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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Fire Protection Schools in the Southeast Region

18 Colleges in the United States
4,859 Fire Protection Degrees Awarded
$45,265 Avg Early-Career Salary

Fire Protection programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 110 schools to find the best for fire protection students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Fire Protection in the Southeast 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
University Of Florida crest
University Of Florida
Gainesville, FL

Leading the list is University Of Florida, our #1 school for fire protection. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. About 65 fire protection degrees were awarded at University Of Florida in the most recent year. Graduates of the fire protection program make about $86,740 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $12,296 to complete this degree. Read more about the fire protection program at University Of Florida

2

Students looking for a strong fire protection program will find one at University Of Florida Online, which ranked #2. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Gainesville. University Of Florida Online graduates 75% of students within six years. There were roughly 43 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at University Of Florida Online in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fire protection program make about $86,740 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,296. Get the full fire protection details for University Of Florida Online

3

Students looking for a strong fire protection program will find one at Miami Dade College, which ranked #3. Miami Dade College is a very large public school located in the city of Miami. There were roughly 219 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at Miami Dade College in the most recent data year. Fire Protection graduates of Miami Dade College earn a median of $40,267 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,967 to complete this degree. See the full fire protection program report for Miami Dade College

4
St Petersburg College crest
St Petersburg College
St. Petersburg, FL

St Petersburg College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in fire protection, ranking #4. This very large public university is located in the city of St. Petersburg. St Petersburg College awarded about 65 fire protection degrees in the most recent data year. Fire Protection graduates of St Petersburg College earn a median of $55,829 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $9,557. Read more about the fire protection program at St Petersburg College

5

A rank of #5 makes Northwest Florida State College one of the top schools for fire protection. Located in the suburb of Niceville, Northwest Florida State College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 38 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at Northwest Florida State College in the most recent data 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. Typical student debt for the program is $11,566. More information about a degree in fire protection from Northwest Florida State College

6
Liberty University crest
Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA

Liberty University came in at #6 for fire protection this year. Set in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Liberty University graduates 67% of students within six years. About 25 fire protection degrees were awarded at Liberty University in the most recent year. Students who receive their fire protection degree from Liberty University earn around $45,877 in the first couple years of their career. Liberty University graduates carry a median of $27,414 in student loans. Get the full fire protection details for Liberty University

7

Columbia Southern University placed #7 among the best fire protection schools. This very large private for-profit university is located in the town of Orange Beach. About 26% of students finish within six years. About 1,587 fire protection degrees were awarded at Columbia Southern University in the most recent year. Students who receive their fire protection degree from Columbia Southern University earn around $79,022 in the first couple years of their career. Columbia Southern University graduates carry a median of $15,874 in student loans. Get the full fire protection details for Columbia Southern University

8

Eastern Florida State College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best fire protection schools. This large public university is located in the city of Melbourne. Eastern Florida State College awarded about 70 fire protection degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from Eastern Florida State College generally make around $44,690. Typical student debt for the program is $18,123. More information about a degree in fire protection from Eastern Florida State College

9

Indian River State College placed #9 among the best fire protection schools. Located in the suburb of Fort Pierce, Indian River State College is a very large public university. Indian River State College awarded about 124 fire protection degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from Indian River State College generally make around $47,206. Typical student debt for the program is $5,500. Get the full fire protection details for Indian River State College

10

Florida State College At Jacksonville came in at #10 for fire protection this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Jacksonville. Florida State College At Jacksonville awarded about 106 fire protection degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fire protection program make about $49,810 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,139. Get the full fire protection details for Florida State College At Jacksonville

11

Seminole State College Of Florida came in at #11 for fire protection this year. Located in the city of Sanford, Seminole State College Of Florida is a very large public university. About 177 fire protection degrees were awarded at Seminole State College Of Florida in the most recent year. Fire Protection graduates of Seminole State College Of Florida earn a median of $48,049 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,419. See the full fire protection program report for Seminole State College Of Florida

12
Edison State College crest
Edison State College
Fort Myers, FL

Edison State College placed #12 among the best fire protection schools. Edison State College is a large public school located in the suburb of Fort Myers. About 59 fire protection degrees were awarded at Edison State College in the most recent year. Fire Protection graduates of Edison State College earn a median of $52,597 early in their careers. Edison State College graduates carry a median of $13,356 in student loans. More information about a degree in fire protection from Edison State College

13

Fayetteville State University landed the #13 spot for fire protection this year. Fayetteville State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Fayetteville. The six-year graduation rate is 38%. There were roughly 33 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at Fayetteville State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fire protection program make about $67,586 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,777 to complete this degree. See the full fire protection program report for Fayetteville State University

