2026 Best Value Fire Protection Schools
Looking for the best-value Fire Protection programs programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 486 institutions by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
So you can compare your options, Grad Degree reviewed schools to compile this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Fire Protection Schools in the United States
Explore the best-value schools below:
A rank of #2 makes Southern Illinois University Carbondale one of the best values in the United States. Based in Carbondale, IL, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,334. The median Fire Protection program debt is $17,725. Graduates go on to earn a median of $53,390 ten years after entry. Set against $17,725 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%. More on Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Out of the 486 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Oklahoma State University Main Campus landed the #3 spot. This public school is set in Stillwater, OK. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,110, with out-of-state students paying around $25,630. Students borrow a median of $26,500 to complete their Fire Protection program here. Median earnings reach $57,413 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $26,500 median debt. Oklahoma State University Main Campus has an acceptance rate of 75%. Read the full report on Oklahoma State University Main Campus
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Florida earned it the #4 place in the United States. This public school is set in Gainesville, FL. Students from in state pay about $6,381 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. University Of Florida Fire Protection students take on a median of $12,296 in debt. Median earnings reach $71,588 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $12,296 median debt. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted. Read more about University Of Florida
You'll get strong value at University Of New Haven, which ranked #5 this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in West Haven, CT. In-state tuition and fees run about $47,332. Graduates carry a median of $26,375 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $60,126 ten years after entry. Set against $26,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted. Get the full University Of New Haven report
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Casper College earned it the #5 place in the United States. See the full Casper College profile
Catawba Valley Community College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best-value Fire Protection schools. See the full Catawba Valley Community College profile
College Of Western Idaho ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best-value Fire Protection schools. Get the full College Of Western Idaho report
Four County Career Center placed #8 among the best-value Fire Protection schools in the United States. See the full Four County Career Center profile
College Of Lake County landed the #9 spot for value in the United States this year. More on College Of Lake County
Honolulu Community College landed the #10 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Honolulu Community College profile
San Joaquin Delta College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best-value Fire Protection schools. Read more about San Joaquin Delta College
Sandhills Community College placed #12 among the best-value Fire Protection schools in the United States. See the full Sandhills Community College profile
Triton College
Triton College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best-value Fire Protection schools. Read more about Triton College
Capital Community College landed the #14 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Capital Community College report
Cecil College
Cecil College offered strong value this year, earning the #15 position. Read the full report on Cecil College
Central Piedmont Community College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best-value Fire Protection schools. Get the full Central Piedmont Community College report
Lake Superior College placed #17 among the best-value Fire Protection schools in the United States. Get the full Lake Superior College report
Purdue University Global placed #18 among the best-value Fire Protection schools in the United States. Get the full Purdue University Global report
Rockingham Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #19 position. See the full Rockingham Community College profile
University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh offered strong value this year, earning the #20 position. Get the full University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh report
Aparicio Levy Technical College came in at #21 in this year's value ranking. See the full Aparicio Levy Technical College profile
Salem State University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best-value Fire Protection schools. Get the full Salem State University report
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo offered strong value this year, earning the #23 position. More on California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
Hill College
Hill College offered strong value this year, earning the #24 position. Read the full report on Hill College
Blue Mountain Community College landed the #25 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Blue Mountain Community College
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Fire Protection Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
College Of The Sequoias offered strong value this year, earning the #26 position. More on College Of The Sequoias
Florida State College At Jacksonville landed the #27 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Florida State College At Jacksonville
Southside Virginia Community College ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best-value Fire Protection schools. Read the full report on Southside Virginia Community College
Chemeketa Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #29 position. See the full Chemeketa Community College profile
Edmonds Community College landed the #30 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Edmonds Community College report
Moraine Valley Community College placed #31 among the best-value Fire Protection schools in the United States. Read the full report on Moraine Valley Community College
Auburn Career Center offered strong value this year, earning the #32 position. See the full Auburn Career Center profile
Mt San Antonio College ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best-value Fire Protection schools. See the full Mt San Antonio College profile
Anna Maria College ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best-value Fire Protection schools. Get the full Anna Maria College report
East Los Angeles College placed #35 among the best-value Fire Protection schools in the United States. Read more about East Los Angeles College
Southern Crescent Technical College came in at #36 in this year's value ranking. More on Southern Crescent Technical College
Granite State College came in at #37 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Granite State College
Madonna University landed the #38 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Madonna University
Lake Land College offered strong value this year, earning the #39 position. Read more about Lake Land College
Ozarks Technical Community College came in at #40 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Ozarks Technical Community College
Schoolcraft College offered strong value this year, earning the #41 position. Get the full Schoolcraft College report
South Puget Sound Community College ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best-value Fire Protection schools. See the full South Puget Sound Community College profile
Waubonsee Community College placed #43 among the best-value Fire Protection schools in the United States. More on Waubonsee Community College
Macomb Community College ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best-value Fire Protection schools. See the full Macomb Community College profile
Stark State College placed #45 among the best-value Fire Protection schools in the United States. Read more about Stark State College
Wor Wic Community College placed #46 among the best-value Fire Protection schools in the United States. Get the full Wor Wic Community College report
Columbia Basin College placed #47 among the best-value Fire Protection schools in the United States. Read more about Columbia Basin College
Lakes Region Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #48 position. Get the full Lakes Region Community College report
North Idaho College offered strong value this year, earning the #49 position. See the full North Idaho College profile
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College offered strong value this year, earning the #50 position. Get the full Northeast Wisconsin Technical College report
Best Value Fire Protection Schools by Degree Level
Compare value rankings by degree level:
- Best Value Fire Protection Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Fire Protection Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Fire Protection Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Fire Protection Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Fire Protection Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Fire Protection Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Fire Protection Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Grad Degree (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 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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