2027 Best Fire Protection Schools in Illinois
Fire Protection programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their fire protection programs.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 16 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for fire protection students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Fire Protection in Illinois
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the fire protection degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Fire Protection
Our analysis ranked Harper College the best school in the country for a degree in fire protection. Set in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a very large public institution. About 22 fire protection degrees were awarded at Harper College in the most recent year. Fire Protection graduates of Harper College earn a median of $44,523 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,963 to complete this degree.
Get the full fire protection details for Harper College
A rank of #2 makes Southern Illinois University Carbondale one of the top schools for fire protection. This large public university is located in the town of Carbondale. About 60% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 57 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at Southern Illinois University Carbondale in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fire protection degree from Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn around $104,017 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,725.
More information about a degree in fire protection from Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Students looking for a strong fire protection program will find one at Moraine Valley Community College, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Palos Hills, Moraine Valley Community College is a large public university. Moraine Valley Community College awarded about 20 fire protection degrees in the most recent data year. Fire Protection graduates of Moraine Valley Community College earn a median of $43,844 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,149 to complete this degree.
Read more about the fire protection program at Moraine Valley Community College
Waubonsee Community College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in fire protection, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the rural area of Sugar Grove, Waubonsee Community College is a large public university. There were roughly 70 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at Waubonsee Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fire protection program make about $39,659 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,939.
Get the full fire protection details for Waubonsee Community College
College Of Lake County is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in fire protection, landing the #5 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Grayslake. About 24 fire protection degrees were awarded at College Of Lake County in the most recent year. Students who receive their fire protection degree from College Of Lake County earn around $50,314 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,785.
More information about a degree in fire protection from College Of Lake County
Southwestern Illinois College earned the #6 position for fire protection this year. Set in the suburb of Belleville, Southwestern Illinois College is a large public institution. Southwestern Illinois College awarded about 94 fire protection degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fire protection program make about $77,935 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,750.
See the full fire protection program report for Southwestern Illinois College
Joliet Junior College earned the #7 position for fire protection this year. Set in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public institution. Joliet Junior College awarded about 18 fire protection degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fire protection degree from Joliet Junior College earn around $40,118 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,995 to complete this degree.
Get the full fire protection details for Joliet Junior College
Lewis And Clark Community College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best fire protection schools. Set in the suburb of Godfrey, Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 48 fire protection degrees were awarded at Lewis And Clark Community College in the most recent year. Fire Protection graduates of Lewis And Clark Community College earn a median of $41,313 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $9,602 to complete this degree.
Get the full fire protection details for Lewis And Clark Community College
Illinois Central College placed #9 among the best fire protection schools. Located in the suburb of East Peoria, Illinois Central College is a large public university. There were roughly 12 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at Illinois Central College in the most recent data year. Fire Protection graduates of Illinois Central College earn a median of $53,190 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,222 to complete this degree.
Read more about the fire protection program at Illinois Central College
College Of Dupage earned the #10 position for fire protection this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn. College Of Dupage awarded about 18 fire protection degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fire protection program make about $58,160 in their early career. College Of Dupage graduates carry a median of $12,492 in student loans.
See the full fire protection program report for College Of Dupage
Elgin Community College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best fire protection schools. Set in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a large public institution. Elgin Community College awarded about 86 fire protection degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from Elgin Community College generally make around $43,975. Typical student debt for the program is $7,727.
More information about a degree in fire protection from Elgin Community College
Mchenry County College earned the #12 position for fire protection this year. This large public university is located in the rural area of Crystal Lake. About 66 fire protection degrees were awarded at Mchenry County College in the most recent year. Students who receive their fire protection degree from Mchenry County College earn around $24,177 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $7,440 to complete this degree.
See the full fire protection program report for Mchenry County College
Western Illinois University came in at #13 for fire protection this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Macomb. Roughly 45% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 15 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at Western Illinois University in the most recent data year. Fire Protection graduates of Western Illinois University earn a median of $41,432 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,723.
More information about a degree in fire protection from Western Illinois University
Lincoln Land Community College came in at #14 for fire protection this year. This large public university is located in the rural area of Springfield. Lincoln Land Community College awarded about 16 fire protection degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fire protection degree from Lincoln Land Community College earn around $43,834 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,272 to complete this degree.
See the full fire protection program report for Lincoln Land Community College
Prairie State College came in at #15 for fire protection this year. Set in the suburb of Chicago Heights, Prairie State College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 48 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at Prairie State College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from Prairie State College generally make around $37,500. Prairie State College graduates carry a median of $15,663 in student loans.
Get the full fire protection details for Prairie State College
John Wood Community College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best fire protection schools. John Wood Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Quincy. There were roughly 11 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at John Wood Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fire protection program make about $45,748 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,844.
Get the full fire protection details for John Wood Community College
More Fire Protection Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 16 schools evaluated.
- 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.
