Best institutions to study Fire Services Administration
A program focusing on the principles, theory, and practices associated with the management of fire operations, firefighting services, and community fire issues.
46 U.S. institutions graduated 2,008 Fire Services Administration students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 43.0202, a specialization of Fire Protection (CIP 43.02), and leads most directly to the First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers occupation (BLS SOC 33-1021).
About Fire Services Administration programs
A program focusing on the principles, theory, and practices associated with the management of fire operations, firefighting services, and community fire issues. Includes instruction in fire protection history and theory, incident command leadership, administration of public fire organizations, labor relations, emergency medical services management, fire emergency response strategies and mitigation, legal and regulatory responsibilities, budgeting, public relations, and organizational leadership.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Fire Services Administration program, a branch of Fire Protection, focuses on the management of fire operations and firefighting services. It is designed for individuals seeking to advance their careers in firefighting and related protective services, providing essential knowledge and skills for effective leadership in emergency situations.
Students will explore core topics such as incident command leadership, emergency medical services management, and legal responsibilities. Coursework emphasizes critical skills like active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication, preparing graduates to handle complex fire service challenges.
Credentials awarded
What Fire Services Administration graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree1,568 graduates / yr · 22 institutions78%
- Master's degree240 graduates / yr · 4 institutions12%
- Associate's degree79 graduates / yr · 20 institutions3.9%
- Award of less than 12 weeks45 graduates / yr · 4 institutions2.2%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years43 graduates / yr · 4 institutions2.1%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year25 graduates / yr · 5 institutions1.2%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship8 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.4%
Graduates over time
Fire Services Administration completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 778 |
| 2013 | 1,047 |
| 2014 | 1,121 |
| 2015 | 1,268 |
| 2016 | 1,354 |
| 2017 | 1,266 |
| 2018 | 1,334 |
| 2019 | 1,292 |
| 2020 | 1,388 |
| 2021 | 1,450 |
| 2022 | 1,369 |
| 2023 | 1,428 |
| 2024 | 1,709 |
| 2025 | 2,008 |
Top 46 institutions for Fire Services Administration, 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 | Columbia Southern University Orange Beach, ALPrivate for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 1,313 | 33% | $15,554 | $75,326 |
| 2 | Purdue University Global West Lafayette, INPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 88 | 50% | — | $89,622 |
| 3 | Southern Illinois University - Carbondale Carbondale, ILPublicMaster'sBachelor's | 57 | 62% | — | $104,017 |
| 4 | American Public University System Charles Town, WVPrivate for-profitBachelor'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 54 | 57% | $10,199 | $73,302 |
| 5 | Waldorf University Forest City, IAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sAssociate's | 47 | 21% | $22,328 | $97,731 |
| 6 | California State University - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CAPublicBachelor's | 36 | 53% | — | $48,289 |
| 7 | Eastern Oregon University La Grande, ORPublicBachelor's | 36 | 43% | — | $58,911 |
| 8 | Utah Valley University Orem, UTPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 30 | 45% | — | $60,522 |
| 9 | Fayetteville State University Fayetteville, NCPublicBachelor's | 27 | 38% | — | $67,586 |
| 10 | Liberty University Lynchburg, VAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 25 | 65% | $28,911 | — |
| 11 | Salem State University Salem, MAPublicBachelor's | 21 | 50% | — | — |
| 12 | Oklahoma State University - Main Campus Stillwater, OKPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 21 | 68% | — | $75,503 |
| 13 | Lewis and Clark Community College Godfrey, ILPublicAward of less than 12 weeksAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 20 | 44% | — | — |
| 14 | CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice New York, NYPublicBachelor's | 19 | 56% | — | $48,121 |
| 15 | Bossier Parish Community College Bossier City, LAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 17 | 15% | — | — |
| 16 | Metropolitan State University of Denver Denver, COPublicBachelor's | 16 | 32% | — | — |
| 17 | Western Illinois University Macomb, ILPublicBachelor's | 15 | 45% | — | $41,432 |
| 18 | Sinclair Community College Dayton, OHPublicAward of less than 12 weeksAssociate's | 15 | 41% | — | — |
| 19 | Southwestern Illinois College Belleville, ILPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 14 | 36% | — | $77,935 |
| 20 | University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh Oshkosh, WIPublicBachelor'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 14 | 46% | — | — |
| 21 | Weatherford College Weatherford, TXPublicAssociate's | 13 | 35% | — | — |
| 22 | Chattahoochee Valley Community College Phenix City, ALPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 10 | 36% | — | — |
| 23 | Columbia Basin College Pasco, WAPublicAssociate's | 10 | 33% | — | — |
| 24 | Colorado State University - Fort Collins Fort Collins, COPublicBachelor's | 9 | 67% | — | — |
| 25 | Eastern Kentucky University Richmond, KYPublicBachelor's | 9 | 50% | — | $66,617 |
| 26 | College of Southern Nevada Las Vegas, NVPublicBachelor's | 8 | 19% | — | — |
| 27 | Bowling Green State University - Main Campus Bowling Green, OHPublicBachelor's | 8 | 64% | — | — |
