2026 Best Value Fire Protection Schools in Massachusetts
[Fire Protection](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/fire-protection/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong fire protection education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 14 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value fire protection schools.
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2026 Best Value Fire Protection Schools in Massachusetts
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in fire protection, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Fire Protection Schools
Middlesex Community College Bedford earned the #1 spot for value among fire protection schools in Massachusetts. Set in the suburb of Bedford, Middlesex Community College Bedford is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,098, compared with $12,170 for out-of-state students. Fire Protection graduates carry a median of $11,602 in student loans. Fire Protection graduates of Middlesex Community College Bedford earn a median of $48,427 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes North Shore Community College one of the best values for fire protection. North Shore Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Danvers. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,352, with out-of-state students paying around $10,920. Fire Protection graduates carry a median of $10,192 in student loans. Fire Protection graduates of North Shore Community College earn a median of $90,948 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Massasoit Community College one of the best values for fire protection. Massasoit Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Brockton. In-state tuition and fees average $5,376, while out-of-state students pay about $10,320. Fire Protection graduates carry a median of $10,894 in student loans. Fire Protection graduates of Massasoit Community College earn a median of $42,938 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Salem State University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value fire protection schools. Set in the suburb of Salem, Salem State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,338, compared with $19,531 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,176 to complete the fire protection program here. Fire Protection graduates of Salem State University earn a median of $49,656 early in their careers. Set against $27,176 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Anna Maria College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in fire protection, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the rural area of Paxton, Anna Maria College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $44,571. Fire Protection graduates carry a median of $22,875 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from Anna Maria College generally make around $81,637. That is a strong return on a $22,875 median debt. The acceptance rate is 50%.
More Fire Protection Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.
