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

9 Colleges in the United States
1,536 Fire Protection Degrees Awarded
$41,453 Avg Early-Career Salary

Fire Protection degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

College Factual analyzed 65 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 Southwest 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
Lone Star College System crest
Lone Star College System
The Woodlands, TX

Lone Star College System tops our 2026 ranking of the best fire protection schools. Lone Star College System is a very large public school located in the city of The Woodlands. There were roughly 173 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at Lone Star College System in the most recent data year. Fire Protection graduates of Lone Star College System earn a median of $39,954 early in their careers. Lone Star College System graduates carry a median of $10,425 in student loans. More information about a degree in fire protection from Lone Star College System

2

Tarrant County College District is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in fire protection, ranking #2. Located in the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County College District is a very large public university. Tarrant County College District awarded about 93 fire protection degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fire protection program make about $45,158 in their early career. Tarrant County College District graduates carry a median of $15,148 in student loans. See the full fire protection program report for Tarrant County College District

3
College Of The Mainland crest
College Of The Mainland
Texas City, TX

College Of The Mainland is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in fire protection, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Texas City, College Of The Mainland is a moderately-sized public university. College Of The Mainland awarded about 43 fire protection degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fire protection degree from College Of The Mainland earn around $40,788 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $10,928 to complete this degree. Read more about the fire protection program at College Of The Mainland

4

Collin County Community College District is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in fire protection, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the suburb of McKinney, Collin County Community College District is a very large public university. About 73 fire protection degrees were awarded at Collin County Community College District in the most recent year. Graduates of the fire protection program make about $42,177 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,716. Get the full fire protection details for Collin County Community College District

5

A rank of #5 makes San Jacinto Community College one of the top schools for fire protection. San Jacinto Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. About 18 fire protection degrees were awarded at San Jacinto Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the fire protection program make about $38,107 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,376 to complete this degree. Read more about the fire protection program at San Jacinto Community College

6
South Plains College crest
South Plains College
Levelland, TX

South Plains College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best fire protection schools. This large public university is located in the town of Levelland. There were roughly 40 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at South Plains College in the most recent data year. Fire Protection graduates of South Plains College earn a median of $30,949 early in their careers. South Plains College graduates carry a median of $13,788 in student loans. More information about a degree in fire protection from South Plains College

7

Mclennan Community College came in at #7 for fire protection this year. Located in the city of Waco, Mclennan Community College is a large public university. There were roughly 40 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at Mclennan Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fire protection degree from Mclennan Community College earn around $47,467 in the first couple years of their career. Mclennan Community College graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. More information about a degree in fire protection from Mclennan Community College

8
Blinn College crest
Blinn College
Brenham, TX

Blinn College came in at #8 for fire protection this year. Blinn College is a very large public school located in the town of Brenham. Blinn College awarded about 25 fire protection degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fire protection degree from Blinn College earn around $43,408 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,465. Read more about the fire protection program at Blinn College

9

Mesa Community College came in at #9 for fire protection this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Mesa. About 20 fire protection degrees were awarded at Mesa Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the fire protection program make about $54,730 in their early career. Mesa Community College graduates carry a median of $13,750 in student loans. Get the full fire protection details for Mesa Community College

10

Glendale Community College Glendale Az landed the #10 spot for fire protection this year. Set in the suburb of Glendale, Glendale Community College Glendale Az is a very large public institution. Glendale Community College Glendale Az awarded about 41 fire protection degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from Glendale Community College Glendale Az generally make around $51,483. Typical student debt for the program is $15,996. See the full fire protection program report for Glendale Community College Glendale Az

11
San Juan College crest
San Juan College
Farmington, NM

San Juan College earned the #11 position for fire protection this year. San Juan College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Farmington. About 41 fire protection degrees were awarded at San Juan College in the most recent year. Fire Protection graduates of San Juan College earn a median of $41,697 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,150 to complete this degree. See the full fire protection program report for San Juan College

12

Lamar Institute Of Technology earned the #12 position for fire protection this year. Lamar Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Beaumont. About 31 fire protection degrees were awarded at Lamar Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Students who receive their fire protection degree from Lamar Institute Of Technology earn around $55,778 in the first couple years of their career. Lamar Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $14,278 in student loans. Read more about the fire protection program at Lamar Institute Of Technology

