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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Wildl&/Forest Firefighting & Investigation Schools in California

1 Colleges in the United States
39 Wildl&/Forest Firefighting & Investigation Degrees Awarded
$73,205 Avg Early-Career Salary

Wildl&/Forest Firefighting & Investigation degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation programs.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 8 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Wildl&/Forest Firefighting & Investigation in California

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 wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Wildl&/Forest Firefighting & Investigation

1
Rio Hondo College crest
Rio Hondo College
Whittier, CA

Leading the list is Rio Hondo College, our #1 school for wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation. Rio Hondo College is a very large public school located in the rural area of Whittier. There were roughly 14 wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation students who graduated with this degree at Rio Hondo College in the most recent data year. Wildl&/forest Firefighting & Investigation graduates of Rio Hondo College earn a median of $95,666 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,510. Read more about the wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation program at Rio Hondo College

2
Allan Hancock College crest
Allan Hancock College
Santa Maria, CA

Allan Hancock College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation, landing the #2 spot this year. This large public university is located in the city of Santa Maria. About 14 wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation degrees were awarded at Allan Hancock College in the most recent year. Read more about the wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation program at Allan Hancock College

3

Antelope Valley College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation, ranking #3. This large public university is located in the suburb of Lancaster. About 11 wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation degrees were awarded at Antelope Valley College in the most recent year. Students who receive their wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation degree from Antelope Valley College earn around $50,744 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $10,729 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation from Antelope Valley College

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Notes and References

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 · 8 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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