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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Fire Protection Schools in the Far Western Region

19 Colleges in the United States
3,991 Fire Protection Degrees Awarded
$53,753 Avg Early-Career Salary

Fire Protection is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

College Factual analyzed 97 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best fire protection schools.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Fire Protection in the Far Western Region

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the fire protection degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Fire Protection

1

Our analysis ranked California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo the best school in the country for a degree in fire protection. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public school located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo awarded about 11 fire protection degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fire protection program make about $61,010 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,273. Read more about the fire protection program at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo

2

Students looking for a strong fire protection program will find one at Santa Rosa Junior College, which ranked #2. Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Rosa. There were roughly 120 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at Santa Rosa Junior College in the most recent data year. Fire Protection graduates of Santa Rosa Junior College earn a median of $80,047 early in their careers. Santa Rosa Junior College graduates carry a median of $14,692 in student loans. Get the full fire protection details for Santa Rosa Junior College

3

California State University San Marcos came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best fire protection schools. Located in the suburb of San Marcos, California State University San Marcos is a large public university. 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. Students borrow a median of $17,527 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in fire protection from California State University San Marcos

4
College Of San Mateo crest
College Of San Mateo
San Mateo, CA

College Of San Mateo 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 city of San Mateo. About 20 fire protection degrees were awarded at College Of San Mateo in the most recent year. Students borrow a median of $12,831 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in fire protection from College Of San Mateo

5

California State University Los Angeles is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in fire protection, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public institution. About 53% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 38 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at California State University Los Angeles in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fire protection program make about $48,289 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,750. Get the full fire protection details for California State University Los Angeles

6
Shasta College crest
Shasta College
Redding, CA

Shasta College earned the #6 position for fire protection this year. Set in the suburb of Redding, Shasta College is a large public institution. Shasta College awarded about 287 fire protection degrees in the most recent data year. Fire Protection graduates of Shasta College earn a median of $50,330 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,275 to complete this degree. Get the full fire protection details for Shasta College

7
Butte College crest
Butte College
Oroville, CA

Butte College earned the #7 position for fire protection this year. Set in the rural area of Oroville, Butte College is a large public institution. About 94 fire protection degrees were awarded at Butte College in the most recent year. Fire Protection graduates of Butte College earn a median of $67,048 early in their careers. Butte College graduates carry a median of $13,302 in student loans. Get the full fire protection details for Butte College

8

Spokane Community College earned the #8 position for fire protection this year. Set in the city of Spokane, Spokane Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 10 fire protection degrees were awarded at Spokane Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their fire protection degree from Spokane Community College earn around $39,679 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,486. See the full fire protection program report for Spokane Community College

9
College Of The Canyons crest
College Of The Canyons
Santa Clarita, CA

College Of The Canyons ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best fire protection schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Santa Clarita. About 43 fire protection degrees were awarded at College Of The Canyons in the most recent year. Fire Protection graduates of College Of The Canyons earn a median of $51,913 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $9,776 to complete this degree. Get the full fire protection details for College Of The Canyons

10

Modesto Junior College placed #10 among the best fire protection schools. Located in the city of Modesto, Modesto Junior College is a very large public university. There were roughly 74 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at Modesto Junior College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from Modesto Junior College generally make around $50,364. Students borrow a median of $8,575 to complete this degree. Get the full fire protection details for Modesto Junior College

11
Rio Hondo College crest
Rio Hondo College
Whittier, CA

Rio Hondo College placed #11 among the best fire protection schools. Located in the rural area of Whittier, Rio Hondo College is a very large public university. There were roughly 244 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. Students borrow a median of $15,510 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in fire protection from Rio Hondo College

12
Oxnard College crest
Oxnard College
Oxnard, CA

Oxnard College placed #12 among the best fire protection schools. Set in the city of Oxnard, Oxnard College is a large public institution. Oxnard College awarded about 166 fire protection degrees in the most recent data year. More information about a degree in fire protection from Oxnard College

13

Mt San Antonio College placed #13 among the best fire protection schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Walnut. There were roughly 96 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at Mt San Antonio College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fire protection degree from Mt San Antonio College earn around $44,391 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,384. Get the full fire protection details for Mt San Antonio College

14
Moreno Valley College crest
Moreno Valley College
Moreno Valley, CA

Moreno Valley College came in at #14 for fire protection this year. Set in the suburb of Moreno Valley, Moreno Valley College is a large public institution. Moreno Valley College awarded about 133 fire protection degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from Moreno Valley College generally make around $45,515. Typical student debt for the program is $12,643. Read more about the fire protection program at Moreno Valley College

