by our College Data Analytics TeamFire Science degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 73 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for fire science students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the fire science degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is Harper College, our #1 school for fire science. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Palatine. About 21 fire science degrees were awarded at Harper College in the most recent year. Students who receive their fire science degree from Harper College earn around $44,523 in the first couple years of their career. Harper College graduates carry a median of $10,963 in student loans. Get the full fire science details for Harper College
Madison Area Technical College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in fire science, landing the #2 spot this year. This large public university is located in the city of Madison. There were roughly 101 fire science students who graduated with this degree at Madison Area Technical College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fire science degree recipients from Madison Area Technical College generally make around $44,279. Madison Area Technical College graduates carry a median of $16,812 in student loans. See the full fire science program report for Madison Area Technical College
Macomb Community College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in fire science, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Warren, Macomb Community College is a very large public university. Macomb Community College awarded about 21 fire science degrees in the most recent data year. Fire Science graduates of Macomb Community College earn a median of $38,758 early in their careers. Macomb Community College graduates carry a median of $9,862 in student loans. Get the full fire science details for Macomb Community College
Fox Valley Technical College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in fire science, landing the #4 spot this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Appleton. About 36 fire science degrees were awarded at Fox Valley Technical College in the most recent year. Graduates of the fire science program make about $44,020 in their early career. Fox Valley Technical College graduates carry a median of $10,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in fire science from Fox Valley Technical College
Students looking for a strong fire science program will find one at Illinois Central College, which ranked #5. This large public university is located in the suburb of East Peoria. There were roughly 14 fire science students who graduated with this degree at Illinois Central College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fire science degree recipients from Illinois Central College generally make around $53,190. Students borrow a median of $12,222 to complete this degree. See the full fire science program report for Illinois Central College
Owens Community College earned the #6 position for fire science this year. Owens Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Perrysburg. About 45 fire science degrees were awarded at Owens Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the fire science program make about $45,785 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,383. Get the full fire science details for Owens Community College
Waubonsee Community College placed #7 among the best fire science schools. This large public university is located in the rural area of Sugar Grove. Waubonsee Community College awarded about 75 fire science degrees in the most recent data year. Fire Science graduates of Waubonsee Community College earn a median of $39,659 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $9,939. Get the full fire science details for Waubonsee Community College
Southwestern Illinois College landed the #8 spot for fire science this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Belleville. There were roughly 64 fire science students who graduated with this degree at Southwestern Illinois College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fire science degree recipients from Southwestern Illinois College generally make around $77,935. Students borrow a median of $12,750 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in fire science from Southwestern Illinois College
Western Technical College La Cross came in at #9 for fire science this year. Set in the city of La Crosse, Western Technical College La Cross is a moderately-sized public institution. About 11 fire science degrees were awarded at Western Technical College La Cross in the most recent year. Students who receive their fire science degree from Western Technical College La Cross earn around $43,479 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,669. More information about a degree in fire science from Western Technical College La Cross
College Of Lake County placed #10 among the best fire science schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Grayslake. College Of Lake County awarded about 19 fire science degrees in the most recent data year. Fire Science graduates of College Of Lake County earn a median of $50,314 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $9,785. Read more about the fire science program at College Of Lake County
Elgin Community College placed #11 among the best fire science schools. Set in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a large public institution. There were roughly 88 fire science students who graduated with this degree at Elgin Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fire science program make about $43,975 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $7,727 to complete this degree. Read more about the fire science program at Elgin Community College
Lewis And Clark Community College earned the #12 position for fire science this year. Located in the suburb of Godfrey, Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 32 fire science students who graduated with this degree at Lewis And Clark Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fire science program make about $41,313 in their early career. Lewis And Clark Community College graduates carry a median of $9,602 in student loans. Read more about the fire science program at Lewis And Clark Community College
