Best Schools for Fire Protection
Fire Protection graduates earn a median of $57,176 within two years of graduation, ranking #44 out of 292 tracked majors — 61% above the median across all fields. There are 21 colleges nationwide with tracked earnings for this major, producing 799 recent graduates.
Where you study matters: Eastern Oregon University graduates earn $92,632 while Western Illinois University graduates earn $30,771 — a $61,861 difference. Factors like location, employer networks, co-op programs, and curriculum focus drive this gap.
Early career salary growth is modest: Fire Protection graduates see an average 3% increase between year 1 and year 2 post-graduation, reflecting career advancement and skill development in the first years after college.
Public vs Private: Fire Protection
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
Eastern Oregon University
La Grande, OR · Public
Anna Maria College
Paxton, MA · Private
Colorado State University-Fort Collins
Fort Collins, CO · Public
American Public University System
Charles Town, WV ·
Waldorf University
Forest City, IA · For-Profit
Purdue University Global
West Lafayette, IN ·
Oklahoma State University-Main Campus
Stillwater, OK · Public
Columbia Southern University
Orange Beach, AL ·
Fayetteville State University
Fayetteville, NC · Public
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Charlotte, NC · Public
Utah Valley University
Orem, UT ·
Eastern Kentucky University
Richmond, KY · Public
University of New Haven
West Haven, CT · Private
Lindenwood University
Saint Charles, MO · Private
Lake Superior State University
Sault Ste Marie, MI · Public
California State University-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA · Public
New Jersey City University
Jersey City, NJ · Public
University of Akron Main Campus
Akron, OH · Public
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
New York, NY · Public
Methodist University
Fayetteville, NC · Private
Western Illinois University
Macomb, IL · Public
Majors with Similar Earnings
Frequently Asked Questions
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Data updated June 2026. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median 2 years after graduation for bachelor's degree holders.
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