2026 Best Fire Protection Bachelor’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best Fire Protection bachelor’s degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 486 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, Course Advisor evaluated schools to compile this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Fire Protection Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the leading schools below:
Leading the list is Southern Illinois University Carbondale, our #1 Fire Protection school in the United States. Located in Carbondale, IL, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,334. Students borrow a median of $17,725 to complete their Fire Protection program here. See the full Southern Illinois University Carbondale profile
Out of the 486 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Columbia Southern University landed the #2 spot. This private for-profit school is set in Orange Beach, AL. The six-year graduation rate is 26%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,224. Graduates carry a median of $15,874 in student loans. See the full Columbia Southern University profile
A rank of #3 makes University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh one of the top choices in the United States. This public school is set in Oshkosh, WI. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh graduates 54% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,532, compared with $16,446 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,619 to complete their Fire Protection program here. Get the full University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh report
You'll be in good company at Colorado State University Fort Collins, which ranked #4 this year. Colorado State University Fort Collins is a public school based in Fort Collins, CO. Colorado State University Fort Collins posts a six-year graduation rate of 66%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,373, with out-of-state students paying around $35,061. Colorado State University Fort Collins Fire Protection students take on a median of $34,008 in debt. More on Colorado State University Fort Collins
A rank of #5 makes Waldorf College one of the top choices in the United States. This private for-profit school is set in Forest City, IA. About 24% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $25,978. Students borrow a median of $17,196 to complete their Fire Protection program here. Get the full Waldorf College report
University Of Florida Online did well this year, earning the #6 position. This public school is set in Gainesville, FL. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. Students from in state pay about $3,876 in tuition and fees, compared with $16,579 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $12,296 in student loans. See the full University Of Florida Online profile
Columbia College South Carolina came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Based in Columbia, SC, Columbia College South Carolina is a private not-for-profit institution. Columbia College South Carolina graduates 37% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,054. Graduates carry a median of $28,158 in student loans. Read more about Columbia College South Carolina
Bowling Green State University Main Campus landed the #8 spot in the United States this year. Located in Bowling Green, OH, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a public institution. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,912, with out-of-state students paying around $21,900. The median Fire Protection program debt is $25,449. Read the full report on Bowling Green State University Main Campus
Liberty University did well this year, earning the #10 position. Based in Lynchburg, VA, Liberty University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 67% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $16,173 in tuition and fees. The median Fire Protection program debt is $27,414. Read the full report on Liberty University
Fayetteville State University did well this year, earning the #11 position. Based in Fayetteville, NC, Fayetteville State University is a public institution. Fayetteville State University graduates 38% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $4,353 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,353. Students borrow a median of $15,777 to complete their Fire Protection program here. Read more about Fayetteville State University
Gardner Webb University did well this year, earning the #12 position. Gardner Webb University is a private not-for-profit school based in Boiling Springs, NC. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,750. Students borrow a median of $25,033 to complete their Fire Protection program here. See the full Gardner Webb University profile
Holy Family University came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Holy Family University is a private not-for-profit school based in Philadelphia, PA. Holy Family University graduates 60% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,330. Holy Family University Fire Protection students take on a median of $26,562 in debt. See the full Holy Family University profile
Lake Superior State University placed #14 among Fire Protection schools in the United States. Based in Sault Ste Marie, MI, Lake Superior State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. Students from in state pay about $14,890 in tuition and fees. Graduates carry a median of $22,429 in student loans. See the full Lake Superior State University profile
American Public University System came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Based in Charles Town, WV, American Public University System is a private for-profit institution. Roughly 47% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,400. Students borrow a median of $18,813 to complete their Fire Protection program here. Read the full report on American Public University System
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus came in at #16 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Cincinnati, OH. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. In-state tuition and fees average $13,363, while out-of-state students pay about $28,697. Graduates carry a median of $23,530 in student loans. Read the full report on University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
Metropolitan State College Of Denver placed #17 among Fire Protection schools in the United States. This public school is set in Denver, CO. The six-year graduation rate is 31%. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,124, while out-of-state students pay about $30,684. Students borrow a median of $27,484 to complete their Fire Protection program here. Read the full report on Metropolitan State College Of Denver
Madonna University landed the #18 spot in the United States this year. Madonna University is a private not-for-profit school based in Livonia, MI. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $28,440. Typical Fire Protection student debt is $26,896. Read the full report on Madonna University
Western Illinois University did well this year, earning the #19 position. Located in Macomb, IL, Western Illinois University is a public institution. Roughly 45% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $14,572. Students borrow a median of $22,723 to complete their Fire Protection program here. More on Western Illinois University
Lewis Clark State College came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Based in Lewiston, ID, Lewis Clark State College is a public institution. About 32% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $7,610, with out-of-state students paying around $22,028. Lewis Clark State College Fire Protection students take on a median of $23,781 in debt. More on Lewis Clark State College
