Best colleges for Fire Protection
Ranked by graduate earnings
The top bachelor's colleges for Fire Protection by graduate earnings are Southern Illinois University - Carbondale ($104,017), University of Florida ($86,740) and Anna Maria College ($81,637), based on median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, among programs with at least 20 graduates a year, excluding online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools and those with a graduation rate under 30%.
- Southern Illinois University - Carbondale (Carbondale, IL): $104,017, 57 graduates a year
- University of Florida (Gainesville, FL): $86,740, 70 graduates a year
- Anna Maria College (Paxton, MA): $81,637, 50 graduates a year
- Oklahoma State University (Stillwater, OK): $75,503, 21 graduates a year
- Fayetteville State University (Fayetteville, NC): $67,586, 27 graduates a year
Compare 397 U.S. colleges offering Fire Protection by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 48 states.
Fire Protection programs report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $49,810 (College Scorecard, 2019), and map to CIP 43.02 and the Fire Inspectors and Investigators occupation (BLS SOC).
About Fire Protection programs
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 responding to fire-related emergencies, as well as those looking to pursue careers in fire safety and protection services.
Students in the Fire Protection program will develop core skills such as active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication. Coursework covers essential knowledge areas including public safety, building construction, and fire systems technology, preparing graduates for various roles within the industry.
Top 18 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, predominant credential. 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, IL Public · Bachelor's degree | $104,017 | 57 | 62% | — | $17,725 |
| 2 | University of Florida Gainesville, FL Public · Bachelor's degree | $86,740 | 70 | 91% | — | $12,296 |
| 3 | Anna Maria College Paxton, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $81,637 | 50 | 46% | $29,422 | $22,875 |
| 4 | Oklahoma State University Stillwater, OK Public · Bachelor's degree | $75,503 | 21 | 68% | — | $26,500 |
| 5 | Fayetteville State University Fayetteville, NC Public · Bachelor's degree | $67,586 | 27 | 38% | — | $15,777 |
| 6 | Eastern Kentucky University Richmond, KY Public · Bachelor's degree | $66,617 | 55 | 50% | — | $27,000 |
| 7 | Utah Valley University Orem, UT Public · Bachelor's degree | $60,522 | 34 | 45% | — | $10,370 |
| 8 | Eastern Oregon University La Grande, OR Public · Bachelor's degree | $58,911 | 36 | 43% | — | $25,000 |
| 9 | University of New Haven West Haven, CT Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $57,392 | 37 | 63% | $32,614 | $26,375 |
| 10 | New Jersey City University Jersey City, NJ Public · Bachelor's degree | $54,600 | 25 | 34% | — | $26,000 |
| 11 | California State University - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $48,289 | 36 | 53% | — | $11,750 |
| 12 | CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice New York, NY Public · Bachelor's degree | $48,121 | 31 | 56% | — | $16,500 |
| 13 | Waldorf University Forest City, IA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $97,731 | 47 | 21% | $22,328 | $21,783 |
| 14 | Purdue University Global West Lafayette, IN Public · Bachelor's degree Online | $89,622 | 112 | 50% | — | $29,636 |
| 15 | University of Florida-Online Gainesville, FL Public · Bachelor's degree Online | $86,740 | 46 | 85% | — | $12,296 |
| 16 | American Public University System Charles Town, WV Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree Online | $73,302 | 115 | 57% | $10,199 | $19,434 |
| 17 | University of Akron Main Campus Akron, OH Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $49,582 | 17 | 52% | — | $25,750 |
| 18 | Western Illinois University Macomb, IL Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $41,432 | 15 | 45% | — | $22,723 |
Top 25 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southwestern Illinois College Belleville, IL Public · Certificate | $77,935 | 94 | 36% | — | $12,750 |
| 2 | St Petersburg College St. Petersburg, FL Public · Certificate | $55,829 | 89 | 38% | — | $9,557 |
| 3 | Lamar Institute of Technology Beaumont, TX Public · Certificate | $55,778 | 34 | 31% | — | — |
| 4 | Northwest Florida State College Niceville, FL Public · Certificate | $52,856 | 26 | 39% | — | — |
| 5 | Hutchinson Community College Hutchinson, KS Public · Associate degree | $51,007 | 131 | 53% | — | — |
| 6 | Modesto Junior College Modesto, CA Public · Certificate | $50,364 | 69 | 30% | — | — |
| 7 | Hillsborough College Tampa, FL Public · Certificate | $50,331 | 88 | 34% | — | $14,735 |
| 8 | Florida State College at Jacksonville Jacksonville, FL Public · Certificate | $49,810 | 146 | 37% | — | — |
| 9 | Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City Kansas City, MO Public · Certificate | $48,321 | 44 | 34% | — | $8,750 |
| 10 | McLennan Community College Waco, TX Public · Certificate | $47,467 | 49 | 39% | — | $5,500 |
