by our College Data Analytics Team
[Fire Science](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/fire-protection/fire-science/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong fire science education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 8 schools to find the best return on investment for fire science students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in fire science, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in fire science, no school beat Colorado Mountain College this year. Colorado Mountain College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Glenwood Springs. In-state tuition and fees average $2,616, while out-of-state students pay about $12,840. Students borrow a median of $12,953 to complete the fire science program here. Early-career fire science graduates make about $48,694. Set against $12,953 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Community College Of Aurora came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value fire science schools. Located in the city of Aurora, Community College Of Aurora is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,470, while out-of-state students pay about $17,070. Students borrow a median of $15,365 to complete the fire science program here. Fire Science graduates of Community College Of Aurora earn a median of $38,587 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,365 median debt.
Red Rocks Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in fire science, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Lakewood, Red Rocks Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,859, compared with $17,459 for out-of-state students. Fire Science graduates carry a median of $14,471 in student loans. Fire Science graduates of Red Rocks Community College earn a median of $76,340 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in fire science will find it at Aims Community College, which ranked #4. Aims Community College is a large public school located in the city of Greeley. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,258, while out-of-state students pay about $11,786. Students borrow a median of $9,750 to complete the fire science program here. Early-career fire science graduates make about $44,470. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Pikes Peak Community College earned it the #5 place for fire science. Located in the suburb of Colorado Springs, Pikes Peak Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,510, while out-of-state students pay about $17,110. Fire Science graduates carry a median of $16,066 in student loans. Early-career fire science graduates make about $41,037. Set against $16,066 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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Pueblo Community College came in at #6 for value in fire science this year. Pueblo Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Pueblo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,049, with out-of-state students paying around $17,649. Students borrow a median of $14,106 to complete the fire science program here. Fire Science graduates of Pueblo Community College earn a median of $42,377 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.