Best Schools for Fire Protection

Fire Protection graduates earn a median of $86,244 within four years of graduating, ranking #27 out of 283 tracked majors — 38% above the median across all fields. There are 20 colleges nationwide with tracked earnings for this major, producing 856 recent graduates.

Where you study matters: Anna Maria College graduates earn $110,044 while Methodist University graduates earn $53,649 — a $56,395 difference. Factors like location, employer networks, co-op programs, and curriculum focus drive this gap. Across all fields, though, which major you pick separates earnings more than which college does.

Early career salary growth is modest: Fire Protection graduates see an average 2% increase between year 1 and year 2 post-graduation, reflecting career advancement and skill development in the first years after college.

Schools

$86,244

Avg. 2yr Earnings

#27

of 283 Majors

856

Graduates

Public vs Private: Fire Protection

Public (15 schools)

$85,251

avg. 2yr earnings

Private (4 schools)

$80,964

avg. 2yr earnings

Public schools produce comparable or higher early earnings for Fire Protection, often at lower tuition — making them strong value options for this major.

Fire Protection by State

Top Fire Protection Schools by Graduate Earnings

Anna Maria College

Paxton, MA · Private

Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

Carbondale, IL · Public

$108,135

4yr Earnings

29 grads · small sample

1yr: $103,432 (21)

Acceptance: 90.4%

Waldorf University

Forest City, IA · For-Profit

Oklahoma State University-Main Campus

Stillwater, OK · Public

Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Fort Collins, CO · Public

$98,019

4yr Earnings

20 grads · small sample

2yr: $81,333 (14)

1yr: $76,384 (18)

Acceptance: 89.6%

University of Florida

Gainesville, FL · Public

$97,839

4yr Earnings

30 grads · small sample

1yr: $61,715 (18)

Acceptance: 24.0%

University of Florida-Online

Gainesville, FL · Public

$97,839

4yr Earnings

30 grads · small sample

1yr: $61,715 (18)

Acceptance: 64.4%

Eastern Kentucky University

Richmond, KY · Public

University of New Haven

West Haven, CT · Private

Fayetteville State University

Fayetteville, NC · Public

$73,969

4yr Earnings

23 grads · small sample

2yr: $69,338 (15)

Acceptance: 79.9%

#11

CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice

New York, NY · Public

University of Akron Main Campus

Akron, OH · Public

New Jersey City University

Jersey City, NJ · Public

$69,444

4yr Earnings

24 grads · small sample

Western Illinois University

Macomb, IL · Public

Methodist University

Fayetteville, NC · Private

$53,649

4yr Earnings

25 grads · small sample

Eastern Oregon University

La Grande, OR · Public

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Charlotte, NC · Public

Lindenwood University

Saint Charles, MO · Private

Lake Superior State University

Sault Ste Marie, MI · Public

California State University-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public

$39,729

2yr Earnings

24 grads · small sample

1yr: $43,069 (24)

Grads: 24

Acceptance: 91.9%

Majors with Similar Earnings

Mechanical Engineering $64,597 Construction Management $64,579 Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection $64,277 Construction Engineering Technologies $64,025 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing $63,987 Engineering, Other $62,778

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Fire Protection?

Anna Maria College ranks #1 for Fire Protection with median graduate earnings of $110,044 within four years of graduating. There are 20 schools nationwide offering this major with tracked earnings data.

How much do Fire Protection graduates earn?

Fire Protection graduates earn an average of $86,244 within four years of graduating. This is 38% above the median across all majors. Earnings range from $53,649 to $110,044 depending on the school.

How hard is it to get into a top Fire Protection program?

The average acceptance rate across Fire Protection programs is 75.6%. The most selective program is at University of Florida with a 24.0% acceptance rate. Competitive programs value strong math/analytical skills and relevant coursework.

Is a public or private school better for Fire Protection?

Private Fire Protection programs average $80,964 in early earnings vs $85,251 at public schools. Public schools offer competitive earnings at typically lower cost, making them strong value options.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median 2 years after graduation for bachelor's degree holders, from the field-of-study file last updated June 2026. Institution-level figures elsewhere on the site come from the June 2026 release — Scorecard publishes the two separately.

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