Best colleges for Fire Protection in Illinois
Ranked by graduate earnings
Southwestern Illinois College, Elgin Community College and Waubonsee Community College award the most Fire Protection degrees and certificates in Illinois: 94, 86 and 70 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 21 Illinois colleges offer Fire Protection and award 655 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 4 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 | Southern Illinois University - Carbondale Carbondale Public · Bachelor's degree | $104,017 | 57 | 62% | — | $17,725 |
| 2 | Southwestern Illinois College Belleville Public · Certificate | $77,935 | 94 | 36% | — | $12,750 |
| 3 | College of DuPage Glen Ellyn Public · Associate degree Small program | $58,160 | 18 | 25% | — | — |
| 4 | Western Illinois University Macomb Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $41,432 | 15 | 45% | — | $22,723 |
Colleges awarding the most Fire Protection degrees in Illinois
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 | Southwestern Illinois College Belleville Public | 94 | $77,935 |
| 2 | Elgin Community College Elgin Public | 86 | Not reported |
| 3 | Waubonsee Community College Sugar Grove Public | 70 | Not reported |
| 4 | McHenry County College Crystal Lake Public | 66 | Not reported |
| 5 | Southern Illinois University - Carbondale Carbondale Public | 57 | $104,017 |
| 6 | Lewis and Clark Community College Godfrey Public | 48 | Not reported |
| 7 | College of Lake County Grayslake Public | 24 | Not reported |
| 8 | William Rainey Harper College Palatine Public | 22 | Not reported |
| 9 | Moraine Valley Community College Palos Hills Public | 20 | Not reported |
| 10 | Lincoln Land Community College Springfield Public | 16 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 11 Illinois colleges offering Fire Protection
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prairie State College | Chicago Heights | Public | 48 |
| College of DuPage | Glen Ellyn | Public | 18 |
| Joliet Junior College | Joliet | Public | 18 |
| Western Illinois University | Macomb | Public | 15 |
| Illinois Central College | East Peoria | Public | 12 |
| John Wood Community College | Quincy | Public | 11 |
| Triton College | River Grove | Public | 9 |
| Oakton College | Des Plaines | Public | 8 |
| Rock Valley College | Rockford | Public | 8 |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College | Chicago | Public | 4 |
| Parkland College | Champaign | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Fire Inspectors and Investigators (SOC 33-2021).
Top skills
What Fire Inspectors and Investigators earn in Illinois
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Fire Protection programs in Illinois.
Which Illinois colleges award the most Fire Protection degrees?+
Southwestern Illinois College (94 graduates a year), Elgin Community College (86 graduates a year) and Waubonsee Community College (70 graduates a year) award the most Fire Protection degrees and certificates in Illinois, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 21 Illinois colleges offer Fire Protection.
Which Fire Protection program in Illinois has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Southern Illinois University - Carbondale tops the list at $104,017. 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 Illinois?+
The average annual wage for Fire Inspectors and Investigators in Illinois is $73,330 (median $62,400), across about 440 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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