| 11 | Butler Technology and Career Development Schools Monroe, OH Public · Certificate | $47,379 | 49 | 76% | — | $6,607 |
| 12 | Indian River State College Fort Pierce, FL Public · Certificate | $47,206 | 84 | 45% | — | $5,500 |
| 13 | Palm Beach State College Lake Worth, FL Public · Certificate | $46,698 | 91 | 41% | — | $18,971 |
| 14 | Santa Ana College Santa Ana, CA Public · Certificate | $46,660 | 509 | 31% | — | $15,000 |
| 15 | Valencia College Orlando, FL Public · Associate degree | $45,657 | 205 | 48% | — | $8,000 |
| 16 | Aims Community College Greeley, CO Public · Certificate | $44,470 | 62 | 40% | — | $9,750 |
| 17 | Daytona State College Daytona Beach, FL Public · Certificate | $42,696 | 79 | 43% | — | $6,945 |
| 18 | Great Oaks Career Campuses Cincinnati, OH Public · Certificate | $41,349 | 38 | 90% | — | $8,000 |
| 19 | George Stone Technical College Pensacola, FL Public · Certificate | $39,560 | 22 | 36% | — | — |
| 20 | Marion Technical College Ocala, FL Public · Certificate | $37,678 | 76 | 80% | — | — |
| 21 | Lake Technical College Eustis, FL Public · Certificate | $33,942 | 72 | 47% | — | — |
| 22 | Cincinnati State Technical and Community College Cincinnati, OH Public · Associate degree Small program | $91,944 | 13 | 16% | — | $6,125 |
| 23 | North Shore Community College Danvers, MA Public · Associate degree | $90,948 | 38 | 18% | — | $10,192 |
| 24 | Columbia Southern University Orange Beach, AL Private for-profit · Associate degree Online | $75,326 | 2,027 | 33% | $15,554 | $10,500 |
| 25 | College of DuPage Glen Ellyn, IL Public · Associate degree Small program | $58,160 | 18 | 25% | — | — |
Specializations within Fire Protection
7 of the 7 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 43.02 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
- Fire Science/CIP 43.0203
Fire-fighting 10,359 graduates / yr275 institutions47 states - Fire Prevention and Safety Technology/CIP 43.0201
Technician 3,558 graduates / yr140 institutions24 states - Fire Services AdministrationCIP 43.02022,008 graduates / yr46 institutions27 states
- Wildland/CIP 43.0206
Forest Firefighting and Investigation 174 graduates / yr17 institutions6 states - Fire Systems TechnologyCIP 43.0204partial data59 graduates / yr5 institutions3 states
- Fire ProtectionCIP 43.0299partial data54 graduates / yr7 institutions6 states
- Fire/CIP 43.0205
Arson Investigation and Prevention partial data47 graduates / yr5 institutions5 states
Offered across 48 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 33-2021, Fire Inspectors and Investigators, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Fire Protection program can expect a career outlook that is about as fast as average, with an annual opening of approximately 1,500 positions. The median wage for professionals in this field is around $78,060, typically requiring a postsecondary nondegree award for entry-level positions.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Fire Protection
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 43.02.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 43.02 (Fire Protection) maps to 6 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 11-9199 | Managers, All Other |
| 25-1194 | Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary |
| 33-1021 | First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers |
| 33-2011 | Firefighters |
| 33-2021 | Fire Inspectors and Investigatorsprimary |
| 33-2022 | Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Fire Protection programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Prepare and maintain reports of investigation results, and records of convicted arsonists and arson suspects.
- Testify in court cases involving fires, suspected arson, and false alarms.
- Package collected pieces of evidence in securely closed containers, such as bags, crates, or boxes, to protect them.
- Conduct inspections and acceptance testing of newly installed fire protection systems.
- Analyze evidence and other information to determine probable cause of fire or explosion.
- Photograph damage and evidence related to causes of fires or explosions to document investigation findings.
Common questions
What specializations are available in the Fire Protection program?+
Specializations include Fire Prevention and Safety Technology, Fire Services Administration, and Fire/Arson Investigation and Prevention.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication.
What is the job outlook for graduates?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with around 1,500 annual openings.
What level of education is typically required?+
Most positions require a postsecondary nondegree award.
How much do Fire Protection graduates earn?+
Fire Protection graduates report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $49,810, College Scorecard (2019); the Fire Inspectors and Investigators occupation pays about $78,670 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Fire Protection?+
Fire Protection maps to CIP 43.02 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
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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