2026 Best Value Fire Protection Schools in Illinois
[Fire Protection](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/fire-protection/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong fire protection education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 25 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value fire protection schools.
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2026 Best Value Fire Protection Schools in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in fire protection, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Fire Protection Schools
Moraine Valley Community College earned the #1 spot for value among fire protection schools in Illinois. Set in the suburb of Palos Hills, Moraine Valley Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,822, while out-of-state students pay about $9,846. Fire Protection graduates carry a median of $11,149 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from Moraine Valley Community College generally make around $43,844. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lewis And Clark Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in fire protection, landing the #2 spot this year. Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Godfrey. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,340, with out-of-state students paying around $7,840. Students borrow a median of $9,602 to complete the fire protection program here. Fire Protection graduates of Lewis And Clark Community College earn a median of $41,313 early in their careers. Set against $9,602 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Prairie State College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in fire protection, landing the #3 spot this year. Prairie State College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Chicago Heights. Students from in state pay about $4,176 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,064. Students borrow a median of $15,663 to complete the fire protection program here. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from Prairie State College generally make around $37,500. Set against $15,663 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lincoln Land Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in fire protection, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the rural area of Springfield, Lincoln Land Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,744, with out-of-state students paying around $10,464. Fire Protection graduates carry a median of $11,272 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from Lincoln Land Community College generally make around $43,834. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in fire protection will find it at Joliet Junior College, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,530, while out-of-state students pay about $13,800. Fire Protection graduates carry a median of $11,995 in student loans. Fire Protection graduates of Joliet Junior College earn a median of $40,118 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Elgin Community College earned the #6 position for value in fire protection this year. Elgin Community College is a large public school located in the city of Elgin. In-state tuition and fees average $3,252, compared with $9,516 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fire protection graduates is $7,727. Fire Protection graduates of Elgin Community College earn a median of $43,975 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Waubonsee Community College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value fire protection schools. Set in the rural area of Sugar Grove, Waubonsee Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,504, compared with $10,464 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fire protection graduates is $9,939. Fire Protection graduates of Waubonsee Community College earn a median of $39,659 early in their careers. Set against $9,939 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Harper College came in at #8 for value in fire protection this year. Located in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,894, with out-of-state students paying around $11,874. Students borrow a median of $10,963 to complete the fire protection program here. Fire Protection graduates of Harper College earn a median of $44,523 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of Dupage landed the #9 spot for fire protection value this year. College Of Dupage is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,560, with out-of-state students paying around $12,750. Fire Protection graduates carry a median of $12,492 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from College Of Dupage generally make around $58,160. Set against $12,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of Lake County ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value fire protection schools. College Of Lake County is a very large public school located in the suburb of Grayslake. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,788, compared with $14,400 for out-of-state students. Fire Protection graduates carry a median of $9,785 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from College Of Lake County generally make around $50,314. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
John Wood Community College came in at #11 for value in fire protection this year. Located in the town of Quincy, John Wood Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,100, compared with $8,700 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fire protection graduates is $13,844. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from John Wood Community College generally make around $45,748. Set against $13,844 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southwestern Illinois College landed the #12 spot for fire protection value this year. Set in the suburb of Belleville, Southwestern Illinois College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,230, with out-of-state students paying around $6,720. Fire Protection graduates carry a median of $12,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from Southwestern Illinois College generally make around $77,935. Set against $12,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mchenry County College landed the #13 spot for fire protection value this year. Mchenry County College is a large public school located in the rural area of Crystal Lake. Students from in state pay about $4,162 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,399. Typical student debt for fire protection graduates is $7,440. Early-career fire protection graduates make about $24,177. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Illinois Central College landed the #14 spot for fire protection value this year. Illinois Central College is a large public school located in the suburb of East Peoria. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,800, compared with $12,150 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,222 to complete the fire protection program here. Fire Protection graduates of Illinois Central College earn a median of $53,190 early in their careers. Set against $12,222 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Western Illinois University came in at #15 for value in fire protection this year. Located in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $14,572 in tuition and fees. Fire Protection graduates carry a median of $22,723 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from Western Illinois University generally make around $41,432. Set against $22,723 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #16 for value in fire protection this year. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public school located in the town of Carbondale. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,334. Typical student debt for fire protection graduates is $17,725. Early-career fire protection graduates make about $104,017. Set against $17,725 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
More Fire Protection Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 25 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
