by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study fire protection, you’ve come to the right place. This ranking highlights 88 programs that stand out for veteran fire protection 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 reviewed colleges nationwide, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ready to build your own comparison? Check out our College Combat to build custom comparisons on the factors you care about most.
Explore the best fire protection colleges for veterans at a specific degree level:
Learn more about these veteran-friendly fire protection colleges below:
Our analysis ranked University of Cincinnati-Main Campus the #1 college for veteran and military-affiliated students pursuing a degree in fire protection. The school's overall veterans score is 85.6 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. More about the fire protection program at University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
A rank of #2 makes Hillsborough Community College one of the top fire protection colleges for veteran students. It scores 83.8 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 protection at Hillsborough Community College
Collin County Community College District is a great choice for veterans pursuing fire protection, landing the #3 spot this year. The school's overall veterans score is 83.0 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full fire protection report for Collin County Community College District
Veteran students seeking a strong fire protection program will find one at Valencia College, which ranked #4. Valencia College scores 81.9 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the fire protection program at Valencia College
Columbia Southern University is a great choice for veterans pursuing fire protection, landing the #5 spot this year. Columbia Southern University scores 80.9 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score.
Read more about fire protection at Columbia Southern University
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Salem State University came in at #6 for veteran fire protection students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 80.8 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the fire protection program at Salem State University
Bowling Green State University-Main Campus ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best fire protection colleges for veterans. It scores 80.3 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 protection report for Bowling Green State University-Main Campus
Pima Community College came in at #8 for veteran fire protection students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 80.2 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the fire protection program at Pima Community College
Eastern Kentucky University came in at #9 for veteran fire protection students this year. It scores 79.9 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. See the full fire protection report for Eastern Kentucky University
Austin Community College District placed #10 among the best fire protection colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 79.9 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score.
Read more about fire protection at Austin Community College District
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Honolulu Community College landed the #11 spot for veterans pursuing fire protection. Honolulu Community College scores 79.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3. More about the fire protection program at Honolulu Community College
Johnson County Community College came in at #12 for veteran fire protection students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 78.8 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full fire protection report for Johnson County Community College
South Texas College came in at #13 for veteran fire protection students this year. South Texas College scores 78.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full fire protection report for South Texas College
Fresno City College came in at #14 for veteran fire protection students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 78.4 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full fire protection report for Fresno City College
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice came in at #15 for veteran fire protection students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 77.5 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score.
Read more about fire protection at CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
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Indian River State College came in at #16 for veteran fire protection students this year. It scores 77.4 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 protection report for Indian River State College
Fox Valley Technical College came in at #17 for veteran fire protection students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 77.1 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about fire protection at Fox Valley Technical College
American Public University System landed the #18 spot for veterans pursuing fire protection. The school's overall veterans score is 77.0 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about fire protection at American Public University System
Liberty University landed the #19 spot for veterans pursuing fire protection. The school's overall veterans score is 76.7 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about fire protection at Liberty University
Colorado State University-Fort Collins placed #20 among the best fire protection colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 76.4 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score.
See the full fire protection report for Colorado State University-Fort Collins
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St Petersburg College landed the #21 spot for veterans pursuing fire protection. It scores 76.3 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about fire protection at St Petersburg College
William Rainey Harper College came in at #22 for veteran fire protection students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 76.2 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the fire protection program at William Rainey Harper College
Pikes Peak State College placed #23 among the best fire protection colleges for veterans. It scores 76.0 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about fire protection at Pikes Peak State College
Lone Star College System ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best fire protection colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 76.0 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about fire protection at Lone Star College System
Ivy Tech Community College came in at #25 for veteran fire protection students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 76.0 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the fire protection program at Ivy Tech Community College
These fire protection colleges also placed near the top 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 protection: 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.
These rankings are produced by College Factual, 2026 edition.
References
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
