by our College Data Analytics Team
[Fire Protection](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/fire-protection/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 38 schools to find the best return on investment for fire protection students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in fire protection, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in fire protection, no school beat College Of The Mainland this year. Located in the city of Texas City, College Of The Mainland is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,310 in tuition and fees, compared with $4,140 for out-of-state students. Fire Protection graduates carry a median of $10,928 in student loans. Early-career fire protection graduates make about $40,788. Set against $10,928 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
El Paso Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value fire protection schools. El Paso Community College is a very large public school located in the city of El Paso. In-state tuition and fees average $3,274, with out-of-state students paying around $5,314. Typical student debt for fire protection graduates is $8,542. Early-career fire protection graduates make about $29,086. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Del Mar College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value fire protection schools. Del Mar College is a large public school located in the city of Corpus Christi. Students from in state pay about $3,500 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,050. Fire Protection graduates carry a median of $7,476 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from Del Mar College generally make around $40,661. Set against $7,476 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Tarrant County College District earned it the #4 place for fire protection. Located in the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County College District is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,863 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,370 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fire protection graduates is $15,148. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from Tarrant County College District generally make around $45,158. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in fire protection will find it at South Texas College, which ranked #5. South Texas College is a very large public school located in the city of McAllen. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,920, compared with $7,620 for out-of-state students. Fire Protection graduates carry a median of $6,868 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from South Texas College generally make around $30,227. Set against $6,868 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pima Community College landed the #6 spot for fire protection value this year. Pima Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. In-state tuition and fees average $2,442, while out-of-state students pay about $7,758. Students borrow a median of $10,655 to complete the fire protection program here. Early-career fire protection graduates make about $35,059. That is a strong return on a $10,655 median debt.
El Centro College earned the #7 position for value in fire protection this year. Located in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,730 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,900. Students borrow a median of $14,557 to complete the fire protection program here. Early-career fire protection graduates make about $41,295. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Midland College placed #8 among the best values for fire protection. Midland College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Midland. In-state tuition and fees average $3,180, with out-of-state students paying around $6,180. Fire Protection graduates carry a median of $9,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from Midland College generally make around $43,454. Set against $9,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus came in at #9 for value in fire protection this year. Located in the town of Roswell, Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,256, while out-of-state students pay about $5,616. Fire Protection graduates carry a median of $11,110 in student loans. Fire Protection graduates of Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus earn a median of $21,129 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
San Antonio College earned the #10 position for value in fire protection this year. San Antonio College is a very large public school located in the city of San Antonio. Students from in state pay about $3,412 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,952. Students borrow a median of $11,839 to complete the fire protection program here. Early-career fire protection graduates make about $37,855. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Amarillo College came in at #11 for value in fire protection this year. Set in the city of Amarillo, Amarillo College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,136, while out-of-state students pay about $4,704. Fire Protection graduates carry a median of $15,720 in student loans. Early-career fire protection graduates make about $41,053. That is a strong return on a $15,720 median debt.
Mclennan Community College landed the #12 spot for fire protection value this year. Located in the city of Waco, Mclennan Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,660, with out-of-state students paying around $5,910. Typical student debt for fire protection graduates is $5,500. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from Mclennan Community College generally make around $47,467. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Juan College landed the #13 spot for fire protection value this year. Located in the rural area of Farmington, San Juan College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,910, with out-of-state students paying around $5,393. Typical student debt for fire protection graduates is $16,150. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from San Juan College generally make around $41,697. That is a strong return on a $16,150 median debt.
Kilgore College came in at #14 for value in fire protection this year. Kilgore College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Kilgore. Students from in state pay about $2,160 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,256 for out-of-state students. Fire Protection graduates carry a median of $16,734 in student loans. Early-career fire protection graduates make about $44,322. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Houston Community College placed #15 among the best values for fire protection. Houston Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. In-state tuition and fees average $2,040, while out-of-state students pay about $5,460. Students borrow a median of $19,223 to complete the fire protection program here. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from Houston Community College generally make around $39,283. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Austin Community College District earned the #16 position for value in fire protection this year. Located in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,550 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,590 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fire protection graduates is $11,375. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from Austin Community College District generally make around $47,024. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
North Central Texas College came in at #17 for value in fire protection this year. Set in the town of Gainesville, North Central Texas College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,600, with out-of-state students paying around $5,739. Fire Protection graduates carry a median of $15,965 in student loans. Fire Protection graduates of North Central Texas College earn a median of $43,536 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South Plains College earned the #18 position for value in fire protection this year. Located in the town of Levelland, South Plains College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,733, compared with $5,157 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,788 to complete the fire protection program here. Early-career fire protection graduates make about $30,949. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Metro Technology Centers ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value fire protection schools. Located in the city of Oklahoma City, Metro Technology Centers is a small public university. Typical student debt for fire protection graduates is $15,833. Early-career fire protection graduates make about $48,236. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Oklahoma State University Oklahoma City earned the #20 position for value in fire protection this year. Located in the city of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma State University Oklahoma City is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,779, while out-of-state students pay about $9,564. Fire Protection graduates carry a median of $18,726 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from Oklahoma State University Oklahoma City generally make around $45,580. That is a strong return on a $18,726 median debt.
Collin County Community College District ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value fire protection schools. Collin County Community College District is a very large public school located in the suburb of McKinney. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,014, with out-of-state students paying around $6,064. Students borrow a median of $9,716 to complete the fire protection program here. Fire Protection graduates of Collin County Community College District earn a median of $42,177 early in their careers. Set against $9,716 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hill College came in at #22 for value in fire protection this year. Hill College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Hillsboro. In-state tuition and fees average $2,862. Fire Protection graduates carry a median of $12,302 in student loans. Early-career fire protection graduates make about $33,190. That is a strong return on a $12,302 median debt.
Yavapai College earned the #23 position for value in fire protection this year. Set in the city of Prescott, Yavapai College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,948 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,486. Students borrow a median of $14,087 to complete the fire protection program here. Fire Protection graduates of Yavapai College earn a median of $52,087 early in their careers. Set against $14,087 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cisco College placed #24 among the best values for fire protection. Cisco College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Cisco. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,710, compared with $7,140 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fire protection graduates is $10,875. Fire Protection graduates of Cisco College earn a median of $17,820 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,875 median debt.
Northland Pioneer College placed #25 among the best values for fire protection. Located in the rural area of Holbrook, Northland Pioneer College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,232, while out-of-state students pay about $10,320. Fire Protection graduates carry a median of $8,680 in student loans. Early-career fire protection graduates make about $44,117. That is a strong return on a $8,680 median debt.
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in fire protection:
This list is compiled 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 · 38 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 38 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.