15

College Of Southern Nevada earned the #15 position for fire protection this year. Set in the city of Las Vegas, College Of Southern Nevada is a very large public institution. There were roughly 37 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at College Of Southern Nevada in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fire protection program make about $35,850 in their early career. College Of Southern Nevada graduates carry a median of $9,980 in student loans. More information about a degree in fire protection from College Of Southern Nevada

16
Palomar College crest
Palomar College
San Marcos, CA

Palomar College came in at #16 for fire protection this year. Set in the suburb of San Marcos, Palomar College is a very large public institution. Palomar College awarded about 168 fire protection degrees in the most recent data year. More information about a degree in fire protection from Palomar College

17

El Camino Community College District placed #17 among the best fire protection schools. Located in the suburb of Torrance, El Camino Community College District is a very large public university. About 59 fire protection degrees were awarded at El Camino Community College District in the most recent year. Read more about the fire protection program at El Camino Community College District

18
Las Positas College crest
Las Positas College
Livermore, CA

Las Positas College placed #18 among the best fire protection schools. Set in the city of Livermore, Las Positas College is a large public institution. About 63 fire protection degrees were awarded at Las Positas College in the most recent year. More information about a degree in fire protection from Las Positas College

19

Everett Community College earned the #19 position for fire protection this year. Everett Community College is a large public school located in the city of Everett. Everett Community College awarded about 18 fire protection degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from Everett Community College generally make around $47,441. Students borrow a median of $13,542 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in fire protection from Everett Community College

20
Mission College crest
Mission College
Santa Clara, CA

Mission College earned the #20 position for fire protection this year. This large public university is located in the city of Santa Clara. Mission College awarded about 42 fire protection degrees in the most recent data year. Mission College graduates carry a median of $17,223 in student loans. See the full fire protection program report for Mission College

21

Eastern Oregon University came in at #21 for fire protection this year. Located in the town of La Grande, Eastern Oregon University is a moderately-sized public university. About 43% of students finish within six years. Eastern Oregon University awarded about 44 fire protection degrees in the most recent data year. Fire Protection graduates of Eastern Oregon University earn a median of $58,911 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000. Get the full fire protection details for Eastern Oregon University

22

City College Of San Francisco came in at #22 for fire protection this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Francisco. City College Of San Francisco awarded about 41 fire protection degrees in the most recent data year. Fire Protection graduates of City College Of San Francisco earn a median of $100,031 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $10,332. See the full fire protection program report for City College Of San Francisco

23

Bates Technical College landed the #23 spot for fire protection this year. Bates Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Tacoma. There were roughly 39 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at Bates Technical College in the most recent data year. More information about a degree in fire protection from Bates Technical College

24

San Diego Miramar College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best fire protection schools. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego Miramar College is a very large public university. San Diego Miramar College awarded about 41 fire protection degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fire protection degree from San Diego Miramar College earn around $41,038 in the first couple years of their career. San Diego Miramar College graduates carry a median of $8,098 in student loans. More information about a degree in fire protection from San Diego Miramar College

25

Fresno City College placed #25 among the best fire protection schools. Set in the city of Fresno, Fresno City College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 74 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at Fresno City College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fire protection degree from Fresno City College earn around $37,470 in the first couple years of their career. Fresno City College graduates carry a median of $7,234 in student loans. Get the full fire protection details for Fresno City College

Rest of the Top 50 Fire Protection Schools

These schools also placed among the best for fire protection this year:

26
East Los Angeles College crest
East Los Angeles College
Monterey Park, CA
27
28
College Of The Desert crest
College Of The Desert
Palm Desert, CA
29
Los Medanos College crest
Los Medanos College
Pittsburg, CA
30
Allan Hancock College crest
Allan Hancock College
Santa Maria, CA
31
Long Beach City College crest
Long Beach City College
Long Beach, CA
32
33
34
Chaffey College crest
Chaffey College
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
35
36
Skagit Valley College crest
Skagit Valley College
Mount Vernon, WA
37
38
American River College crest
American River College
Sacramento, CA
39
Santa Ana College crest
Santa Ana College
Santa Ana, CA
40
41
42
Sierra College crest
Sierra College
Rocklin, CA
43
44
45
46
47
Victor Valley College crest
Victor Valley College
Victorville, CA
48
49
50
Bakersfield College crest
Bakersfield College
Bakersfield, CA

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Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 97 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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