Students who major in Fire Protection major make the world a safer place by learning how to fight and prevent fires as well as rescue people from dangerous situations. There are several concentrations in this major, allowing students to specialize in something that interests them.
Fire Science or Fire Fighting is one concentration that teaches students how to fight fires using special equipment. Students will learn how to fight different types of fires with practical techniques, as well as how to rescue victims, investigate fires, and dispose of hazardous materials.
Fire Prevention and Safety Technology will teach you how to prevent accidents through controlling hazardous materials, as well as control fire and smoke, prevent fires and assess risk for homes and communities.
Other concentrations of interest include Arson Investigation and Prevention; Wild Land / Forest Firefighting and Investigation and others.
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Fire Protection Degrees Trends
#118Most Popular Major
13.9kDegrees Awarded
239Schools Offering Degrees
Fire Protection was the 118th most popular major in the 2021-2022 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 13,901 degrees in this year alone.
This year's Best Fire Protection Schools ranking compares 88 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of fire protection programs later in this article.
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Requirements for Getting a Degree in Fire Protection
Students should be committed to public service and helping others. In Fire Science, you will need to be physically strong and have the ability to act quickly under pressure in emergency situations. Learn to rely on your teammates and peers in order to work together to achieve a goal.
The study of Fire Prevention requires strong math and science skills. You will take courses in physics and calculus when learning about new materials that can help fire prevention. Logic and attention to detail will help you assess risk factors and predict hazards. Most schools will require you to intern with a government agency or private company before graduating.
ADBLOCK #171
Getting Accepted Into a Fire Protection Program
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. In addition to these basic fire protection program qualifications, to serve in some fire protection careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.
Fire Protection Degree Types
There are various different levels of fire protection degrees. Fire Protection programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest fire protection degree you can get. Fire Protection programs can take anywhere between one to four or more years for a full-time student to complete.
Degree
Credit Requirements
Typical Program Length
Associate Degree
60-70 credits
2 years
Bachelor’s Degree
120 credits
4 years
Master’s Degree
50-70 credits
1-3 years
Doctorate
Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation
At least 4 years
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to fire protection, with approximately 28.4% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for fire protection workers below.
Level of Education
Percentage of Workers
Bachelor’s Degree
24.3%
High School Diploma
23.0%
Post-Secondary Certificate
14.8%
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree)
14.1%
Some College Courses
13.8%
ADBLOCK #172
50.1% of fire protection workers have at least a associate. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in fire protection have received.
This of course varies depending on which fire protection career you choose.
Career Opportunities for A Degree In Fire Protection Graduate
AverageNumber of Jobs
$64.4kAverage Starting Salary
8% GrowthJob Outlook 2016-26
A major in Fire Protection prepares students for a variety of careers including firefighting, fire protection engineering or disaster relief service. Graduates also possess the skills to investigate arson and assess risk for private insurance companies or government agencies.
Growth Projected for Fire Protection Careers
Want a job when you graduate with your fire protection degree? Fire Protection careers are expected to grow 7.8% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to fire protection.
Occupation Name
Projected Jobs
Expected Growth
Managers
1,071,700
8.0%
Firefighters
350,900
7.2%
Fire Fighting Supervisors
63,300
7.1%
Fire Inspectors
13,200
7.3%
Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists
2,200
29.4%
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How Much Money Do Fire Protection Grads Make?
Fire Protection graduates between <nil> reported earning an average of $64,429 in the <nil> timeframe. Earnings can range from as low as $30,637 to as high as $104,017. As you might expect, salaries for fire protection graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
High Paying Careers for Fire Protection Majors
Salaries for fire protection graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers fire protection grads often go into.
Occupation Name
Median Average Salary
Managers
$115,590
Fire Fighting Supervisors
$80,310
Fire Inspectors
$64,140
Firefighters
$53,240
Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists
$49,610
ADBLOCK #173
Getting Your Fire Protection Degree
With over 1,089 different fire protection degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased fire protection school rankings to help you with this.
by our College Data Analytics Team