| 28 | Albany Technical College Albany, GAPublicAssociate's | 7 | 42% | — | — |
| 29 | Bucks County Community College Newtown, PAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 6 | 32% | — | — |
| 30 | Pima Community College Tucson, AZPublicAssociate's | 5 | 28% | — | $35,059 |
| 31 | Lincoln Land Community College Springfield, ILPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 5 | 48% | — | — |
| 32 | Quinsigamond Community College Worcester, MAPublicAssociate's | 4 | 22% | — | — |
| 33 | University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Cincinnati, OHPublicBachelor's | 4 | 75% | — | — |
| 34 | University of North Texas at Dallas Dallas, TXPublicBachelor's | 4 | 42% | — | — |
| 35 | West Georgia Technical College Waco, GAPublicAssociate's | 3 | 35% | — | — |
| 36 | Lanier Technical College Gainesville, GAPublicAssociate's | 3 | 34% | — | — |
| 37 | Pierce College District Lakewood, WAPublicBachelor'sAssociate's | 3 | 31% | — | — |
| 38 | Lake Superior College Duluth, MNPublicAssociate's | 2 | 42% | — | — |
| 39 | University of New Hampshire College of Professional Studies Online Manchester, NHPublicBachelor's | 2 | 30% | — | — |
| 40 | Mid - State Technical College Wisconsin Rapids, WIPublicAssociate's | 2 | 52% | — | — |
| 41 | Yavapai College Prescott, AZPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 34% | — | — |
| 42 | Atlanta Technical College Atlanta, GAPublicAssociate's | 1 | 49% | — | — |
| 43 | Southern Crescent Technical College Griffin, GAPublicAssociate's | 1 | 58% | — | — |
| 44 | Savannah Technical College Savannah, GAPublicAssociate's | 1 | 42% | — | — |
| 45 | Wiregrass Georgia Technical College Valdosta, GAPublicAssociate's | 1 | 50% | — | — |
| 46 | Howard Community College Columbia, MDPublicAssociate's | 1 | 24% | — | — |
* 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 27 states
Where Fire Services Administration graduates come from. Each state links to all Fire Protection programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 33-1021, First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Fire Services Administration program can pursue careers as First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers, among other roles. The job outlook is promising, with an expected growth rate of 3.4% and approximately 6,500 annual openings, offering a median wage of $92,430.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 43.0202
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workersprimary SOC 33-1021 | $93,530 | +3.4% About as fast as average | ~6,500 | Postsecondary nondegree award |
Managers, All Other SOC 11-9199 | $141,900 | +4.5% About as fast as average | ~106,700 | Bachelor's degree |
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1194 | $63,820 | +0.7% Little or no change | ~8,800 | Bachelor's degree |
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 Services Administration 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
- Assign firefighters to jobs at strategic locations to facilitate rescue of persons and maximize application of extinguishing agents.
- Provide emergency medical services as required, and perform light to heavy rescue functions at emergencies.
- Assess nature and extent of fire, condition of building, danger to adjacent buildings, and water supply status to determine crew or company requirements.
- Communicate fire details to superiors, subordinates, or interagency dispatch centers, using two-way radios.
- Serve as a working leader of an engine, hand, helicopter, or prescribed fire crew of three or more firefighters.
- Instruct and drill fire department personnel in assigned duties, including firefighting, medical care, hazardous materials response, fire prevention, and related subjects.
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 - Wildland/CIP 43.0206
Forest Firefighting and Investigation 174 graduates / yr17 institutions - Fire Systems TechnologyCIP 43.0204partial data59 graduates / yr5 institutions
- Fire ProtectionCIP 43.0299partial data54 graduates / yr7 institutions
- Fire/CIP 43.0205
Arson Investigation and Prevention partial data47 graduates / yr5 institutions
Common questions
What degrees are offered in this program?+
The program offers Bachelor's, Master's, Associate's degrees, and awards of less than 12 weeks.
What skills will I develop?+
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 3.4% growth expected.
What careers can I pursue with this degree?+
You can work as a First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers or in other management roles.
What is the CIP code for Fire Services Administration?+
Fire Services Administration is CIP 43.0202 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Fire Protection (CIP 43.02). NCES defines it as: A program focusing on the principles, theory, and practices associated with the management of fire operations, firefighting services, and community fire issues. Includes instruction in fire protection history and theory, incident command leadership, administration of public fire organizations, labor relations, emergency medical services management, fire emergency response strategies and mitigation, legal and regulatory responsibilities, budgeting, public relations, and organizational leadership.
How many institutions offer Fire Services Administration programs?+
46 U.S. institutions reported Fire Services Administration graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 27 states, awarding 2,008 credentials in the year. That is 12.4% of all Fire Protection graduates.
How much do Fire Services Administration graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers occupation, which Fire Services Administration most directly leads to, pays a median of $93,530 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Fire Protection field report median earnings of $67,586 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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