Anna Maria College placed #21 among Fire Protection schools in the United States. Set in Paxton, MA, Anna Maria College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 46%. Students from in state pay about $44,571 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,875 to complete their Fire Protection program here. Read the full report on Anna Maria College
Utah Valley University did well this year, earning the #22 position. Set in Orem, UT, Utah Valley University is a public institution. Utah Valley University posts a six-year graduation rate of 40%. In-state tuition and fees average $6,507, while out-of-state students pay about $18,489. Typical Fire Protection student debt is $15,203. Read the full report on Utah Valley University
Salem State University landed the #23 spot in the United States this year. Set in Salem, MA, Salem State University is a public institution. About 50% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,338, while out-of-state students pay about $19,531. Salem State University Fire Protection students take on a median of $27,176 in debt. Read more about Salem State University
California State University Los Angeles landed the #24 spot in the United States this year. Based in Los Angeles, CA, California State University Los Angeles is a public institution. California State University Los Angeles posts a six-year graduation rate of 53%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,164, compared with $19,764 for out-of-state students. California State University Los Angeles Fire Protection students take on a median of $11,750 in debt. More on California State University Los Angeles
Eastern Kentucky University did well this year, earning the #25 position. Based in Richmond, KY, Eastern Kentucky University is a public institution. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,320, with out-of-state students paying around $21,230. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete their Fire Protection program here. Read the full report on Eastern Kentucky University
University Of New Haven landed the #26 spot in the United States this year. Set in West Haven, CT, University Of New Haven is a private not-for-profit institution. About 63% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $47,332. The median Fire Protection program debt is $26,375. Read more about University Of New Haven
Rest of the Top 50 Best Fire Protection Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also placed among the very best this year:
Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best Fire Protection schools. Located in New York, NY, Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a public institution. Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice posts a six-year graduation rate of 56%. In-state tuition and fees run about $7,470, with out-of-state students paying around $15,420. Graduates carry a median of $16,500 in student loans. Read the full report on Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice
University Of Akron Main Campus ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best Fire Protection schools. This public school is set in Akron, OH. University Of Akron Main Campus graduates 52% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $13,135, with out-of-state students paying around $20,815. University Of Akron Main Campus Fire Protection students take on a median of $25,750 in debt. Get the full University Of Akron Main Campus report
New Jersey City University placed #29 among Fire Protection schools in the United States. This public school is set in Jersey City, NJ. The six-year graduation rate is 34%. Students from in state pay about $14,460 in tuition and fees. The median Fire Protection program debt is $26,000. See the full New Jersey City University profile
College Of Southern Nevada came in at #30 in this year's ranking. Located in Las Vegas, NV, College Of Southern Nevada is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,358, while out-of-state students pay about $13,024. Students borrow a median of $9,980 to complete their Fire Protection program here. More on College Of Southern Nevada
Methodist University did well this year, earning the #31 position. Based in Fayetteville, NC, Methodist University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 43% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,250. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete their Fire Protection program here. See the full Methodist University profile
Broward College
Broward College placed #31 among Fire Protection schools in the United States. See the full Broward College profile
College Of Southern Idaho placed #32 among Fire Protection schools in the United States. Read more about College Of Southern Idaho
Rockingham Community College came in at #33 in this year's ranking. Get the full Rockingham Community College report
Bucks County Community College landed the #34 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Bucks County Community College report
Central New Mexico Community College placed #35 among Fire Protection schools in the United States. More on Central New Mexico Community College
Apollo Career Center came in at #36 in this year's ranking. More on Apollo Career Center
Nash Community College ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best Fire Protection schools. Read the full report on Nash Community College
Manatee Technical College came in at #38 in this year's ranking. Get the full Manatee Technical College report
Merritt College
Merritt College landed the #39 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Merritt College
Butler Community College landed the #40 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Butler Community College
Northeastern Junior College ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best Fire Protection schools. Read more about Northeastern Junior College
University Of North Texas At Dallas came in at #42 in this year's ranking. See the full University Of North Texas At Dallas profile
Charlotte Technical College ranked #43 on our 2026 list of the best Fire Protection schools. Get the full Charlotte Technical College report
South Plains College ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best Fire Protection schools. Read more about South Plains College
Camden County College ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best Fire Protection schools. See the full Camden County College profile
Durham Technical Community College placed #46 among Fire Protection schools in the United States. Get the full Durham Technical Community College report
Passaic County Community College landed the #47 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Passaic County Community College
Pierce College At Fort Steilacoom placed #48 among Fire Protection schools in the United States. Read more about Pierce College At Fort Steilacoom
Shasta College
Shasta College did well this year, earning the #49 position. See the full Shasta College profile
Siena Heights University placed #50 among Fire Protection schools in the United States. Get the full Siena Heights University report
Related Fire Protection Rankings
Explore other degree levels:
- Best Fire Protection Schools (All Levels)
- Best Fire Protection Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Fire Protection Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Fire Protection Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Fire Protection Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Fire Protection Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Fire Protection Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 486 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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