14

Southern Arkansas University Tech landed the #14 spot for fire protection this year. Southern Arkansas University Tech is a small public school located in the rural area of Camden. There were roughly 45 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at Southern Arkansas University Tech in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fire protection program make about $34,302 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,488. More information about a degree in fire protection from Southern Arkansas University Tech

15
Valencia College crest
Valencia College
Orlando, FL

Valencia College landed the #15 spot for fire protection this year. Valencia College is a very large public school located in the city of Orlando. Valencia College awarded about 171 fire protection degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from Valencia College generally make around $45,657. Students borrow a median of $8,000 to complete this degree. See the full fire protection program report for Valencia College

16

Hillsborough Community College placed #16 among the best fire protection schools. Located in the city of Tampa, Hillsborough Community College is a very large public university. About 42 fire protection degrees were awarded at Hillsborough Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from Hillsborough Community College generally make around $50,331. Hillsborough Community College graduates carry a median of $14,735 in student loans. Get the full fire protection details for Hillsborough Community College

17

Florida Gateway College earned the #17 position for fire protection this year. Florida Gateway College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Lake City. Florida Gateway College awarded about 67 fire protection degrees in the most recent data year. Fire Protection graduates of Florida Gateway College earn a median of $41,947 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $8,669. See the full fire protection program report for Florida Gateway College

18

Palm Beach State College placed #18 among the best fire protection schools. Palm Beach State College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Lake Worth. About 219 fire protection degrees were awarded at Palm Beach State College in the most recent year. Graduates of the fire protection program make about $46,698 in their early career. Palm Beach State College graduates carry a median of $18,971 in student loans. See the full fire protection program report for Palm Beach State College

19

Volunteer State Community College landed the #19 spot for fire protection this year. Located in the suburb of Gallatin, Volunteer State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. About 72 fire protection degrees were awarded at Volunteer State Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from Volunteer State Community College generally make around $40,137. Volunteer State Community College graduates carry a median of $12,462 in student loans. Get the full fire protection details for Volunteer State Community College

20
Gaston College crest
Gaston College
Dallas, NC

Gaston College landed the #20 spot for fire protection this year. Located in the suburb of Dallas, Gaston College is a moderately-sized public university. About 16 fire protection degrees were awarded at Gaston College in the most recent year. Fire Protection graduates of Gaston College earn a median of $39,937 early in their careers. Gaston College graduates carry a median of $10,915 in student loans. See the full fire protection program report for Gaston College

21
Daytona State College crest
Daytona State College
Daytona Beach, FL

Daytona State College placed #21 among the best fire protection schools. This large public university is located in the city of Daytona Beach. About 97 fire protection degrees were awarded at Daytona State College in the most recent year. Students who receive their fire protection degree from Daytona State College earn around $42,696 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $6,945 to complete this degree. Get the full fire protection details for Daytona State College

22

Pasco Hernando Community College earned the #22 position for fire protection this year. Pasco Hernando Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of New Port Richey. Pasco Hernando Community College awarded about 55 fire protection degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fire protection degree from Pasco Hernando Community College earn around $53,856 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,908 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in fire protection from Pasco Hernando Community College

23
Gulf Coast State College crest
Gulf Coast State College
Panama City, FL

Gulf Coast State College came in at #23 for fire protection this year. Located in the city of Panama City, Gulf Coast State College is a moderately-sized public university. About 26 fire protection degrees were awarded at Gulf Coast State College in the most recent year. Fire Protection graduates of Gulf Coast State College earn a median of $49,086 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $8,286. See the full fire protection program report for Gulf Coast State College

24

Tallahassee Community College earned the #24 position for fire protection this year. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Tallahassee Community College is a large public university. There were roughly 30 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at Tallahassee Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from Tallahassee Community College generally make around $40,594. Typical student debt for the program is $16,340. Read more about the fire protection program at Tallahassee Community College

25

Bluegrass Community And Technical College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best fire protection schools. Located in the city of Lexington, Bluegrass Community And Technical College is a large public university. There were roughly 13 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at Bluegrass Community And Technical College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fire protection program make about $44,431 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,366. Get the full fire protection details for Bluegrass Community And Technical College

Rest of the Top 50 Fire Protection Schools

These schools rounded out the top of this year’s fire protection ranking:

26
27
28
29
30
31
32
Lanier Technical College crest
Lanier Technical College
Gainesville, GA
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
Methodist University crest
Methodist University
Fayetteville, NC
43
44
45
46
47
48
First Coast Technical College crest
First Coast Technical College
Saint Augustine, FL
49
50
Charlotte Technical College crest
Charlotte Technical College
Port Charlotte, FL

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Notes and References

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 · 110 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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