2026 Best Fire Science Schools in the Far Western Region
Fire Science degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 57 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best fire science schools.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Fire Science in the Far Western Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the fire science degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Fire Science
Santa Rosa Junior College tops our 2026 ranking of the best fire science schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Santa Rosa. There were roughly 78 fire science students who graduated with this degree at Santa Rosa Junior College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fire science degree from Santa Rosa Junior College earn around $80,047 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,692.
See the full fire science program report for Santa Rosa Junior College
Shasta College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best fire science schools. Set in the suburb of Redding, Shasta College is a large public institution. There were roughly 284 fire science students who graduated with this degree at Shasta College in the most recent data year. Fire Science graduates of Shasta College earn a median of $50,330 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,275 to complete this degree.
Read more about the fire science program at Shasta College
Butte College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in fire science, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the rural area of Oroville, Butte College is a large public institution. About 71 fire science degrees were awarded at Butte College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, fire science degree recipients from Butte College generally make around $67,048. Typical student debt for the program is $13,302.
Read more about the fire science program at Butte College
A rank of #4 makes Spokane Community College one of the top schools for fire science. Spokane Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Spokane. Spokane Community College awarded about 10 fire science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fire science degree recipients from Spokane Community College generally make around $39,679. Spokane Community College graduates carry a median of $16,486 in student loans.
More information about a degree in fire science from Spokane Community College
Students looking for a strong fire science program will find one at Modesto Junior College, which ranked #5. Modesto Junior College is a very large public school located in the city of Modesto. About 45 fire science degrees were awarded at Modesto Junior College in the most recent year. Students who receive their fire science degree from Modesto Junior College earn around $50,364 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $8,575 to complete this degree.
Get the full fire science details for Modesto Junior College
Rio Hondo College earned the #6 position for fire science this year. Located in the rural area of Whittier, Rio Hondo College is a very large public university. About 74 fire science degrees were awarded at Rio Hondo College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, fire science degree recipients from Rio Hondo College generally make around $95,666. Rio Hondo College graduates carry a median of $15,510 in student loans.
Get the full fire science details for Rio Hondo College
Oxnard College came in at #7 for fire science this year. Located in the city of Oxnard, Oxnard College is a large public university. There were roughly 42 fire science students who graduated with this degree at Oxnard College in the most recent data year.
Read more about the fire science program at Oxnard College
Moreno Valley College landed the #8 spot for fire science this year. Set in the suburb of Moreno Valley, Moreno Valley College is a large public institution. There were roughly 82 fire science students who graduated with this degree at Moreno Valley College in the most recent data year. Fire Science graduates of Moreno Valley College earn a median of $45,515 early in their careers. Moreno Valley College graduates carry a median of $12,643 in student loans.
Read more about the fire science program at Moreno Valley College
College Of Southern Nevada came in at #9 for fire science this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Las Vegas. College Of Southern Nevada awarded about 34 fire science degrees in the most recent data year. Fire Science graduates of College Of Southern Nevada earn a median of $35,850 early in their careers. College Of Southern Nevada graduates carry a median of $9,980 in student loans.
Get the full fire science details for College Of Southern Nevada
Palomar College came in at #10 for fire science this year. Set in the suburb of San Marcos, Palomar College is a very large public institution. Palomar College awarded about 78 fire science degrees in the most recent data year.
Get the full fire science details for Palomar College
El Camino Community College District placed #11 among the best fire science schools. Located in the suburb of Torrance, El Camino Community College District is a very large public university. El Camino Community College District awarded about 14 fire science degrees in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in fire science from El Camino Community College District
Las Positas College came in at #12 for fire science this year. Set in the city of Livermore, Las Positas College is a large public institution. Las Positas College awarded about 28 fire science degrees in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in fire science from Las Positas College
Everett Community College placed #13 among the best fire science schools. This large public university is located in the city of Everett. About 18 fire science degrees were awarded at Everett Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, fire science degree recipients from Everett Community College generally make around $47,441. Everett Community College graduates carry a median of $13,542 in student loans.
