Best colleges for Fire Protection in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
Modesto Junior College, California State University - Los Angeles and Santa Ana College are the top Fire Protection programs in California by graduate earnings. Modesto Junior College leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $50,364, College Scorecard. Santa Ana College, East Los Angeles College and Moreno Valley College award the most Fire Protection degrees and certificates in California: 509, 328 and 188 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 60 California colleges offer Fire Protection and award 3,807 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Fire Protection program focuses on equipping students with the knowledge and skills needed in the field of homeland security, law enforcement, and firefighting. This program is ideal for individuals interested in preventing and…
Top 3 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Modesto Junior College Modesto Public · Certificate | $50,364 | 69 | 30% | — | — |
| 2 | California State University - Los Angeles Los Angeles Public · Bachelor's degree | $48,289 | 36 | 53% | — | $11,750 |
| 3 | Santa Ana College Santa Ana Public · Certificate | $46,660 | 509 | 31% | — | $15,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Fire Protection degrees in California
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Ana College Santa Ana Public | 509 | $46,660 |
| 2 | East Los Angeles College Monterey Park Public | 328 | Not reported |
| 3 | Moreno Valley College Moreno Valley Public | 188 | Not reported |
| 4 | Palomar College San Marcos Public | 171 | Not reported |
| 5 | City College of San Francisco San Francisco Public | 125 | Not reported |
| 6 | Mt San Antonio College Walnut Public | 106 | Not reported |
| 7 | El Camino Community College District Torrance Public | 100 | Not reported |
| 8 | Santa Rosa Junior College Santa Rosa Public | 98 | Not reported |
| 9 | Victor Valley College Victorville Public | 98 | Not reported |
| 10 | Sierra College Rocklin Public | 86 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 50 California colleges offering Fire Protection
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Fire Inspectors and Investigators (SOC 33-2021).
Top skills
What Fire Inspectors and Investigators earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Fire Protection programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Fire Protection degrees?+
Santa Ana College (509 graduates a year), East Los Angeles College (328 graduates a year) and Moreno Valley College (188 graduates a year) award the most Fire Protection degrees and certificates in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 60 California colleges offer Fire Protection.
What is the best college for Fire Protection in California?+
By graduate earnings, Modesto Junior College leads among Fire Protection programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $50,364, College Scorecard. California State University - Los Angeles and Santa Ana College follow. By degrees awarded, Santa Ana College is the largest, with 509 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Fire Protection program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Modesto Junior College tops the list at $50,364. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Fire Inspectors and Investigators earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Fire Inspectors and Investigators in California is $102,500 (median $99,230), across about 1,350 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Fire Protection program?+
The Fire Protection program focuses on equipping students with the knowledge and skills needed in the field of homeland security, law enforcement, and firefighting. This program is ideal for individuals interested in preventing and…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop active listening, critical thinking, writing, speaking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Fire Inspectors and Investigators?+
The national job outlook is about +3.8% growth with around 1,500 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Postsecondary nondegree award is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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