by our College Data Analytics Team
[Fire Protection](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/fire-protection/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The schools below stand out for the salaries their fire protection graduates go on to command.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 20 schools on the early-career earnings of their fire protection graduates.
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If you want to know which schools send fire protection graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying fire protection schools in the United States. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public school located in the town of Carbondale. After graduating, fire protection degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Carbondale typically earn about $104,017 annually.
Waldorf College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying fire protection schools. Located in the rural area of Forest City, Waldorf College is a private for-profit institution. Fire Protection graduates of Waldorf College earn a median of about $100,301 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in fire protection will find them at Colorado State University Fort Collins, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a public institution. Early-career fire protection graduates from Colorado State University Fort Collins make a median of around $98,338 per year.
Anna Maria College produces some of the highest-paid graduates in fire protection, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the rural area of Paxton, Anna Maria College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career fire protection graduates from Anna Maria College make a median of around $115,875 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in fire protection will find them at Purdue University Global, which ranked #5. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Global is a public institution. After graduating, fire protection degree recipients from Purdue University Global typically earn about $87,490 annually.
University Of Florida Online earned the #6 position for fire protection graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida Online is a public institution. Fire Protection graduates of University Of Florida Online earn a median of about $86,740 a year early in their careers.
Columbia Southern University came in at #7 for fire protection graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Orange Beach, Columbia Southern University is a private for-profit institution. Early-career fire protection graduates from Columbia Southern University make a median of around $87,912 per year.
American Public University System came in at #8 for fire protection graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Charles Town, American Public University System is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, fire protection degree recipients from American Public University System typically earn about $81,009 annually.
Fayetteville State University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying fire protection schools. Fayetteville State University is a public school located in the city of Fayetteville. After graduating, fire protection degree recipients from Fayetteville State University typically earn about $81,600 annually.
Lake Superior State University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying fire protection schools. Set in the town of Sault Ste Marie, Lake Superior State University is a public institution. Fire Protection graduates of Lake Superior State University earn a median of about $70,707 a year early in their careers.
Eastern Kentucky University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying fire protection schools. Eastern Kentucky University is a public school located in the town of Richmond. Students who complete the fire protection program here go on to a median salary of roughly $75,018.
Utah Valley University landed the #12 spot for fire protection salaries this year. Set in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a public institution. Early-career fire protection graduates from Utah Valley University make a median of around $80,033 per year.
University Of New Haven landed the #13 spot for fire protection salaries this year. Located in the suburb of West Haven, University Of New Haven is a private not-for-profit institution. Fire Protection graduates of University Of New Haven earn a median of about $70,284 a year early in their careers.
Eastern Oregon University earned the #14 position for fire protection graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of La Grande, Eastern Oregon University is a public institution. After graduating, fire protection degree recipients from Eastern Oregon University typically earn about $58,911 annually.
New Jersey City University came in at #15 for fire protection graduate earnings this year. New Jersey City University is a public school located in the city of Jersey City. Early-career fire protection graduates from New Jersey City University make a median of around $62,597 per year.
California State University Los Angeles placed #16 among the highest-paying schools for fire protection. Set in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a public institution. Early-career fire protection graduates from California State University Los Angeles make a median of around $68,683 per year.
University Of Akron Main Campus earned the #17 position for fire protection graduate earnings this year. University Of Akron Main Campus is a public school located in the city of Akron. Students who complete the fire protection program here go on to a median salary of roughly $62,850.
Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice came in at #18 for fire protection graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of New York, Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a public institution. Students who complete the fire protection program here go on to a median salary of roughly $62,910.
Western Illinois University placed #19 among the highest-paying schools for fire protection. Western Illinois University is a public school located in the town of Macomb. Early-career fire protection graduates from Western Illinois University make a median of around $41,432 per year.
Methodist University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying fire protection schools. Methodist University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fayetteville. Fire Protection graduates of Methodist University earn a median of about $30,637 a year early in their careers.
Explore the highest-paying fire protection schools at other degree levels:
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries fire protection graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 20 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.