Read more about the fire science program at Everett Community College
Mission College earned the #14 position for fire science this year. This large public university is located in the city of Santa Clara. Mission College awarded about 18 fire science degrees in the most recent data year. Students borrow a median of $17,223 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in fire science from Mission College
City College Of San Francisco placed #15 among the best fire science schools. This very large public university is located in the city of San Francisco. City College Of San Francisco awarded about 12 fire science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fire science degree recipients from City College Of San Francisco generally make around $100,031. City College Of San Francisco graduates carry a median of $10,332 in student loans.
More information about a degree in fire science from City College Of San Francisco
Bates Technical College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best fire science schools. Bates Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Tacoma. Bates Technical College awarded about 39 fire science degrees in the most recent data year.
See the full fire science program report for Bates Technical College
Fresno City College placed #17 among the best fire science schools. Located in the city of Fresno, Fresno City College is a very large public university. About 38 fire science degrees were awarded at Fresno City College in the most recent year. Fire Science graduates of Fresno City College earn a median of $37,470 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $7,234.
Read more about the fire science program at Fresno City College
East Los Angeles College placed #18 among the best fire science schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Monterey Park. East Los Angeles College awarded about 160 fire science degrees in the most recent data year. Fire Science graduates of East Los Angeles College earn a median of $33,595 early in their careers. East Los Angeles College graduates carry a median of $8,180 in student loans.
See the full fire science program report for East Los Angeles College
Crafton Hills College placed #19 among the best fire science schools. Located in the suburb of Yucaipa, Crafton Hills College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 31 fire science students who graduated with this degree at Crafton Hills College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fire science program make about $97,976 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,000.
Get the full fire science details for Crafton Hills College
College Of The Desert earned the #20 position for fire science this year. Set in the city of Palm Desert, College Of The Desert is a large public institution. About 25 fire science degrees were awarded at College Of The Desert in the most recent year. Fire Science graduates of College Of The Desert earn a median of $41,295 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $7,826.
See the full fire science program report for College Of The Desert
Allan Hancock College earned the #21 position for fire science this year. Located in the city of Santa Maria, Allan Hancock College is a large public university. There were roughly 60 fire science students who graduated with this degree at Allan Hancock College in the most recent data year.
Read more about the fire science program at Allan Hancock College
Chemeketa Community College landed the #22 spot for fire science this year. Chemeketa Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Salem. Chemeketa Community College awarded about 27 fire science degrees in the most recent data year. Fire Science graduates of Chemeketa Community College earn a median of $45,440 early in their careers. Chemeketa Community College graduates carry a median of $16,419 in student loans.
Read more about the fire science program at Chemeketa Community College
Skagit Valley College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best fire science schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Mount Vernon. There were roughly 11 fire science students who graduated with this degree at Skagit Valley College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fire science degree from Skagit Valley College earn around $44,860 in the first couple years of their career. Skagit Valley College graduates carry a median of $14,056 in student loans.
See the full fire science program report for Skagit Valley College
College Of The Sequoias came in at #24 for fire science this year. College Of The Sequoias is a large public school located in the city of Visalia. About 51 fire science degrees were awarded at College Of The Sequoias in the most recent year. Students who receive their fire science degree from College Of The Sequoias earn around $37,749 in the first couple years of their career. College Of The Sequoias graduates carry a median of $10,288 in student loans.
Get the full fire science details for College Of The Sequoias
American River College came in at #25 for fire science this year. Located in the suburb of Sacramento, American River College is a very large public university. There were roughly 40 fire science students who graduated with this degree at American River College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fire science degree recipients from American River College generally make around $76,077. American River College graduates carry a median of $14,105 in student loans.
Read more about the fire science program at American River College
Rest of the Top 35 Fire Science Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong fire science education:
Narrow Fire Science Schools by State
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 57 schools evaluated.
- 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.
