Fire Protection is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their fire protection programs.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 486 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for fire protection students pursuing a degree.
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Choosing a Great Fire Protection School
The school you choose for fire protection can shape your career. To help, we created our Best Fire Protection Schools rankings. For our Best Overall Fire Protection School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Fire Protection Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
University Of Florida is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in fire protection. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. University Of Florida awarded about 65 fire protection degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $86,740. Typical student debt for the program is $12,296.
Get the full fire protection details for University Of Florida
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best fire protection schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo awarded about 11 fire protection degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo generally make around $61,010. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates carry a median of $19,273 in student loans.
More information about a degree in fire protection from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
A rank of #3 makes Santa Rosa Junior College one of the top schools for fire protection. This very large public university is located in the city of Santa Rosa. Santa Rosa Junior College awarded about 120 fire protection degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fire protection program make about $80,047 in their early career. Santa Rosa Junior College graduates carry a median of $14,692 in student loans.
Read more about the fire protection program at Santa Rosa Junior College
California State University San Marcos is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in fire protection, landing the #4 spot this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of San Marcos. About 55% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 18 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at California State University San Marcos in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fire protection program make about $48,726 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,527.
More information about a degree in fire protection from California State University San Marcos
Harper College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in fire protection, landing the #5 spot this year. Harper College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Palatine. There were roughly 21 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at Harper College in the most recent data year. Fire Protection graduates of Harper College earn a median of $44,523 early in their careers. Harper College graduates carry a median of $10,963 in student loans.
See the full fire protection program report for Harper College
Southern Illinois University Carbondale earned the #6 position for fire protection this year. Located in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public university. About 60% of students finish within six years. About 52 fire protection degrees were awarded at Southern Illinois University Carbondale in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Carbondale generally make around $104,017. Typical student debt for the program is $17,725.
More information about a degree in fire protection from Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Madison Area Technical College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best fire protection schools. Set in the city of Madison, Madison Area Technical College is a large public institution. There were roughly 101 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at Madison Area Technical College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fire protection program make about $44,279 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,812.
More information about a degree in fire protection from Madison Area Technical College
Macomb Community College landed the #8 spot for fire protection this year. Macomb Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Warren. About 21 fire protection degrees were awarded at Macomb Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the fire protection program make about $38,758 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $9,862 to complete this degree.
Get the full fire protection details for Macomb Community College
University Of Florida Online came in at #9 for fire protection this year. University Of Florida Online is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Gainesville. About 75% of students finish within six years. University Of Florida Online awarded about 43 fire protection degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from University Of Florida Online generally make around $86,740. University Of Florida Online graduates carry a median of $12,296 in student loans.
Read more about the fire protection program at University Of Florida Online
Miami Dade College placed #10 among the best fire protection schools. Located in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a very large public university. There were roughly 219 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at Miami Dade College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fire protection program make about $40,267 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,967.
More information about a degree in fire protection from Miami Dade College
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best fire protection schools. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates 74% of students within six years. There were roughly 16 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus generally make around $58,659. Students borrow a median of $23,530 to complete this degree.
See the full fire protection program report for University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
Fox Valley Technical College came in at #12 for fire protection this year. Set in the suburb of Appleton, Fox Valley Technical College is a large public institution. There were roughly 44 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at Fox Valley Technical College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fire protection degree from Fox Valley Technical College earn around $44,020 in the first couple years of their career. Fox Valley Technical College graduates carry a median of $10,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in fire protection from Fox Valley Technical College
Moraine Valley Community College landed the #13 spot for fire protection this year. Moraine Valley Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Palos Hills. Moraine Valley Community College awarded about 24 fire protection degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fire protection program make about $43,844 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,149.
More information about a degree in fire protection from Moraine Valley Community College
College Of San Mateo ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best fire protection schools. College Of San Mateo is a large public school located in the city of San Mateo. About 20 fire protection degrees were awarded at College Of San Mateo in the most recent year. College Of San Mateo graduates carry a median of $12,831 in student loans.
More information about a degree in fire protection from College Of San Mateo
Lone Star College System placed #15 among the best fire protection schools. This very large public university is located in the city of The Woodlands. Lone Star College System awarded about 173 fire protection degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fire protection program make about $39,954 in their early career. Lone Star College System graduates carry a median of $10,425 in student loans.
See the full fire protection program report for Lone Star College System
California State University Los Angeles ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best fire protection schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. About 38 fire protection degrees were awarded at California State University Los Angeles in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from California State University Los Angeles generally make around $48,289. Typical student debt for the program is $11,750.
Get the full fire protection details for California State University Los Angeles
Suffolk County Community College earned the #17 position for fire protection this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Selden. There were roughly 12 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at Suffolk County Community College in the most recent data year. Fire Protection graduates of Suffolk County Community College earn a median of $35,667 early in their careers. Suffolk County Community College graduates carry a median of $11,246 in student loans.
Read more about the fire protection program at Suffolk County Community College
Shasta College landed the #18 spot for fire protection this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Redding. There were roughly 287 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at Shasta College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fire protection degree from Shasta College earn around $50,330 in the first couple years of their career. Shasta College graduates carry a median of $12,275 in student loans.
See the full fire protection program report for Shasta College
St Petersburg College placed #19 among the best fire protection schools. Set in the city of St. Petersburg, St Petersburg College is a very large public institution. About 65 fire protection degrees were awarded at St Petersburg College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from St Petersburg College generally make around $55,829. Typical student debt for the program is $9,557.
More information about a degree in fire protection from St Petersburg College
Northwest Florida State College landed the #20 spot for fire protection this year. Located in the suburb of Niceville, Northwest Florida State College is a moderately-sized public university. About 38 fire protection degrees were awarded at Northwest Florida State College in the most recent year. Students who receive their fire protection degree from Northwest Florida State College earn around $52,856 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,566 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in fire protection from Northwest Florida State College
Liberty University landed the #21 spot for fire protection this year. Set in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. There were roughly 25 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at Liberty University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fire protection degree from Liberty University earn around $45,877 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,414.
See the full fire protection program report for Liberty University
Columbia Southern University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best fire protection schools. Columbia Southern University is a very large private for-profit school located in the town of Orange Beach. About 26% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 1,587 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at Columbia Southern University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from Columbia Southern University generally make around $79,022. Typical student debt for the program is $15,874.
Read more about the fire protection program at Columbia Southern University
Tarrant County College District earned the #23 position for fire protection this year. Located in the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County College District is a very large public university. There were roughly 93 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at Tarrant County College District in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fire protection degree from Tarrant County College District earn around $45,158 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,148.
See the full fire protection program report for Tarrant County College District
Utah Valley University came in at #24 for fire protection this year. Set in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a very large public institution. About 40% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 255 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at Utah Valley University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from Utah Valley University generally make around $60,522. Utah Valley University graduates carry a median of $15,203 in student loans.
See the full fire protection program report for Utah Valley University
Bowling Green State University Main Campus ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best fire protection schools. Located in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public university. About 61% of students finish within six years. About 11 fire protection degrees were awarded at Bowling Green State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their fire protection degree from Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn around $45,196 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,449.
See the full fire protection program report for Bowling Green State University Main Campus
Rest of the Top 50 Fire Protection Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s fire protection ranking:
The ranking above is published 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 · 486 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
