.4% 10-yr growth · 27,100 openings/yr
$59,530/yr
Low
6
Forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists
+14.6% 10-yr growth · 300 openings/yr
$52,380/yr
Low
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Fire Protection

How Eastern Kentucky University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
IL · Public
64
DW Score
$104K
1-yr earn
18.6x
ROI
Waldorf University
IA · Private for-profit
68
DW Score
$98K
1-yr earn
8.9x
ROI
Purdue University Global
IN · Public
74
DW Score
$90K
1-yr earn
20.6x
ROI
University of Florida-Online
FL · Public
65
DW Score
$87K
1-yr earn
54.9x
ROI
Top score
Columbia Southern University
AL · Private for-profit
75
DW Score
$83K
1-yr earn
36.8x
ROI
Also at Eastern Kentucky University

Other top programs at Eastern Kentucky University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Eastern Kentucky University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Fire Protection offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Fire Protection trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Fire Protection at Eastern Kentucky University

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Fire Protection at Eastern Kentucky University?

A score of 68/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Fire Protection field.