by our College Data Analytics TeamFire Science is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 34 schools to find the best for fire science students.
What’s on this page:
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.
Our analysis ranked Harper College the best school in the country for a degree in fire science. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Palatine. About 22 fire science degrees were awarded at Harper College in the most recent year. Fire Science graduates of Harper College earn a median of $44,523 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,963 to complete this degree. Read more about the fire science program at Harper College
A rank of #2 makes Madison Area Technical College one of the top schools for fire science. Madison Area Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Madison. There were roughly 72 fire science students who graduated with this degree at Madison Area Technical College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fire science program make about $44,279 in their early career. Madison Area Technical College graduates carry a median of $16,812 in student loans. Get the full fire science details for Madison Area Technical College
A rank of #3 makes Western Technical College La Cross one of the top schools for fire science. Set in the city of La Crosse, Western Technical College La Cross is a large public institution. There were roughly 16 fire science students who graduated with this degree at Western Technical College La Cross in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fire science program make about $43,479 in their early career. Western Technical College La Cross graduates carry a median of $13,669 in student loans. See the full fire science program report for Western Technical College La Cross
A rank of #4 makes Cincinnati State Technical And Community College one of the top schools for fire science. Set in the city of Cincinnati, Cincinnati State Technical And Community College is a large public institution. About 13 fire science degrees were awarded at Cincinnati State Technical And Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their fire science degree from Cincinnati State Technical And Community College earn around $91,944 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $6,125 to complete this degree. Read more about the fire science program at Cincinnati State Technical And Community College
Fox Valley Technical College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in fire science, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Appleton, Fox Valley Technical College is a large public university. There were roughly 26 fire science students who graduated with this degree at Fox Valley Technical College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fire science degree from Fox Valley Technical College earn around $44,020 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $10,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the fire science program at Fox Valley Technical College
Waubonsee Community College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best fire science schools. Waubonsee Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Sugar Grove. About 70 fire science degrees were awarded at Waubonsee Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, fire science degree recipients from Waubonsee Community College generally make around $39,659. Waubonsee Community College graduates carry a median of $9,939 in student loans. See the full fire science program report for Waubonsee Community College
College Of Lake County earned the #7 position for fire science this year. Located in the suburb of Grayslake, College Of Lake County is a very large public university. College Of Lake County awarded about 24 fire science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fire science program make about $50,314 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $9,785 to complete this degree. Get the full fire science details for College Of Lake County
Southwestern Illinois College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best fire science schools. Located in the suburb of Belleville, Southwestern Illinois College is a large public university. There were roughly 80 fire science students who graduated with this degree at Southwestern Illinois College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fire science degree recipients from Southwestern Illinois College generally make around $77,935. Students borrow a median of $12,750 to complete this degree. See the full fire science program report for Southwestern Illinois College
Joliet Junior College placed #9 among the best fire science schools. Located in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public university. Joliet Junior College awarded about 18 fire science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fire science degree recipients from Joliet Junior College generally make around $40,118. Typical student debt for the program is $11,995. Read more about the fire science program at Joliet Junior College
Gateway Technical College placed #10 among the best fire science schools. This large public university is located in the city of Kenosha. About 10 fire science degrees were awarded at Gateway Technical College in the most recent year. Graduates of the fire science program make about $42,410 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,829 to complete this degree. See the full fire science program report for Gateway Technical College
Columbus State Community College placed #11 among the best fire science schools. Set in the city of Columbus, Columbus State Community College is a very large public institution. Columbus State Community College awarded about 101 fire science degrees in the most recent data year. Columbus State Community College graduates carry a median of $9,041 in student loans. Read more about the fire science program at Columbus State Community College
Lewis And Clark Community College placed #12 among the best fire science schools. Set in the suburb of Godfrey, Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 28 fire science degrees were awarded at Lewis And Clark Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their fire science degree from Lewis And Clark Community College earn around $41,313 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,602. More information about a degree in fire science from Lewis And Clark Community College
