2026 Best Value Wildl&/Forest Firefighting & Investigation Schools
[Wildl&/Forest Firefighting & Investigation](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/fire-protection/wildland-forest-firefighting-and-investigation/) 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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 23 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation students.
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Finding the Best Value Wildl&/Forest Firefighting & Investigation School for You
Where you study wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation affects both what you pay and what you earn. To help, we created our Best Value Wildl&/Forest Firefighting & Investigation Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
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One Size Does Not Fit All
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Wildl&/Forest Firefighting & Investigation Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
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2026 Best Value Wildl&/Forest Firefighting & Investigation Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Wildl&/Forest Firefighting & Investigation Schools
Leading the list is Victor Valley College, our #1 best value for wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation in the United States. Set in the suburb of Victorville, Victor Valley College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,425, while out-of-state students pay about $10,125. Typical student debt for wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation graduates is $7,995. Early-career wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation graduates make about $37,755. Set against $7,995 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Shasta College earned it the #2 place for wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation. Set in the suburb of Redding, Shasta College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,197, compared with $8,853 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,275 to complete the wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation program here. Early-career wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation graduates make about $50,330. That is a strong return on a $12,275 median debt.
A rank of #3 makes Central New Mexico Community College one of the best values for wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation. Set in the city of Albuquerque, Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,060, with out-of-state students paying around $8,684. Typical student debt for wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation graduates is $10,112. Soon after graduation, wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation degree recipients from Central New Mexico Community College generally make around $34,751. That is a strong return on a $10,112 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation will find it at Porterville College, which ranked #4. Porterville College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Porterville. In-state tuition and fees average $1,438, compared with $11,308 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $36,328 ten years out.
A rank of #5 makes Allan Hancock College one of the best values for wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation. Set in the city of Santa Maria, Allan Hancock College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,156, while out-of-state students pay about $9,892. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,786 ten years after entry.
Bakersfield College placed #6 among the best values for wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation. Set in the city of Bakersfield, Bakersfield College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,430, compared with $11,300 for out-of-state students. Wildl&/forest Firefighting & Investigation graduates carry a median of $9,419 in student loans. Soon after graduation, wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation degree recipients from Bakersfield College generally make around $86,312. Set against $9,419 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Antelope Valley College placed #7 among the best values for wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation. Set in the suburb of Lancaster, Antelope Valley College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,124, while out-of-state students pay about $9,548. Typical student debt for wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation graduates is $10,729. Wildl&/forest Firefighting & Investigation graduates of Antelope Valley College earn a median of $50,744 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Aims Community College earned the #8 position for value in wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation this year. Set in the city of Greeley, Aims Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,258, compared with $11,786 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation graduates is $9,750. Soon after graduation, wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation degree recipients from Aims Community College generally make around $45,909. Set against $9,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pikes Peak Community College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation schools. Located in the suburb of Colorado Springs, Pikes Peak Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,510, with out-of-state students paying around $17,110. Students borrow a median of $16,066 to complete the wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation program here. Soon after graduation, wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation degree recipients from Pikes Peak Community College generally make around $41,037. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Oregon Community College earned the #10 position for value in wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation this year. Located in the city of Bend, Central Oregon Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,683, with out-of-state students paying around $15,246. Students borrow a median of $16,250 to complete the wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation program here. Early-career wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation graduates make about $52,183. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fox Valley Technical College came in at #11 for value in wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation this year. Fox Valley Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of Appleton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,040, with out-of-state students paying around $7,283. Wildl&/forest Firefighting & Investigation graduates carry a median of $10,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation degree recipients from Fox Valley Technical College generally make around $44,020. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pueblo Community College landed the #12 spot for wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation value this year. Pueblo Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Pueblo. Students from in state pay about $5,049 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,649. Students borrow a median of $14,106 to complete the wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation program here. Soon after graduation, wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation degree recipients from Pueblo Community College generally make around $42,377. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rio Hondo College earned the #13 position for value in wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation this year. Set in the rural area of Whittier, Rio Hondo College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,388 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,884. Wildl&/forest Firefighting & Investigation graduates carry a median of $15,510 in student loans. Early-career wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation graduates make about $95,666. That is a strong return on a $15,510 median debt.
Coconino Community College placed #14 among the best values for wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation. Coconino Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Flagstaff. In-state tuition and fees average $2,907, with out-of-state students paying around $9,987. Wildl&/forest Firefighting & Investigation graduates carry a median of $16,011 in student loans. Soon after graduation, wildl&/forest firefighting & investigation degree recipients from Coconino Community College generally make around $39,850. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 23 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
