2027 Best Fire Protection Schools in the The Plains States Region
Fire Protection degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 13 schools to find the best for fire protection students.
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Best Schools for Fire Protection in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall fire protection education in the The Plains States Region.
Top Schools in Fire Protection
Des Moines Area Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in fire protection. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Ankeny. About 11 fire protection degrees were awarded at Des Moines Area Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their fire protection degree from Des Moines Area Community College earn around $43,121 in the first couple years of their career. Des Moines Area Community College graduates carry a median of $14,956 in student loans.
Get the full fire protection details for Des Moines Area Community College
Students looking for a strong fire protection program will find one at Waldorf College, which ranked #2. Set in the rural area of Forest City, Waldorf College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 24% of students finish within six years. About 47 fire protection degrees were awarded at Waldorf College in the most recent year. Fire Protection graduates of Waldorf College earn a median of $86,882 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,196 to complete this degree.
See the full fire protection program report for Waldorf College
Johnson County Community College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in fire protection, landing the #3 spot this year. Johnson County Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Overland Park. About 53 fire protection degrees were awarded at Johnson County Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the fire protection program make about $46,473 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,532.
See the full fire protection program report for Johnson County Community College
A rank of #4 makes Century College one of the top schools for fire protection. This large public university is located in the suburb of White Bear Lake. There were roughly 25 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at Century College in the most recent data year. Fire Protection graduates of Century College earn a median of $47,502 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,332.
See the full fire protection program report for Century College
Hennepin Technical College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in fire protection, ranking #5. Hennepin Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park. Hennepin Technical College awarded about 37 fire protection degrees in the most recent data year. Fire Protection graduates of Hennepin Technical College earn a median of $52,059 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,887.
More information about a degree in fire protection from Hennepin Technical College
Kirkwood Community College came in at #6 for fire protection this year. Located in the city of Cedar Rapids, Kirkwood Community College is a large public university. There were roughly 48 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at Kirkwood Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fire protection degree from Kirkwood Community College earn around $41,681 in the first couple years of their career. Kirkwood Community College graduates carry a median of $15,779 in student loans.
More information about a degree in fire protection from Kirkwood Community College
Metropolitan Community College Area ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best fire protection schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Omaha. About 40 fire protection degrees were awarded at Metropolitan Community College Area in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from Metropolitan Community College Area generally make around $45,583. Students borrow a median of $12,799 to complete this degree.
Get the full fire protection details for Metropolitan Community College Area
Garden City Community College placed #8 among the best fire protection schools. Located in the town of Garden City, Garden City Community College is a mid-sized public university. About 14 fire protection degrees were awarded at Garden City Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, fire protection degree recipients from Garden City Community College generally make around $35,476. Garden City Community College graduates carry a median of $11,084 in student loans.
See the full fire protection program report for Garden City Community College
Hutchinson Community College placed #9 among the best fire protection schools. Hutchinson Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Hutchinson. There were roughly 131 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at Hutchinson Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fire protection degree from Hutchinson Community College earn around $51,007 in the first couple years of their career. Hutchinson Community College graduates carry a median of $18,148 in student loans.
See the full fire protection program report for Hutchinson Community College
Metropolitan Community College Kansas City earned the #10 position for fire protection this year. Located in the city of Kansas City, Metropolitan Community College Kansas City is a large public university. About 44 fire protection degrees were awarded at Metropolitan Community College Kansas City in the most recent year. Graduates of the fire protection program make about $48,321 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,750.
Get the full fire protection details for Metropolitan Community College Kansas City
Lake Superior College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best fire protection schools. Set in the city of Duluth, Lake Superior College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 77 fire protection students who graduated with this degree at Lake Superior College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fire protection degree from Lake Superior College earn around $42,543 in the first couple years of their career. Lake Superior College graduates carry a median of $17,156 in student loans.
See the full fire protection program report for Lake Superior College
Riverland Community College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best fire protection schools. Set in the town of Austin, Riverland Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 14 fire protection degrees were awarded at Riverland Community College in the most recent year. Fire Protection graduates of Riverland Community College earn a median of $49,194 early in their careers. Riverland Community College graduates carry a median of $15,732 in student loans.
More information about a degree in fire protection from Riverland Community College
Western Iowa Tech Community College landed the #13 spot for fire protection this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Sioux City. About 37 fire protection degrees were awarded at Western Iowa Tech Community College in the most recent year. Fire Protection graduates of Western Iowa Tech Community College earn a median of $35,742 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,886.
Get the full fire protection details for Western Iowa Tech Community College
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 13 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.
