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. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 6 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.
Leading the list is Pima Community College, our #1 best value for fire protection in Arizona. Pima Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,442, compared with $7,758 for out-of-state students. 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.
A rank of #2 makes Yavapai College one of the best values for fire protection. Yavapai College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Prescott. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,948, compared with $9,486 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fire protection graduates is $14,087. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from Yavapai College generally make around $52,087. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northland Pioneer College earned it the #3 place for fire protection. Northland Pioneer College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Holbrook. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,232, with out-of-state students paying around $10,320. Typical student debt for fire protection graduates is $8,680. Early-career fire protection graduates make about $44,117. That is a strong return on a $8,680 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in fire protection will find it at Glendale Community College Glendale Az, which ranked #4. Set in the suburb of Glendale, Glendale Community College Glendale Az is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Fire Protection graduates carry a median of $15,996 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from Glendale Community College Glendale Az generally make around $51,483. Set against $15,996 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #5 makes Mesa Community College one of the best values for fire protection. Mesa Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Mesa. Students from in state pay about $2,358 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,959 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,750 to complete the fire protection program here. Fire Protection graduates of Mesa Community College earn a median of $54,730 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,750 median debt.
Coconino Community College earned the #6 position for value in fire protection this year. Coconino Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Flagstaff. In-state tuition and fees average $2,907, with out-of-state students paying around $9,987. Fire Protection graduates carry a median of $16,011 in student loans. Early-career fire protection graduates make about $39,850. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.