Illinois Central College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best fire science schools. Located in the suburb of East Peoria, Illinois Central College is a large public university. There were roughly 12 fire science students who graduated with this degree at Illinois Central College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fire science degree from Illinois Central College earn around $53,190 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $12,222 to complete this degree. Get the full fire science details for Illinois Central College
Elgin Community College landed the #14 spot for fire science this year. Located in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a large public university. There were roughly 86 fire science students who graduated with this degree at Elgin Community College in the most recent data year. Fire Science graduates of Elgin Community College earn a median of $43,975 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $7,727. See the full fire science program report for Elgin Community College
Lansing Community College placed #15 among the best fire science schools. Lansing Community College is a large public school located in the city of Lansing. Lansing Community College awarded about 39 fire science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fire science degree from Lansing Community College earn around $46,103 in the first couple years of their career. Lansing Community College graduates carry a median of $16,700 in student loans. See the full fire science program report for Lansing Community College
Mchenry County College came in at #16 for fire science this year. Located in the rural area of Crystal Lake, Mchenry County College is a large public university. There were roughly 66 fire science students who graduated with this degree at Mchenry County College in the most recent data year. Fire Science graduates of Mchenry County College earn a median of $24,177 early in their careers. Mchenry County College graduates carry a median of $7,440 in student loans. Get the full fire science details for Mchenry County College
Purdue University Global ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best fire science schools. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Global is a very large public institution. About 33% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 24 fire science students who graduated with this degree at Purdue University Global in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fire science degree from Purdue University Global earn around $72,687 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,440 to complete this degree. Get the full fire science details for Purdue University Global
Sinclair Community College earned the #18 position for fire science this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Dayton. About 118 fire science degrees were awarded at Sinclair Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their fire science degree from Sinclair Community College earn around $35,348 in the first couple years of their career. Sinclair Community College graduates carry a median of $10,950 in student loans. See the full fire science program report for Sinclair Community College
Clark State Community College landed the #19 spot for fire science this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Clark State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 106 fire science students who graduated with this degree at Clark State Community College in the most recent data year. Fire Science graduates of Clark State Community College earn a median of $39,734 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,740. See the full fire science program report for Clark State Community College
Prairie State College placed #20 among the best fire science schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Chicago Heights. There were roughly 48 fire science students who graduated with this degree at Prairie State College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fire science program make about $37,500 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,663. More information about a degree in fire science from Prairie State College
Oakland Community College ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best fire science schools. Set in the suburb of Auburn Hills, Oakland Community College is a very large public institution. Oakland Community College awarded about 27 fire science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fire science program make about $44,178 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,865 to complete this degree. Get the full fire science details for Oakland Community College
John Wood Community College placed #22 among the best fire science schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Quincy. There were roughly 11 fire science students who graduated with this degree at John Wood Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fire science degree from John Wood Community College earn around $45,748 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,844 to complete this degree. Get the full fire science details for John Wood Community College
Ivy Tech Community College earned the #23 position for fire science this year. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 120 fire science students who graduated with this degree at Ivy Tech Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fire science degree recipients from Ivy Tech Community College generally make around $40,734. Ivy Tech Community College graduates carry a median of $11,889 in student loans. Read more about the fire science program at Ivy Tech Community College
Four County Career Center placed #24 among the best fire science schools. Four County Career Center is a small public school located in the rural area of Archbold. Four County Career Center awarded about 26 fire science degrees in the most recent data year. More information about a degree in fire science from Four County Career Center
Warren County Career Center earned the #25 position for fire science this year. Set in the rural area of Lebanon, Warren County Career Center is a small public institution. There were roughly 51 fire science students who graduated with this degree at Warren County Career Center in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fire science degree recipients from Warren County Career Center generally make around $55,897. Warren County Career Center graduates carry a median of $8,679 in student loans. See the full fire science program report for Warren County Career Center
These schools also placed among the best for fire science this year:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 34 schools evaluated.
More about our data sources and methodologies.