2027 Best Fire Protection Schools in the Southeast Region
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.
College Factual analyzed 57 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best fire protection schools.
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Best Schools for Fire Protection in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall fire protection education in the Southeast Region.
Top Schools in Fire Protection
Leading the list is University Of Florida, our #1 school for fire protection. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 70 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at University Of Florida in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fire protection degree from University Of Florida earn around $86,740 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Florida graduates carry a median of $12,296 in student loans.
Read more about the fire protection program at University Of Florida
Miami Dade College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in fire protection, ranking #2. Miami Dade College is a very large public school located in the city of Miami. There were roughly 250 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at Miami Dade College in the most recent data year. Fire Protection graduates of Miami Dade College earn a median of $40,267 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,967.
See the full fire protection program report for Miami Dade College
University Of Florida Online is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in fire protection, landing the #3 spot this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Gainesville. About 75% of students finish within six years. About 46 fire protection degrees were awarded at University Of Florida Online in the most recent year. Students who receive their fire protection degree from University Of Florida Online earn around $86,740 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $12,296 to complete this degree.
Get the full fire protection details for University Of Florida Online
Liberty University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in fire protection, ranking #4. Set in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Liberty University graduates 67% of students within six years. About 25 fire protection degrees were awarded at Liberty University in the most recent year. Graduates of the fire protection program make about $45,877 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,414.
See the full fire protection program report for Liberty University
Students looking for a strong fire protection program will find one at Columbia Southern University, which ranked #5. Columbia Southern University is a very large private for-profit school located in the town of Orange Beach. About 26% of students finish within six years. Columbia Southern University awarded about 2,027 fire protection degrees in the most recent data year. Fire Protection graduates of Columbia Southern University earn a median of $79,022 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,874.
See the full fire protection program report for Columbia Southern University
Northwest Florida State College placed #6 among the best fire protection schools. Set in the suburb of Niceville, Northwest Florida State College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 26 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at Northwest Florida State College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from Northwest Florida State College generally make around $52,856. Students borrow a median of $11,566 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in fire protection from Northwest Florida State College
Southern Arkansas University Tech landed the #7 spot for fire protection this year. Southern Arkansas University Tech is a small public school located in the rural area of Camden. Southern Arkansas University Tech awarded about 34 fire protection degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fire protection degree from Southern Arkansas University Tech earn around $34,302 in the first couple years of their career. Southern Arkansas University Tech graduates carry a median of $8,488 in student loans.
More information about a degree in fire protection from Southern Arkansas University Tech
Florida State College At Jacksonville earned the #8 position for fire protection this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Jacksonville. Florida State College At Jacksonville awarded about 146 fire protection degrees in the most recent data year. Fire Protection graduates of Florida State College At Jacksonville earn a median of $49,810 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,139.
Get the full fire protection details for Florida State College At Jacksonville
Indian River State College placed #9 among the best fire protection schools. Set in the suburb of Fort Pierce, Indian River State College is a very large public institution. About 84 fire protection degrees were awarded at Indian River State College in the most recent year. Students who receive their fire protection degree from Indian River State College earn around $47,206 in the first couple years of their career. Indian River State College graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in fire protection from Indian River State College
St Petersburg College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best fire protection schools. Located in the city of St. Petersburg, St Petersburg College is a very large public university. There were roughly 89 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at St Petersburg College in the most recent data year. Fire Protection graduates of St Petersburg College earn a median of $55,829 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $9,557.
Get the full fire protection details for St Petersburg College
Edison State College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best fire protection schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Fort Myers. About 89 fire protection degrees were awarded at Edison State College in the most recent year. Fire Protection graduates of Edison State College earn a median of $52,597 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,356.
Get the full fire protection details for Edison State College
Seminole State College Of Florida landed the #12 spot for fire protection this year. Seminole State College Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Sanford. About 218 fire protection degrees were awarded at Seminole State College Of Florida in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from Seminole State College Of Florida generally make around $48,049. Typical student debt for the program is $18,419.
