Best institutions to study Fire Protection
Any instructional program in fire protection not listed above.
7 U.S. institutions graduated 54 Fire Protection students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 43.0299, a specialization of Fire Protection (CIP 43.02), and leads most directly to the Firefighters occupation (BLS SOC 33-2011).
About Fire Protection programs
Any instructional program in fire protection not listed above.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Fire Protection program, categorized under Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting, and Related Protective Services, focuses on various aspects of fire safety and prevention. This program is designed for individuals interested in pursuing careers in firefighting and related fields, providing essential training and knowledge necessary for effective emergency response.
Students in the Fire Protection program will develop critical skills such as active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication. Coursework typically covers topics related to public safety, building construction, and emergency response techniques, equipping graduates with a comprehensive understanding of fire protection principles.
Credentials awarded
What Fire Protection graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree34 graduates / yr · 2 institutions63%
- Master's degree9 graduates / yr · 1 institution17%
- Associate's degree3 graduates / yr · 2 institutions5.6%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate3 graduates / yr · 1 institution5.6%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year3 graduates / yr · 1 institution5.6%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years2 graduates / yr · 2 institutions3.7%
Graduates over time
Fire Protection completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 201 |
| 2013 | 117 |
| 2014 | 107 |
| 2015 | 148 |
| 2016 | 189 |
| 2017 | 193 |
| 2018 | 184 |
| 2019 | 174 |
| 2020 | 110 |
| 2021 | 126 |
| 2022 | 140 |
| 2023 | 96 |
| 2024 | 70 |
| 2025 | 54 |
Top 7 institutions for Fire Protection, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California State University - San Marcos San Marcos, CAPublicBachelor's | 18 | 55% | — | — |
| 2 | University of Akron Main Campus Akron, OHPublicBachelor'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 17 | 52% | — | $49,582 |
| 3 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CAPublicMaster's | 9 | 86% | — | — |
| 4 | The University of Tennessee - Knoxville Knoxville, TNPublicPost-degree cert. | 3 | 74% | — | — |
| 5 | Moraine Park Technical College Fond du Lac, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 3 | 58% | — | — |
| 6 | University of Alaska Anchorage Anchorage, AKPublicAssociate's | 2 | 30% | — | — |
| 7 | Sussex County Community College Newton, NJPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 2 | 37% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Fire Protection field (CIP 43.02) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 6 states
Where Fire Protection graduates come from. Each state links to all Fire Protection programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 2 | 27 | California State University - San Marcos18 / yr |
| Ohio | 1 | 17 | University of Akron Main Campus17 / yr |
| Tennessee | 1 | 3 | The University of Tennessee - Knoxville3 / yr |
| Wisconsin | 1 | 3 | Moraine Park Technical College3 / yr |
| Alaska | 1 | 2 | University of Alaska Anchorage2 / yr |
| New Jersey | 1 | 2 | Sussex County Community College2 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 33-2011, Firefighters, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Fire Protection program can pursue careers as firefighters or first-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers. The job outlook in this field is about as fast as average, with an annual opening of approximately 27,100 positions and a median wage of $59,530. Typical education for these roles includes a postsecondary nondegree award.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 43.0299
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Firefightersprimary SOC 33-2011 | $59,280 | +3.4% About as fast as average | ~27,100 | Postsecondary nondegree award |
First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers SOC 33-1021 | $93,530 | +3.4% About as fast as average | ~6,500 | Postsecondary nondegree award |
Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Fire Protection programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Rescue survivors from burning buildings, accident sites, and water hazards.
- Dress with equipment such as fire-resistant clothing and breathing apparatus.
- Assess fires and situations and report conditions to superiors to receive instructions, using two-way radios.
- Move toward the source of a fire, using knowledge of types of fires, construction design, building materials, and physical layout of properties.
- Respond to fire alarms and other calls for assistance, such as automobile and industrial accidents.
- Create openings in buildings for ventilation or entrance, using axes, chisels, crowbars, electric saws, or core cutters.
Tools and technology used
Other Fire Protection specializations
The 6 other 6-digit CIP codes under Fire Protection (CIP 43.02).
- Fire Science/CIP 43.0203
Fire-fighting 10,359 graduates / yr275 institutions - Fire Prevention and Safety Technology/CIP 43.0201
Technician 3,558 graduates / yr140 institutions - Fire Services AdministrationCIP 43.02022,008 graduates / yr46 institutions
- Wildland/CIP 43.0206
Forest Firefighting and Investigation 174 graduates / yr17 institutions - Fire Systems TechnologyCIP 43.0204partial data59 graduates / yr5 institutions
- Fire/CIP 43.0205
Arson Investigation and Prevention partial data47 graduates / yr5 institutions
Common questions
What degrees are offered in the Fire Protection program?+
The program offers Bachelor's, Master's, Associate's degrees, and Postbaccalaureate certificates.
How many colleges offer the Fire Protection program in the U.S.?+
There are 7 colleges offering the Fire Protection program across the United States.
What skills will I learn in this program?+
You will learn critical thinking, active listening, monitoring, and effective communication skills.
What is the job outlook for careers in fire protection?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with 27,100 annual openings projected.
What is the CIP code for Fire Protection?+
Fire Protection is CIP 43.0299 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Fire Protection (CIP 43.02). NCES defines it as: Any instructional program in fire protection not listed above.
How many institutions offer Fire Protection programs?+
7 U.S. institutions reported Fire Protection graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 6 states, awarding 54 credentials in the year. That is 0.3% of all Fire Protection graduates.
How much do Fire Protection graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Firefighters occupation, which Fire Protection most directly leads to, pays a median of $59,280 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Fire Protection field report median earnings of $49,582 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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