2027 Best Value Fire Science Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Fire Science](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/fire-protection/fire-science/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 11 schools to find the best return on investment for fire science students.
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2027 Best Value Fire Science Schools in the The Plains States Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the fire science degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Fire Science Schools
Metropolitan Community College Area earned the #1 spot for value among fire science schools in the The Plains States Region. Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public school located in the city of Omaha. In-state tuition and fees average $3,375, with out-of-state students paying around $4,950. Students borrow a median of $12,799 to complete the fire science program here. Early-career fire science graduates make about $45,583. Set against $12,799 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hutchinson Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value fire science schools. Set in the town of Hutchinson, Hutchinson Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,540, while out-of-state students pay about $4,770. Fire Science graduates carry a median of $18,148 in student loans. Early-career fire science graduates make about $51,007. That is a strong return on a $18,148 median debt.
Riverland Community College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value fire science schools. Set in the town of Austin, Riverland Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,297. Typical student debt for fire science graduates is $15,732. Early-career fire science graduates make about $49,194. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in fire science will find it at Garden City Community College, which ranked #4. Located in the town of Garden City, Garden City Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,690, while out-of-state students pay about $4,320. Students borrow a median of $11,084 to complete the fire science program here. Soon after graduation, fire science degree recipients from Garden City Community College generally make around $35,476. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Western Iowa Tech Community College earned it the #5 place for fire science. Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Sioux City. Students from in state pay about $5,186 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,330 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,886 to complete the fire science program here. Early-career fire science graduates make about $35,742. That is a strong return on a $11,886 median debt.
Kirkwood Community College landed the #6 spot for fire science value this year. Kirkwood Community College is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Rapids. In-state tuition and fees average $6,176, while out-of-state students pay about $8,220. Typical student debt for fire science graduates is $15,779. Fire Science graduates of Kirkwood Community College earn a median of $41,681 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hennepin Technical College placed #7 among the best values for fire science. Set in the suburb of Brooklyn Park, Hennepin Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,940 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $17,887 to complete the fire science program here. Fire Science graduates of Hennepin Technical College earn a median of $52,059 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,887 median debt.
Century College came in at #8 for value in fire science this year. Century College is a large public school located in the suburb of White Bear Lake. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,214. Typical student debt for fire science graduates is $21,332. Early-career fire science graduates make about $47,502. Set against $21,332 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Des Moines Area Community College placed #9 among the best values for fire science. Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Ankeny. Students from in state pay about $5,790 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,690. Typical student debt for fire science graduates is $14,956. Early-career fire science graduates make about $43,121. Set against $14,956 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Johnson County Community College earned the #10 position for value in fire science this year. Set in the city of Overland Park, Johnson County Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,424, while out-of-state students pay about $5,688. Students borrow a median of $13,532 to complete the fire science program here. Soon after graduation, fire science degree recipients from Johnson County Community College generally make around $46,473. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lake Superior College came in at #11 for value in fire science this year. Located in the city of Duluth, Lake Superior College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,785. Students borrow a median of $17,156 to complete the fire science program here. Early-career fire science graduates make about $42,543. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
