2026 Best Value Fire Prevention & Safety Technology/Technician Schools in California

[Fire Prevention & Safety Technology/Technician](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/fire-protection/fire-prevention-and-safety-technology-technician/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong fire prevention & safety technology/technician education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 61 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for fire prevention & safety technology/technician students.
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2026 Best Value Fire Prevention & Safety Technology/Technician Schools in California
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the fire prevention & safety technology/technician degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Fire Prevention & Safety Technology/Technician Schools
College Of San Mateo earned the #1 spot for value among fire prevention & safety technology/technician schools in California. Set in the city of San Mateo, College Of San Mateo is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,332 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,428. Students borrow a median of $12,831 to complete the fire prevention & safety technology/technician program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $54,172. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Oxnard College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value fire prevention & safety technology/technician schools. Oxnard College is a large public school located in the city of Oxnard. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,426, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $41,393 ten years out.
A rank of #3 makes San Diego Miramar College one of the best values for fire prevention & safety technology/technician. San Diego Miramar College is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,146, while out-of-state students pay about $10,002. Students borrow a median of $8,098 to complete the fire prevention & safety technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, fire prevention & safety technology/technician degree recipients from San Diego Miramar College generally make around $41,038. That is a strong return on a $8,098 median debt.
College Of The Sequoias came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value fire prevention & safety technology/technician schools. Located in the city of Visalia, College Of The Sequoias is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,394, with out-of-state students paying around $9,038. Typical student debt for fire prevention & safety technology/technician graduates is $10,288. Soon after graduation, fire prevention & safety technology/technician degree recipients from College Of The Sequoias generally make around $37,749. Set against $10,288 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Moreno Valley College earned it the #5 place for fire prevention & safety technology/technician. Set in the suburb of Moreno Valley, Moreno Valley College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,428, while out-of-state students pay about $12,498. Fire Prevention & Safety Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $12,643 in student loans. Early-career fire prevention & safety technology/technician graduates make about $45,515. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of The Canyons landed the #6 spot for fire prevention & safety technology/technician value this year. Located in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,166, compared with $10,958 for out-of-state students. Fire Prevention & Safety Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $9,776 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fire prevention & safety technology/technician degree recipients from College Of The Canyons generally make around $51,913. Set against $9,776 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Fresno City College came in at #7 for value in fire prevention & safety technology/technician this year. Located in the city of Fresno, Fresno City College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,378 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,638. Typical student debt for fire prevention & safety technology/technician graduates is $7,234. Early-career fire prevention & safety technology/technician graduates make about $37,470. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mt San Antonio College came in at #8 for value in fire prevention & safety technology/technician this year. Set in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,364, compared with $10,464 for out-of-state students. Fire Prevention & Safety Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $9,384 in student loans. Fire Prevention & Safety Technology/technician graduates of Mt San Antonio College earn a median of $44,391 early in their careers. Set against $9,384 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Imperial Valley College landed the #9 spot for fire prevention & safety technology/technician value this year. Imperial Valley College is a large public school located in the rural area of Imperial. Students from in state pay about $1,126 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,830. Students borrow a median of $6,176 to complete the fire prevention & safety technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, fire prevention & safety technology/technician degree recipients from Imperial Valley College generally make around $42,617. That is a strong return on a $6,176 median debt.
Shasta College placed #10 among the best values for fire prevention & safety technology/technician. Located in the suburb of Redding, Shasta College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,197 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,853. Fire Prevention & Safety Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $12,275 in student loans. Fire Prevention & Safety Technology/technician graduates of Shasta College earn a median of $50,330 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Victor Valley College earned the #11 position for value in fire prevention & safety technology/technician this year. Set in the suburb of Victorville, Victor Valley College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,425 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,125. Fire Prevention & Safety Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $7,995 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fire prevention & safety technology/technician degree recipients from Victor Valley College generally make around $37,755. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Santa Ana College landed the #12 spot for fire prevention & safety technology/technician value this year. Set in the city of Santa Ana, Santa Ana College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,180 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,756 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,500 to complete the fire prevention & safety technology/technician program here. Early-career fire prevention & safety technology/technician graduates make about $50,254. That is a strong return on a $14,500 median debt.
Las Positas College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value fire prevention & safety technology/technician schools. Located in the city of Livermore, Las Positas College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,168, with out-of-state students paying around $9,808. Median earnings reach $51,088 ten years out.
Solano Community College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value fire prevention & safety technology/technician schools. Set in the suburb of Fairfield, Solano Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,172, compared with $9,772 for out-of-state students. Fire Prevention & Safety Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $10,500 in student loans. Median earnings reach $44,170 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $10,500 median debt.
Porterville College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value fire prevention & safety technology/technician schools. Porterville College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Porterville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,438, with out-of-state students paying around $11,308. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $36,328.
Butte College landed the #16 spot for fire prevention & safety technology/technician value this year. Butte College is a large public school located in the rural area of Oroville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,356, while out-of-state students pay about $9,276. Students borrow a median of $13,302 to complete the fire prevention & safety technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, fire prevention & safety technology/technician degree recipients from Butte College generally make around $67,048. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Sierra College earned the #17 position for value in fire prevention & safety technology/technician this year. Sierra College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Rocklin. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,446. Fire Prevention & Safety Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $12,733 in student loans. Fire Prevention & Safety Technology/technician graduates of Sierra College earn a median of $29,214 early in their careers. Set against $12,733 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
American River College placed #18 among the best values for fire prevention & safety technology/technician. American River College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Sacramento. In-state tuition and fees average $1,288, with out-of-state students paying around $12,616. Typical student debt for fire prevention & safety technology/technician graduates is $14,105. Early-career fire prevention & safety technology/technician graduates make about $76,077. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Allan Hancock College earned the #19 position for value in fire prevention & safety technology/technician this year. Located in the city of Santa Maria, Allan Hancock College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,156, while out-of-state students pay about $9,892. Median earnings reach $42,786 ten years out.
Santa Rosa Junior College came in at #20 for value in fire prevention & safety technology/technician this year. Set in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,318, while out-of-state students pay about $11,308. Typical student debt for fire prevention & safety technology/technician graduates is $14,692. Early-career fire prevention & safety technology/technician graduates make about $80,047. Set against $14,692 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
El Camino Community College District came in at #21 for value in fire prevention & safety technology/technician this year. Located in the suburb of Torrance, El Camino Community College District is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,144, while out-of-state students pay about $7,630. Median earnings reach $41,589 ten years out.
Long Beach City College landed the #22 spot for fire prevention & safety technology/technician value this year. Set in the city of Long Beach, Long Beach City College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,556 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,544 for out-of-state students. Fire Prevention & Safety Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $6,000 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $38,870. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mission College came in at #23 for value in fire prevention & safety technology/technician this year. Located in the city of Santa Clara, Mission College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,438, while out-of-state students pay about $12,500. Typical student debt for fire prevention & safety technology/technician graduates is $17,223. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,936 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $17,223 median debt.
Bakersfield College placed #24 among the best values for fire prevention & safety technology/technician. Located in the city of Bakersfield, Bakersfield College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,430, while out-of-state students pay about $11,300. Fire Prevention & Safety Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $9,419 in student loans. Early-career fire prevention & safety technology/technician graduates make about $86,312. Set against $9,419 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Palomar College came in at #25 for value in fire prevention & safety technology/technician this year. Located in the suburb of San Marcos, Palomar College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,354, with out-of-state students paying around $10,650. Median earnings reach $42,300 ten years out.
Rest of the Top 42 Best Value Fire Prevention & Safety Technology/Technician Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in fire prevention & safety technology/technician:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 61 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.