by our College Data Analytics TeamCollege Factual looked at 9 colleges and universities when compiling its 2025 Best Fire Protection Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 359 associate degrees in fire protection during the 2022-2023 academic year.
What's on this page: * Our Methodology
The fire protection associate degree program you select can have a big impact on your future. Important measures of a quality fire protection program can vary widely even among the top schools. When choosing a school we recommend considering some of the following factors:
A school that excels in educating for a particular major and degree level must be a great school overall as well. To account for this we consider a college's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a host of different factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
One measure we use to determine the quality of a school is to look at the average salary of associate graduates during the early years of their career. This is because one of the main reasons people pursue their associate degree is to enable themselves to find better-paying positions.
The metrics below are just some of the other metrics that we use to determine our rankings.
Our full ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best colleges for fire protection students working on their associate degree.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we've developed a number of rankings, including this Best Fire Protection Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region list, to help you choose the best school for you.
The following list ranks the best colleges and universities for pursuing an associate degree in fire protection.
South Texas College is one of the finest schools in the country for getting an associate degree in fire protection. Located in the city of McAllen, South Texas College is a public college with a fairly large student population.More information about a associate in fire protection from South Texas College
Pima Community College is one of the best schools in the United States for getting an associate degree in fire protection. Pima County Community College District is a large public college located in the city of Tucson.More information about a associate in fire protection from Pima Community College
It is difficult to beat Central New Mexico Community College if you want to pursue an associate degree in fire protection. CNM is a large public college located in the large city of Albuquerque.More information about a associate in fire protection from Central New Mexico Community College
Lone Star College System is a wonderful choice for individuals pursuing an associate degree in fire protection. Located in the midsize city of The Woodlands, North Harris Montgomery is a public college with a fairly large student population.More information about a associate in fire protection from Lone Star College System
Located in the suburb of McKinney, Collin County Community College District is a public college with a very large student population.More information about a associate in fire protection from Collin County Community College District
Blinn College is a large public college located in the distant town of Brenham.More information about a associate in fire protection from Blinn College
Located in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a public college with a very large student population.More information about a associate in fire protection from Austin Community College District
Located in the city of El Paso, El Paso Community College is a public college with a very large student population.More information about a associate in fire protection from El Paso Community College
San Antonio College is a large public college located in the large city of San Antonio.More information about a associate in fire protection from San Antonio College
Explore the best fire protection colleges for a specific state in the Southwest Region .
| State | Colleges | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | 200 | 220 |
| Arizona | 169 | 41 |
| New Mexico | 140 | 37 |
| Oklahoma | 136 | 26 |
One of 4 majors within the Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting area of study, Fire Protection has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Fire Science | 226 |
| Fire Prevention & Safety Technology/Technician | 98 |
| Fire Services Administration | 31 |
| Fire Systems Technology | 2 |
| Wildl&/Forest Firefighting & Investigation | 2 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Criminal Justice & Corrections | 3,583 |
| Security Science and Technology | 107 |
| Homeland Security | 86 |