13

Austin Community College District landed the #13 spot for fire protection this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Austin. There were roughly 70 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at Austin Community College District in the most recent data year. Fire Protection graduates of Austin Community College District earn a median of $47,024 early in their careers. Austin Community College District graduates carry a median of $11,375 in student loans. Get the full fire protection details for Austin Community College District

14

North Central Texas College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best fire protection schools. Set in the town of Gainesville, North Central Texas College is a large public institution. There were roughly 67 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at North Central Texas College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fire protection degree from North Central Texas College earn around $43,536 in the first couple years of their career. North Central Texas College graduates carry a median of $15,965 in student loans. More information about a degree in fire protection from North Central Texas College

15

Pima Community College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best fire protection schools. Set in the city of Tucson, Pima Community College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 77 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at Pima Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fire protection program make about $35,059 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $10,655 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in fire protection from Pima Community College

16

South Texas College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best fire protection schools. This very large public university is located in the city of McAllen. South Texas College graduates 20% of students within six years. South Texas College awarded about 44 fire protection degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fire protection program make about $30,227 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $6,868. Read more about the fire protection program at South Texas College

17

Tulsa Community College earned the #17 position for fire protection this year. Tulsa Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Tulsa. About 13 fire protection degrees were awarded at Tulsa Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from Tulsa Community College generally make around $41,718. Students borrow a median of $15,789 to complete this degree. Read more about the fire protection program at Tulsa Community College

18
Navarro College crest
Navarro College
Corsicana, TX

Navarro College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best fire protection schools. Navarro College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Corsicana. Navarro College awarded about 47 fire protection degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fire protection degree from Navarro College earn around $38,210 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $6,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the fire protection program at Navarro College

19
Amarillo College crest
Amarillo College
Amarillo, TX

Amarillo College landed the #19 spot for fire protection this year. Amarillo College is a large public school located in the city of Amarillo. Amarillo College awarded about 16 fire protection degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fire protection degree from Amarillo College earn around $41,053 in the first couple years of their career. Amarillo College graduates carry a median of $15,720 in student loans. See the full fire protection program report for Amarillo College

20

Oklahoma State University Oklahoma City landed the #20 spot for fire protection this year. Oklahoma State University Oklahoma City is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Oklahoma City. About 28 fire protection degrees were awarded at Oklahoma State University Oklahoma City in the most recent year. Fire Protection graduates of Oklahoma State University Oklahoma City earn a median of $45,580 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,726. Read more about the fire protection program at Oklahoma State University Oklahoma City

21

Central New Mexico Community College earned the #21 position for fire protection this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Albuquerque. There were roughly 43 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at Central New Mexico Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from Central New Mexico Community College generally make around $34,751. Central New Mexico Community College graduates carry a median of $10,112 in student loans. Read more about the fire protection program at Central New Mexico Community College

22
Weatherford College crest
Weatherford College
Weatherford, TX

Weatherford College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best fire protection schools. Located in the town of Weatherford, Weatherford College is a moderately-sized public university. Weatherford College awarded about 45 fire protection degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fire protection degree from Weatherford College earn around $48,208 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,099. Read more about the fire protection program at Weatherford College

23
San Antonio College crest
San Antonio College
San Antonio, TX

San Antonio College earned the #23 position for fire protection this year. Located in the city of San Antonio, San Antonio College is a very large public university. San Antonio College awarded about 135 fire protection degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fire protection degree from San Antonio College earn around $37,855 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,839. See the full fire protection program report for San Antonio College

24

El Paso Community College came in at #24 for fire protection this year. This very large public university is located in the city of El Paso. There were roughly 31 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at El Paso Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fire protection program make about $29,086 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,542. Read more about the fire protection program at El Paso Community College

25

Tyler Junior College earned the #25 position for fire protection this year. Tyler Junior College is a large public school located in the city of Tyler. About 28 fire protection degrees were awarded at Tyler Junior College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from Tyler Junior College generally make around $43,348. Students borrow a median of $14,869 to complete this degree. Get the full fire protection details for Tyler Junior College

Rest of the Top 34 Fire Protection Schools

Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong fire protection education:

26
27
28
29
El Centro College crest
El Centro College
Dallas, TX
30
Yavapai College crest
Yavapai College
Prescott, AZ
31
Hill College crest
Hill College
Hillsboro, TX
32
33
34

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Notes and References

This list is compiled 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 · 65 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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