2026 Best Value Fire Protection Schools

1

St Petersburg College
St. Petersburg, FL

St Petersburg College tops our 2026 list of the best value fire protection schools in the United States. Located in the city of St. Petersburg, St Petersburg College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,682, compared with $9,286 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,557 to complete the fire protection program here. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from St Petersburg College generally make around $55,829. Set against $9,557 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

2

College Of San Mateo
San Mateo, CA

Students looking for strong value in fire protection will find it at College Of San Mateo, which ranked #2. Located in the city of San Mateo, College Of San Mateo is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,332, with out-of-state students paying around $11,428. Students borrow a median of $12,831 to complete the fire protection program here. Median earnings reach $54,172 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

3

Moraine Valley Community College
Palos Hills, IL

Moraine Valley Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in fire protection, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Palos Hills, Moraine Valley Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,822, with out-of-state students paying around $9,846. Students borrow a median of $11,149 to complete the fire protection program here. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from Moraine Valley Community College generally make around $43,844. Set against $11,149 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

4

Oxnard College
Oxnard, CA

Oxnard College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in fire protection, landing the #4 spot this year. Oxnard College is a large public school located in the city of Oxnard. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,426, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $41,393.

5

College Of The Canyons
Santa Clarita, CA

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at College Of The Canyons earned it the #5 place for fire protection. College Of The Canyons is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Clarita. In-state tuition and fees average $1,166, with out-of-state students paying around $10,958. Students borrow a median of $9,776 to complete the fire protection program here. Fire Protection graduates of College Of The Canyons earn a median of $51,913 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,776 median debt.

6

San Diego Miramar College
San Diego, CA

San Diego Miramar College landed the #6 spot for fire protection value this year. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego Miramar College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,146 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,002. Students borrow a median of $8,098 to complete the fire protection program here. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from San Diego Miramar College generally make around $41,038. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

7

Moreno Valley College
Moreno Valley, CA

Moreno Valley College came in at #7 for value in fire protection this year. Set in the suburb of Moreno Valley, Moreno Valley College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,428 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,498. Fire Protection graduates carry a median of $12,643 in student loans. Early-career fire protection graduates make about $45,515. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

8

College Of The Mainland
Texas City, TX

College Of The Mainland placed #8 among the best values for fire protection. Set in the city of Texas City, College Of The Mainland is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,310 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $4,140. Fire Protection graduates carry a median of $10,928 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from College Of The Mainland generally make around $40,788. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

9

Florida State College At Jacksonville
Jacksonville, FL

Florida State College At Jacksonville landed the #9 spot for fire protection value this year. Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public school located in the city of Jacksonville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,657, while out-of-state students pay about $9,631. Typical student debt for fire protection graduates is $19,139. Early-career fire protection graduates make about $49,810. Set against $19,139 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

10

Shasta College
Redding, CA

Shasta College came in at #10 for value in fire protection this year. Located in the suburb of Redding, Shasta College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,197, compared with $8,853 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fire protection graduates is $12,275. Fire Protection 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.

11

Mt San Antonio College
Walnut, CA

Mt San Antonio College placed #11 among the best values for fire protection. Mt San Antonio College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Walnut. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,364, while out-of-state students pay about $10,464. Fire Protection graduates carry a median of $9,384 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from Mt San Antonio College generally make around $44,391. Set against $9,384 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

12

Fresno City College
Fresno, CA

Fresno City College came in at #12 for value in fire protection 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, compared with $8,638 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fire protection graduates is $7,234. Early-career fire protection graduates make about $37,470. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

13

Seminole State College Of Florida
Sanford, FL

Seminole State College Of Florida landed the #13 spot for fire protection value this year. Located in the city of Sanford, Seminole State College Of Florida is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,122, with out-of-state students paying around $11,447. Typical student debt for fire protection graduates is $18,419. Early-career fire protection graduates make about $48,049. Set against $18,419 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

14

College Of The Sequoias
Visalia, CA

College Of The Sequoias earned the #14 position for value in fire protection this year. Located in the city of Visalia, College Of The Sequoias is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,394 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,038. Fire Protection graduates carry a median of $10,288 in student loans. Early-career fire protection graduates make about $37,749. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

15

Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice
New York, NY

Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice came in at #15 for value in fire protection this year. Located in the city of New York, Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,470 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,420. Typical student debt for fire protection graduates is $16,500. Early-career fire protection graduates make about $48,121. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.

16

South Texas College
McAllen, TX

South Texas College came in at #16 for value in fire protection this year. Set in the city of McAllen, South Texas College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,920, with out-of-state students paying around $7,620. Students borrow a median of $6,868 to complete the fire protection program here. Fire Protection graduates of South Texas College earn a median of $30,227 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,868 median debt.

17

Florida Gateway College
Lake City, FL

Florida Gateway College placed #17 among the best values for fire protection. Located in the town of Lake City, Florida Gateway College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,100, compared with $11,747 for out-of-state students. Fire Protection graduates carry a median of $8,669 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from Florida Gateway College generally make around $41,947. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

18

Middlesex Community College Bedford
Bedford, MA

Middlesex Community College Bedford ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value fire protection schools. Set in the suburb of Bedford, Middlesex Community College Bedford is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,098, compared with $12,170 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fire protection graduates is $11,602. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from Middlesex Community College Bedford generally make around $48,427. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

19

California State University Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA

California State University Los Angeles landed the #19 spot for fire protection value this year. California State University Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. In-state tuition and fees average $7,164, compared with $19,764 for out-of-state students. Fire Protection graduates carry a median of $11,750 in student loans. Fire Protection graduates of California State University Los Angeles earn a median of $48,289 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,750 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.

20

Gulf Coast State College
Panama City, FL

Gulf Coast State College came in at #20 for value in fire protection this year. Located in the city of Panama City, Gulf Coast State College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,370, compared with $8,635 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,286 to complete the fire protection program here. Fire Protection graduates of Gulf Coast State College earn a median of $49,086 early in their careers. Set against $8,286 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

21

Pima Community College
Tucson, AZ

Pima Community College came in at #21 for value in fire protection this year. Set in the city of Tucson, Pima Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,442, with out-of-state students paying around $7,758. Typical student debt for fire protection graduates is $10,655. Early-career fire protection graduates make about $35,059. Set against $10,655 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

22

Cleveland Community College
Shelby, NC

Cleveland Community College landed the #22 spot for fire protection value this year. Located in the town of Shelby, Cleveland Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,602 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,746. Students borrow a median of $7,131 to complete the fire protection program here. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from Cleveland Community College generally make around $39,891. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

23

Imperial Valley College
Imperial, CA

Imperial Valley College came in at #23 for value in fire protection this year. Set in the rural area of Imperial, Imperial Valley College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,126, compared with $8,830 for out-of-state students. Fire Protection graduates carry a median of $6,176 in student loans. Fire Protection graduates of Imperial Valley College earn a median of $42,617 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

24

Lansing Community College
Lansing, MI

Lansing Community College earned the #24 position for value in fire protection this year. Set in the city of Lansing, Lansing Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,100, while out-of-state students pay about $11,300. Fire Protection graduates carry a median of $16,700 in student loans. Early-career fire protection graduates make about $46,103. That is a strong return on a $16,700 median debt.

25

University Of Florida Online
Gainesville, FL

University Of Florida Online placed #25 among the best values for fire protection. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida Online is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,876, while out-of-state students pay about $16,579. Fire Protection graduates carry a median of $12,296 in student loans. Early-career fire protection graduates make about $86,740. That is a strong return on a $12,296 median debt. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.