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Fire Protection at New Jersey City University

Jersey City, NJ · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $54,600/yr (-20% vs median)

AI Risk Moderate (34% exposed)

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

ROI 9.7x earnings multiple (5.4x out-of-state)

Ranked #15 of 20 Fire Protection programs

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	$543K	$541K	$498K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	9.7x	9.7x	8.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.5x	5.4x	5.0x
Probability of Field Employment	34%	32%	26%
DegreeOutlook Score	58	58	50

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$55,884

Out-of-state: $99,552 (5.4x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$46,928

16% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$24,555

5.4 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$62,597

15% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $54,600 per year, Fire Protection graduates from New Jersey City University earn below the $68,084 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.

A 9.7x earnings multiple over ten years puts this program in solid financial territory. Tuition is well-justified by projected earnings.

The 8% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Fire Protection career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.

The median debt load of $24,555 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

A #15 ranking among 20 Fire Protection programs places New Jersey City University in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

The limited growth from $54,600 to $62,597 over five years suggests earnings in this field plateau relatively early in one's career.

About New Jersey City University

With 89% of applicants admitted, New Jersey City University prioritizes broad access, a compact campus enrolling 4,076 students in Jersey City, NJ. With 52% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at New Jersey City University →

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 New Jersey City University

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

What does a 58/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Fire Protection at New Jersey City University?

At 58/100, the score looks reasonable — but Fire Protection is a high-scoring field overall. Compared to peers, this program's earnings and ROI fall below the median.

Is New Jersey City University a good choice for Fire Protection despite lower starting pay?

Starting salary is one data point. If New Jersey City University's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.

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