Milwaukee Area Technical College landed the #13 spot for fire science this year. Milwaukee Area Technical College is a very large public school located in the city of Milwaukee. Milwaukee Area Technical College awarded about 11 fire science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fire science degree from Milwaukee Area Technical College earn around $38,325 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,296. More information about a degree in fire science from Milwaukee Area Technical College
Joliet Junior College placed #14 among the best fire science schools. Set in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 13 fire science students who graduated with this degree at Joliet Junior College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fire science program make about $40,118 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,995. More information about a degree in fire science from Joliet Junior College
Lansing Community College came in at #15 for fire science this year. This large public university is located in the city of Lansing. There were roughly 31 fire science students who graduated with this degree at Lansing Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fire science program make about $46,103 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,700. Get the full fire science details for Lansing Community College
Columbus State Community College earned the #16 position for fire science this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Columbus State Community College is a very large public university. Columbus State Community College awarded about 108 fire science degrees in the most recent data year. Students borrow a median of $9,041 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in fire science from Columbus State Community College
Lake Superior State University landed the #17 spot for fire science this year. Set in the town of Sault Ste Marie, Lake Superior State University is a small public institution. About 50% of students finish within six years. About 21 fire science degrees were awarded at Lake Superior State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their fire science degree from Lake Superior State University earn around $47,910 in the first couple years of their career. Lake Superior State University graduates carry a median of $22,429 in student loans. See the full fire science program report for Lake Superior State University
Mchenry County College placed #18 among the best fire science schools. Mchenry County College is a large public school located in the rural area of Crystal Lake. There were roughly 44 fire science students who graduated with this degree at Mchenry County College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fire science degree from Mchenry County College earn around $24,177 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $7,440. Read more about the fire science program at Mchenry County College
Clark State Community College came in at #19 for fire science this year. Located in the city of Springfield, Clark State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. About 103 fire science degrees were awarded at Clark State Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their fire science degree from Clark State Community College earn around $39,734 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,740 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in fire science from Clark State Community College
Ivy Tech Community College earned the #20 position for fire science this year. Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis. About 92 fire science degrees were awarded at Ivy Tech Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the fire science program make about $40,734 in their early career. Ivy Tech Community College graduates carry a median of $11,889 in student loans. Get the full fire science details for Ivy Tech Community College
Purdue University Global landed the #21 spot for fire science this year. Purdue University Global is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Roughly 33% of students complete a degree within six years here. Purdue University Global awarded about 29 fire science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fire science program make about $72,687 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,440 to complete this degree. Read more about the fire science program at Purdue University Global
John Wood Community College placed #22 among the best fire science schools. Located in the town of Quincy, John Wood Community College is a mid-sized public university. John Wood Community College awarded about 11 fire science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fire science degree recipients from John Wood Community College generally make around $45,748. John Wood Community College graduates carry a median of $13,844 in student loans. More information about a degree in fire science from John Wood Community College
Prairie State College came in at #23 for fire science this year. Located in the suburb of Chicago Heights, Prairie State College is a moderately-sized public university. Prairie State College awarded about 43 fire science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fire science degree recipients from Prairie State College generally make around $37,500. Typical student debt for the program is $15,663. Get the full fire science details for Prairie State College
Oakland Community College came in at #24 for fire science this year. Set in the suburb of Auburn Hills, Oakland Community College is a very large public institution. Oakland Community College awarded about 44 fire science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fire science degree recipients from Oakland Community College generally make around $44,178. Students borrow a median of $15,865 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in fire science from Oakland Community College
Sinclair Community College landed the #25 spot for fire science this year. Set in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public institution. About 117 fire science degrees were awarded at Sinclair Community College in the most recent year. Fire Science graduates of Sinclair Community College earn a median of $35,348 early in their careers. Sinclair Community College graduates carry a median of $10,950 in student loans. Read more about the fire science program at Sinclair Community College
These schools also placed among the best for fire science this year:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 73 schools evaluated.
More about our data sources and methodologies.