by our College Data Analytics Team
[Fire Protection](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/fire-protection/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 32 schools to find the best return on investment for fire protection students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the fire protection degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is College Of The Mainland, our #1 best value for fire protection in Texas. Set in the city of Texas City, College Of The Mainland is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,310, while out-of-state students pay about $4,140. Fire Protection graduates carry a median of $10,928 in student loans. Early-career fire protection graduates make about $40,788. That is a strong return on a $10,928 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at South Texas College earned it the #2 place for fire protection. Located in the city of McAllen, South Texas College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $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. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from South Texas College generally make around $30,227. That is a strong return on a $6,868 median debt.
El Paso Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value fire protection schools. Set in the city of El Paso, El Paso Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,274 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,314 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,542 to complete the fire protection program here. Fire Protection graduates of El Paso Community College earn a median of $29,086 early in their careers. Set against $8,542 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at El Centro College earned it the #4 place for fire protection. Located in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,730, compared with $6,900 for out-of-state students. Fire Protection graduates carry a median of $14,557 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from El Centro College generally make around $41,295. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at San Antonio College earned it the #5 place for fire protection. Set in the city of San Antonio, San Antonio College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,412 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,952. Students borrow a median of $11,839 to complete the fire protection program here. Early-career fire protection graduates make about $37,855. Set against $11,839 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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Tarrant County College District landed the #6 spot for fire protection value this year. Tarrant County College District is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Worth. In-state tuition and fees average $1,863, compared with $8,370 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fire protection graduates is $15,148. Fire Protection graduates of Tarrant County College District earn a median of $45,158 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Amarillo College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value fire protection schools. Set in the city of Amarillo, Amarillo College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,136, with out-of-state students paying around $4,704. Typical student debt for fire protection graduates is $15,720. Fire Protection graduates of Amarillo College earn a median of $41,053 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,720 median debt.
Mclennan Community College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value fire protection schools. Mclennan Community College is a large public school located in the city of Waco. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,660, compared with $5,910 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fire protection graduates is $5,500. Fire Protection graduates of Mclennan Community College earn a median of $47,467 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Austin Community College District earned the #9 position for value in fire protection this year. Set in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,550, while out-of-state students pay about $10,590. Fire Protection graduates carry a median of $11,375 in student loans. Fire Protection graduates of Austin Community College District earn a median of $47,024 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,375 median debt.
North Central Texas College landed the #10 spot for fire protection value this year. North Central Texas College is a large public school located in the town of Gainesville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,600, while out-of-state students pay about $5,739. Typical student debt for fire protection graduates is $15,965. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from North Central Texas College generally make around $43,536. Set against $15,965 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hill College placed #11 among the best values for fire protection. Hill College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Hillsboro. Students from in state pay about $2,862 in tuition and fees. Fire Protection graduates carry a median of $12,302 in student loans. Early-career fire protection graduates make about $33,190. Set against $12,302 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Plains College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value fire protection schools. Located in the town of Levelland, South Plains College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,733, with out-of-state students paying around $5,157. Students borrow a median of $13,788 to complete the fire protection program here. Early-career fire protection graduates make about $30,949. Set against $13,788 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Houston Community College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value fire protection schools. Houston Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,040, while out-of-state students pay about $5,460. Typical student debt for fire protection graduates is $19,223. Early-career fire protection graduates make about $39,283. That is a strong return on a $19,223 median debt.
San Jacinto Community College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value fire protection schools. San Jacinto Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. In-state tuition and fees average $2,490, compared with $6,690 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,376 to complete the fire protection program here. Fire Protection graduates of San Jacinto Community College earn a median of $38,107 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,376 median debt.
Lamar Institute Of Technology ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value fire protection schools. Set in the city of Beaumont, Lamar Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,844, while out-of-state students pay about $12,924. Students borrow a median of $14,278 to complete the fire protection program here. Fire Protection graduates of Lamar Institute Of Technology earn a median of $55,778 early in their careers. Set against $14,278 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Weatherford College earned the #16 position for value in fire protection this year. Weatherford College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Weatherford. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,250, with out-of-state students paying around $10,860. Students borrow a median of $14,099 to complete the fire protection program here. Early-career fire protection graduates make about $48,208. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Collin County Community College District ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value fire protection schools. Located in the suburb of McKinney, Collin County Community College District is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,014, with out-of-state students paying around $6,064. Students borrow a median of $9,716 to complete the fire protection program here. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from Collin County Community College District generally make around $42,177. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lone Star College System earned the #18 position for value in fire protection this year. Set in the city of The Woodlands, Lone Star College System is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,664, with out-of-state students paying around $7,512. Typical student debt for fire protection graduates is $10,425. Fire Protection graduates of Lone Star College System earn a median of $39,954 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,425 median debt.
Tyler Junior College placed #19 among the best values for fire protection. Tyler Junior College is a large public school located in the city of Tyler. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,424, with out-of-state students paying around $4,536. Fire Protection graduates carry a median of $14,869 in student loans. Fire Protection graduates of Tyler Junior College earn a median of $43,348 early in their careers. Set against $14,869 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Navarro College landed the #20 spot for fire protection value this year. Navarro College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Corsicana. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,008, while out-of-state students pay about $6,578. Fire Protection graduates carry a median of $6,000 in student loans. Early-career fire protection graduates make about $38,210. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Blinn College earned the #21 position for value in fire protection this year. Blinn College is a very large public school located in the town of Brenham. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,890, compared with $11,370 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fire protection graduates is $16,465. Fire Protection graduates of Blinn College earn a median of $43,408 early in their careers. Set against $16,465 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 32 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.