Fire Protection degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their fire protection programs.
College Factual analyzed 486 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best fire protection schools.
Santa Rosa Junior College tops our 2026 ranking of the best fire protection schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Santa Rosa. Santa Rosa Junior College awarded about 108 fire protection degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from Santa Rosa Junior College generally make around $80,047. Santa Rosa Junior College graduates carry a median of $14,692 in student loans.
More information about a degree in fire protection from Santa Rosa Junior College
Harper College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best fire protection schools. Set in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a very large public institution. Harper College awarded about 21 fire protection degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from Harper College generally make around $44,523. Students borrow a median of $10,963 to complete this degree.
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Madison Area Technical College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in fire protection, landing the #3 spot this year. This large public university is located in the city of Madison. There were roughly 14 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at Madison Area Technical College in the most recent data year. Fire Protection graduates of Madison Area Technical College earn a median of $44,279 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,812 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in fire protection from Madison Area Technical College
Macomb Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in fire protection, ranking #4. Macomb Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Warren. Macomb Community College awarded about 16 fire protection degrees in the most recent data year. Fire Protection graduates of Macomb Community College earn a median of $38,758 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $9,862 to complete this degree.
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Utah Valley University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in fire protection, ranking #5. Utah Valley University is a very large public school located in the city of Orem. About 40% of students finish within six years. Utah Valley University awarded about 125 fire protection degrees in the most recent data year. Fire Protection graduates of Utah Valley University earn a median of $60,522 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $10,370.
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Fox Valley Technical College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best fire protection schools. Set in the suburb of Appleton, Fox Valley Technical College is a large public institution. Fox Valley Technical College awarded about 40 fire protection degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fire protection program make about $44,020 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,000.
More information about a degree in fire protection from Fox Valley Technical College
Moraine Valley Community College earned the #7 position for fire protection this year. Set in the suburb of Palos Hills, Moraine Valley Community College is a large public institution. There were roughly 24 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at Moraine Valley Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fire protection degree from Moraine Valley Community College earn around $43,844 in the first couple years of their career. Moraine Valley Community College graduates carry a median of $11,149 in student loans.
More information about a degree in fire protection from Moraine Valley Community College
Rio Hondo College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best fire protection schools. Rio Hondo College is a very large public school located in the rural area of Whittier. There were roughly 142 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at Rio Hondo College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fire protection program make about $95,666 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,510.
More information about a degree in fire protection from Rio Hondo College
College Of San Mateo landed the #9 spot for fire protection this year. College Of San Mateo is a large public school located in the city of San Mateo. College Of San Mateo awarded about 17 fire protection degrees in the most recent data year. College Of San Mateo graduates carry a median of $12,831 in student loans.
Read more about the fire protection program at College Of San Mateo
College Of The Canyons placed #10 among the best fire protection schools. Set in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public institution. College Of The Canyons awarded about 27 fire protection degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fire protection program make about $51,913 in their early career. College Of The Canyons graduates carry a median of $9,776 in student loans.
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Suffolk County Community College came in at #11 for fire protection this year. Located in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public university. 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.
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Lone Star College System ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best fire protection schools. Set in the city of The Woodlands, Lone Star College System is a very large public institution. About 38 fire protection degrees were awarded at Lone Star College System in the most recent year. Students who receive their fire protection degree from Lone Star College System earn around $39,954 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $10,425 to complete this degree.
Read more about the fire protection program at Lone Star College System
City College Of San Francisco came in at #13 for fire protection this year. City College Of San Francisco is a very large public school located in the city of San Francisco. There were roughly 26 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at City College Of San Francisco in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fire protection program make about $100,031 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,332.
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Modesto Junior College landed the #14 spot for fire protection this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Modesto. There were roughly 66 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at Modesto Junior College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fire protection degree from Modesto Junior College earn around $50,364 in the first couple years of their career. Modesto Junior College graduates carry a median of $8,575 in student loans.
See the full fire protection program report for Modesto Junior College
Columbia Southern University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best fire protection schools. Set in the town of Orange Beach, Columbia Southern University is a very large private for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 26%. There were roughly 1,561 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at Columbia Southern University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fire protection program make about $75,326 in their early career. Columbia Southern University graduates carry a median of $10,500 in student loans.
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Tarrant County College District landed the #16 spot for fire protection this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Fort Worth. About 86 fire protection degrees were awarded at Tarrant County College District in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from Tarrant County College District generally make around $45,158. Typical student debt for the program is $15,148.
Read more about the fire protection program at Tarrant County College District
Fresno City College placed #17 among the best fire protection schools. Set in the city of Fresno, Fresno City College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 56 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at Fresno City College in the most recent data year. Fire Protection graduates of Fresno City College earn a median of $37,470 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $7,234.
More information about a degree in fire protection from Fresno City College
El Camino Community College District placed #18 among the best fire protection schools. Located in the suburb of Torrance, El Camino Community College District is a very large public university. There were roughly 50 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at El Camino Community College District in the most recent data year.
Read more about the fire protection program at El Camino Community College District
East Los Angeles College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best fire protection schools. Located in the suburb of Monterey Park, East Los Angeles College is a very large public university. East Los Angeles College awarded about 172 fire protection degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fire protection degree from East Los Angeles College earn around $33,595 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $8,180 to complete this degree.
See the full fire protection program report for East Los Angeles College
Johnson County Community College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best fire protection schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Overland Park. There were roughly 14 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at Johnson County Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fire protection program make about $46,473 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,532.
See the full fire protection program report for Johnson County Community College
Mt San Antonio College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best fire protection schools. Located in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a very large public university. Mt San Antonio College awarded about 62 fire protection degrees in the most recent data year. Fire Protection graduates of Mt San Antonio College earn a median of $44,391 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $9,384.
See the full fire protection program report for Mt San Antonio College
Spokane Community College landed the #22 spot for fire protection this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Spokane. There were roughly 10 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at Spokane Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fire protection degree from Spokane Community College earn around $39,679 in the first couple years of their career. Spokane Community College graduates carry a median of $16,486 in student loans.
Read more about the fire protection program at Spokane Community College
Oxnard College landed the #23 spot for fire protection this year. Oxnard College is a large public school located in the city of Oxnard. About 103 fire protection degrees were awarded at Oxnard College in the most recent year.
More information about a degree in fire protection from Oxnard College
Illinois Central College landed the #24 spot for fire protection this year. Set in the suburb of East Peoria, Illinois Central College is a large public institution. About 14 fire protection degrees were awarded at Illinois Central College in the most recent year. Fire Protection graduates of Illinois Central College earn a median of $53,190 early in their careers. Illinois Central College graduates carry a median of $12,222 in student loans.
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Stark State College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best fire protection schools. Located in the suburb of North Canton, Stark State College is a large public university. About 24 fire protection degrees were awarded at Stark State College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from Stark State College generally make around $42,724. Typical student debt for the program is $17,349.
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Rest of the Top 50 Fire Protection Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s fire protection ranking:
This ranking is produced 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).