See the full fire protection program report for Seminole State College Of Florida
Valencia College landed the #13 spot for fire protection this year. Set in the city of Orlando, Valencia College is a very large public institution. About 205 fire protection degrees were awarded at Valencia College in the most recent year. Students who receive their fire protection degree from Valencia College earn around $45,657 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $8,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full fire protection details for Valencia College
Hillsborough Community College came in at #14 for fire protection this year. Set in the city of Tampa, Hillsborough Community College is a very large public institution. Hillsborough Community College awarded about 88 fire protection degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fire protection degree from Hillsborough Community College earn around $50,331 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,735 to complete this degree.
Get the full fire protection details for Hillsborough Community College
Volunteer State Community College placed #15 among the best fire protection schools. Volunteer State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Gallatin. Volunteer State Community College awarded about 98 fire protection degrees in the most recent data year. Fire Protection graduates of Volunteer State Community College earn a median of $40,137 early in their careers. Volunteer State Community College graduates carry a median of $12,462 in student loans.
See the full fire protection program report for Volunteer State Community College
Fayetteville State University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best fire protection schools. Set in the city of Fayetteville, Fayetteville State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Fayetteville State University graduates 38% of students within six years. About 27 fire protection degrees were awarded at Fayetteville State University in the most recent year. Fire Protection graduates of Fayetteville State University earn a median of $67,586 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,777 to complete this degree.
Read more about the fire protection program at Fayetteville State University
Palm Beach State College landed the #17 spot for fire protection this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Lake Worth. There were roughly 91 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at Palm Beach State College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fire protection program make about $46,698 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,971 to complete this degree.
Read more about the fire protection program at Palm Beach State College
Pasco Hernando Community College came in at #18 for fire protection this year. Set in the suburb of New Port Richey, Pasco Hernando Community College is a large public institution. About 31 fire protection degrees were awarded at Pasco Hernando Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the fire protection program make about $53,856 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,908.
More information about a degree in fire protection from Pasco Hernando Community College
Eastern Florida State College landed the #19 spot for fire protection this year. This large public university is located in the city of Melbourne. Eastern Florida State College awarded about 80 fire protection degrees in the most recent data year. Fire Protection graduates of Eastern Florida State College earn a median of $44,690 early in their careers. Eastern Florida State College graduates carry a median of $18,123 in student loans.
More information about a degree in fire protection from Eastern Florida State College
Gulf Coast State College landed the #20 spot for fire protection this year. Located in the city of Panama City, Gulf Coast State College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 41 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at Gulf Coast State College in the most recent data year. Fire Protection graduates of Gulf Coast State College earn a median of $49,086 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $8,286 to complete this degree.
Get the full fire protection details for Gulf Coast State College
Florida Gateway College ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best fire protection schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Lake City. There were roughly 78 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at Florida Gateway College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fire protection degree from Florida Gateway College earn around $41,947 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,669.
More information about a degree in fire protection from Florida Gateway College
Daytona State College earned the #22 position for fire protection this year. Daytona State College is a large public school located in the city of Daytona Beach. Daytona State College awarded about 79 fire protection degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from Daytona State College generally make around $42,696. Daytona State College graduates carry a median of $6,945 in student loans.
See the full fire protection program report for Daytona State College
Keiser University Ft Lauderdale earned the #23 position for fire protection this year. Set in the city of Fort Lauderdale, Keiser University Ft Lauderdale is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 58% of students finish within six years. Keiser University Ft Lauderdale awarded about 18 fire protection degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from Keiser University Ft Lauderdale generally make around $45,965. Keiser University Ft Lauderdale graduates carry a median of $36,416 in student loans.
More information about a degree in fire protection from Keiser University Ft Lauderdale
South Florida State College placed #24 among the best fire protection schools. Set in the suburb of Avon Park, South Florida State College is a mid-sized public institution. South Florida State College awarded about 24 fire protection degrees in the most recent data year. Fire Protection graduates of South Florida State College earn a median of $42,415 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $8,204.
More information about a degree in fire protection from South Florida State College
Black River Technical College placed #25 among the best fire protection schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Pocahontas. Black River Technical College awarded about 11 fire protection degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fire protection program make about $41,888 in their early career. Black River Technical College graduates carry a median of $12,420 in student loans.
See the full fire protection program report for Black River Technical College
Rest of the Top 50 Fire Protection Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong fire protection education:
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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 · 57 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.
