2027 Best Value Fire Protection Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Fire Protection](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/fire-protection/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 13 schools to find the best return on investment for fire protection students.
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2027 Best Value Fire Protection Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in fire protection, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Fire Protection Schools
Metropolitan Community College Area earned the #1 spot for value among fire protection schools in the The Plains States Region. Set in the city of Omaha, Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,375 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,950. Fire Protection graduates carry a median of $12,799 in student loans. Early-career fire protection graduates make about $45,583. Set against $12,799 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes Hutchinson Community College one of the best values for fire protection. Located in the town of Hutchinson, Hutchinson Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,540, with out-of-state students paying around $4,770. Typical student debt for fire protection graduates is $18,148. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from Hutchinson Community College generally make around $51,007. That is a strong return on a $18,148 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Riverland Community College earned it the #3 place for fire protection. Located in the town of Austin, Riverland Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,297. Fire Protection graduates carry a median of $15,732 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from Riverland Community College generally make around $49,194. That is a strong return on a $15,732 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in fire protection will find it at Garden City Community College, which ranked #4. Garden City Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Garden City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,690, while out-of-state students pay about $4,320. Fire Protection graduates carry a median of $11,084 in student loans. Early-career fire protection graduates make about $35,476. That is a strong return on a $11,084 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in fire protection will find it at Metropolitan Community College Kansas City, which ranked #5. Metropolitan Community College Kansas City is a large public school located in the city of Kansas City. In-state tuition and fees average $3,630, while out-of-state students pay about $9,600. Students borrow a median of $8,750 to complete the fire protection program here. Early-career fire protection graduates make about $48,321. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Western Iowa Tech Community College placed #6 among the best values for fire protection. Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Sioux City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,186, compared with $5,330 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fire protection graduates is $11,886. Early-career fire protection graduates make about $35,742. Set against $11,886 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kirkwood Community College earned the #7 position for value in fire protection this year. Kirkwood Community College is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Rapids. Students from in state pay about $6,176 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,220 for out-of-state students. Fire Protection graduates carry a median of $15,779 in student loans. Early-career fire protection graduates make about $41,681. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hennepin Technical College came in at #8 for value in fire protection this year. Hennepin Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park. In-state tuition and fees average $5,940. Fire Protection graduates carry a median of $17,887 in student loans. Early-career fire protection graduates make about $52,059. Set against $17,887 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Century College came in at #9 for value in fire protection this year. Set in the suburb of White Bear Lake, Century College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,214. Fire Protection graduates carry a median of $21,332 in student loans. Early-career fire protection graduates make about $47,502. Set against $21,332 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Des Moines Area Community College placed #10 among the best values for fire protection. Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Ankeny. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,790, while out-of-state students pay about $6,690. Typical student debt for fire protection graduates is $14,956. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from Des Moines Area Community College generally make around $43,121. Set against $14,956 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Johnson County Community College came in at #11 for value in fire protection this year. Johnson County Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Overland Park. Students from in state pay about $2,424 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,688. Typical student debt for fire protection graduates is $13,532. Fire Protection graduates of Johnson County Community College earn a median of $46,473 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,532 median debt.
Lake Superior College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value fire protection schools. Lake Superior College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Duluth. In-state tuition and fees average $5,785. Fire Protection graduates carry a median of $17,156 in student loans. Early-career fire protection graduates make about $42,543. Set against $17,156 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Waldorf College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value fire protection schools. Set in the rural area of Forest City, Waldorf College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $25,978 in tuition and fees. Fire Protection graduates carry a median of $17,196 in student loans. Early-career fire protection graduates make about $86,882. That is a strong return on a $17,196 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
