by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study fire science/fire-fighting, you’ve come to the right place. The list below highlights 41 colleges that stand out for veteran fire science/fire-fighting students, using our 2026 methodology.
Our ranking weighs the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students: affordability and veteran financial benefits (including GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon support), academic quality, on-campus veteran resources and support services, veteran-friendly policies, and the size of the veteran student community. To help you decide, College Factual evaluated colleges nationwide, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
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Here are the top-ranked fire science/fire-fighting colleges for veterans:
No school served veteran fire science/fire-fighting students better than Columbia Southern University this year. The school's overall veterans score is 80.9 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the fire science/fire-fighting program at Columbia Southern University
A rank of #2 makes Pima Community College one of the top fire science/fire-fighting colleges for veteran students. It scores 80.2 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the fire science/fire-fighting program at Pima Community College
Veteran students seeking a strong fire science/fire-fighting program will find one at Honolulu Community College, which ranked #3. The school's overall veterans score is 79.0 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3. More about the fire science/fire-fighting program at Honolulu Community College
A rank of #4 makes Johnson County Community College one of the top fire science/fire-fighting colleges for veteran students. The school's overall veterans score is 78.8 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full fire science/fire-fighting report for Johnson County Community College
South Texas College is a great choice for veterans pursuing fire science/fire-fighting, landing the #5 spot this year. It scores 78.6 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Read more about fire science/fire-fighting at South Texas College
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Fox Valley Technical College placed #6 among the best fire science/fire-fighting colleges for veterans. It scores 77.1 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the fire science/fire-fighting program at Fox Valley Technical College
American Public University System landed the #7 spot for veterans pursuing fire science/fire-fighting. American Public University System scores 77.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full fire science/fire-fighting report for American Public University System
William Rainey Harper College placed #8 among the best fire science/fire-fighting colleges for veterans. It scores 76.2 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full fire science/fire-fighting report for William Rainey Harper College
Lone Star College System placed #9 among the best fire science/fire-fighting colleges for veterans. Lone Star College System scores 76.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full fire science/fire-fighting report for Lone Star College System
Pikes Peak State College came in at #10 for veteran fire science/fire-fighting students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 76.0 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score.
More about the fire science/fire-fighting program at Pikes Peak State College
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Ivy Tech Community College came in at #11 for veteran fire science/fire-fighting students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 76.0 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full fire science/fire-fighting report for Ivy Tech Community College
Community College of Rhode Island ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best fire science/fire-fighting colleges for veterans. It scores 75.9 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full fire science/fire-fighting report for Community College of Rhode Island
Milwaukee Area Technical College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best fire science/fire-fighting colleges for veterans. It scores 75.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the fire science/fire-fighting program at Milwaukee Area Technical College
Western Technical College landed the #14 spot for veterans pursuing fire science/fire-fighting. It scores 75.0 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 33.3 veteran-support score. More about the fire science/fire-fighting program at Western Technical College
Macomb Community College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best fire science/fire-fighting colleges for veterans. Macomb Community College scores 74.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
See the full fire science/fire-fighting report for Macomb Community College
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Madison Area Technical College came in at #16 for veteran fire science/fire-fighting students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 74.7 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full fire science/fire-fighting report for Madison Area Technical College
Utah Valley University placed #17 among the best fire science/fire-fighting colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 74.4 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 33.3 veteran-support score. More about the fire science/fire-fighting program at Utah Valley University
Anna Maria College landed the #18 spot for veterans pursuing fire science/fire-fighting. Anna Maria College scores 74.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 63.0, alongside a 33.3 veteran-support score. See the full fire science/fire-fighting report for Anna Maria College
Central New Mexico Community College placed #19 among the best fire science/fire-fighting colleges for veterans. Central New Mexico Community College scores 73.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full fire science/fire-fighting report for Central New Mexico Community College
Bristol Community College came in at #20 for veteran fire science/fire-fighting students this year. It scores 73.6 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score.
Read more about fire science/fire-fighting at Bristol Community College
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Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale came in at #21 for veteran fire science/fire-fighting students this year. Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale scores 73.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the fire science/fire-fighting program at Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale
Vincennes University landed the #22 spot for veterans pursuing fire science/fire-fighting. The school's overall veterans score is 73.4 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3. See the full fire science/fire-fighting report for Vincennes University
Bluegrass Community and Technical College landed the #23 spot for veterans pursuing fire science/fire-fighting. The school's overall veterans score is 73.1 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. See the full fire science/fire-fighting report for Bluegrass Community and Technical College
University of Alaska Fairbanks came in at #24 for veteran fire science/fire-fighting students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 72.3 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about fire science/fire-fighting at University of Alaska Fairbanks
Purdue University Global ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best fire science/fire-fighting colleges for veterans. It scores 69.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the fire science/fire-fighting program at Purdue University Global
Not far behind, these fire science/fire-fighting colleges also rank among the best for veterans this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
Our ranking weighs the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students studying fire science/fire-fighting: affordability and veteran financial benefits (GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon), academic quality, on-campus veteran resources and support services, veteran-friendly policies, and the size of the veteran student community.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition.
References
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
