2027 Best Value Fire Protection Schools in Texas
[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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 25 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for fire protection students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Fire Protection Schools in Texas
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the fire protection degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Fire Protection Schools
For return on investment in fire protection, no school beat College Of The Mainland this year. College Of The Mainland is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Texas City. Students from in state pay about $2,310 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $4,140. Fire Protection graduates carry a median of $10,928 in student loans. Fire Protection graduates of College Of The Mainland earn a median of $40,788 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes El Paso Community College one of the best values for fire protection. Located in the city of El Paso, El Paso Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,274 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,314 for out-of-state students. 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 is a great value for students pursuing a degree in fire protection, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Corpus Christi, Del Mar College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,500, while out-of-state students pay about $6,050. Students borrow a median of $7,476 to complete the fire protection program here. Fire Protection graduates of Del Mar College earn a median of $40,661 early in their careers. 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. Tarrant County College District is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Worth. Students from in state pay about $1,863 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,370 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,148 to complete the fire protection program here. Early-career fire protection graduates make about $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. Located in the city of McAllen, South Texas College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,920, with out-of-state students paying around $7,620. Typical student debt for fire protection graduates is $6,868. Early-career fire protection graduates make about $30,227. Set against $6,868 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
El Centro College came in at #6 for value in fire protection this year. Set in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,730 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,900. Typical student debt for fire protection graduates is $14,557. Early-career fire protection graduates make about $41,295. Set against $14,557 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Midland College placed #7 among the best values for fire protection. Located in the city of Midland, Midland College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,180, with out-of-state students paying around $6,180. Students borrow a median of $9,000 to complete the fire protection program here. Early-career fire protection graduates make about $43,454. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
San Antonio College earned the #8 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. Fire Protection graduates carry a median of $11,839 in student loans. Fire Protection graduates of San Antonio College earn a median of $37,855 early in their careers. Set against $11,839 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mclennan Community College placed #9 among the best values for fire protection. Located in the city of Waco, Mclennan Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,660, compared with $5,910 for out-of-state students. Fire Protection graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Fire Protection graduates of Mclennan Community College earn a median of $47,467 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Amarillo College landed the #10 spot for fire protection value this year. Located in the city of Amarillo, Amarillo College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,136, while out-of-state students pay about $4,704. Students borrow a median of $15,720 to complete the fire protection program here. Fire Protection graduates of Amarillo College earn a median of $41,053 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kilgore College came in at #11 for value in fire protection this year. Located in the town of Kilgore, Kilgore College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,160, 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 ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value fire protection schools. Set in the city of Houston, Houston Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,040, while out-of-state students pay about $5,460. Typical student debt for fire protection graduates is $19,223. Fire Protection graduates of Houston Community College earn a median of $39,283 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,223 median debt.
Austin Community College District ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value fire protection schools. Located in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,550, with out-of-state students paying around $10,590. Students borrow a median of $11,375 to complete the fire protection program here. Early-career fire protection graduates make about $47,024. Set against $11,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
North Central Texas College came in at #14 for value in fire protection this year. North Central Texas College is a large public school located in the town of Gainesville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,600, compared with $5,739 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,965 to complete the fire protection program here. Fire Protection graduates of North Central Texas College earn a median of $43,536 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,965 median debt.
South Plains College earned the #15 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, with out-of-state students paying around $5,157. Fire Protection graduates carry a median of $13,788 in student loans. Early-career fire protection graduates make about $30,949. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Collin County Community College District came in at #16 for value in fire protection this year. Located in the suburb of McKinney, Collin County Community College District is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,014 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,064. Fire Protection graduates carry a median of $9,716 in student loans. 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 landed the #17 spot for fire protection value this year. Set in the town of Hillsboro, Hill College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,862. Fire Protection graduates carry a median of $12,302 in student loans. Fire Protection graduates of Hill College earn a median of $33,190 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,302 median debt.
Cisco College placed #18 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, while out-of-state students pay about $7,140. Students borrow a median of $10,875 to complete the fire protection program here. Early-career fire protection graduates make about $17,820. Set against $10,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Weatherford College landed the #19 spot for fire protection value this year. Located in the town of Weatherford, Weatherford College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,250 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,860. Typical student debt for fire protection graduates is $14,099. Fire Protection graduates of Weatherford College earn a median of $48,208 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Tyler Junior College earned the #20 position for value in fire protection this year. Set in the city of Tyler, Tyler Junior College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,424, with out-of-state students paying around $4,536. Fire Protection graduates carry a median of $14,869 in student loans. Fire Protection graduates of Tyler Junior College earn a median of $43,348 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Blinn College earned the #21 position for value in fire protection this year. Located in the town of Brenham, Blinn College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,890, while out-of-state students pay about $11,370. Students borrow a median of $16,465 to complete the fire protection program here. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from Blinn College generally make around $43,408. That is a strong return on a $16,465 median debt.
Lone Star College System came in at #22 for value in fire protection this year. Lone Star College System is a very large public school located in the city of The Woodlands. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,664, while out-of-state students pay about $7,512. Students borrow a median of $10,425 to complete the fire protection program here. Early-career fire protection graduates make about $39,954. Set against $10,425 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Jacinto Community College landed the #23 spot for fire protection value this year. Located in the city of Pasadena, San Jacinto Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,490, with out-of-state students paying around $6,690. Students borrow a median of $11,376 to complete the fire protection program here. Fire Protection graduates of San Jacinto Community College earn a median of $38,107 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lamar Institute Of Technology came in at #24 for value in fire protection this year. Lamar Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Beaumont. In-state tuition and fees average $2,844, compared with $12,924 for out-of-state students. Fire Protection graduates carry a median of $14,278 in student loans. Fire Protection graduates of Lamar Institute Of Technology earn a median of $55,778 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,278 median debt.
Navarro College landed the #25 spot for fire protection value this year. Located in the town of Corsicana, Navarro College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,008, with out-of-state students paying around $6,578. Typical student debt for fire protection graduates is $6,000. Fire Protection graduates of Navarro College earn a median of $38,210 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 25 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.
