by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 662 U.S. colleges awarded 32,528 degrees and certificates in Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic). Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 44% of graduates. College Factual ranks 465 schools in its 2027 Best Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic) Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $68,190 one year after completing, rising to $77,808 after four years.
A degree in Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic) covers Emergency Medical Technology/technician (Emt Paramedic). A Program That Prepares Individuals, Under The Remote Supervision Of Physicians, To Recognize, Assess, And Manage Medical Emergencies In Prehospital Settings And To Supervise Ambulance Personnel. Includes Instruction In Basic, Intermediate, And Advanced Emt Procedures; Emergency Surgical Procedures; Medical Triage; Rescue Operations; Crisis Scene Management And Personnel Supervision; Equipment Operation And Maintenance; Patient Stabilization, Monitoring, And Care; Drug Administration; Identification And Preliminary Diagnosis Of Diseases And Injuries; Communication And Computer Operations; Basic Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology, And Toxicology; And Professional Standards And Regulations.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, emergency medical technology/technician (emt paramedic) is a popular field of study, with 32,528 degrees awarded annually. 662 colleges award emergency medical technology/technician (emt paramedic) degrees, an average of 49 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 723.
By level, the 32,528 awards include 6,749 certificates, 3,617 associate degrees, 459 bachelor’s degrees and 14,418 master’s degrees.
Women earned 36% of emergency medical technology/technician (emt paramedic) degrees and certificates in the latest year (11,588 of 32,528). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (20,129) and Hispanic or Latino (7,213), and international students earned 141.
College Factual ranks 465 schools in its 2027 Best Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic) Schools ranking, including 154 for associate degrees, 25 for bachelor’s degrees and 10 for master’s degrees. It also ranks emergency medical technology/technician (emt paramedic) schools within 47 states. In all, 662 colleges offer emergency medical technology/technician (emt paramedic) programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic) Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common emergency medical technology/technician (emt paramedic) credential is the master’s degree: 14,418 of the 32,528 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to emergency medical technology/technician (emt paramedic) call most for Speaking, Reading Comprehension and Instructing, and for knowledge of Education and Training, English Language and Biology, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Speech Clarity.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an emergency medical technology/technician (emt paramedic) degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 6,749 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 3,617 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 459 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 14,418 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to emergency medical technology/technician (emt paramedic), at 35.9%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 35.9% |
| Doctoral degree | 24.9% |
| Post-doctoral training | 19.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 12.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.9% |
Source: O*NET Online.
3 occupations are related to Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic), with an average median salary of $71,503; the strongest outlook belongs to Emergency Medical Technicians, at 14.6% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Healthcare Specialist, EMT Paramedic (Emergency Medical Technician Paramedic), Rescue Worker and First Responder.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to emergency medical technology/technician (emt paramedic), at 3,168,873.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Medical Technicians | 3,168,873 | 14.6% |
| Paramedics | 2,408,864 | 14.3% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic) graduates earn a median $68,190 one year after completing their program, $77,808 after four years and $70,516 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $68,190 |
| 4 years | $77,808 |
| 5 years | $70,516 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to emergency medical technology/technician (emt paramedic), with a median salary of $105,175.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Emergency Medical Technicians | $105,175 |
| Paramedics | $62,670 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic) has 21 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 65,946 degrees a year; the largest are Physician Associate/Assistant (13,743), Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiographer (13,037) and Surgical Technology/Technologist (8,514). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
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