by our College Data Analytics TeamStudents who major in Fire Protection major make the world a safer place by learning how to fight and prevent fires as well as rescue people from dangerous situations. There are several concentrations in this major, allowing students to specialize in something that interests them.
Fire Science or Fire Fighting is one concentration that teaches students how to fight fires using special equipment. Students will learn how to fight different types of fires with practical techniques, as well as how to rescue victims, investigate fires, and dispose of hazardous materials.
Fire Prevention and Safety Technology will teach you how to prevent accidents through controlling hazardous materials, as well as control fire and smoke, prevent fires and assess risk for homes and communities.
Other concentrations of interest include Arson Investigation and Prevention; Wild Land / Forest Firefighting and Investigation and others.
Fire Protection was the 118th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 13,766 degrees in this year alone. This represents a 4.3% increase in fire protection degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 13,176.
Our 2023 Best Fire Protection Schools ranking analyzes 184 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for fire protection students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of fire protection programs later in this article.
Students should be committed to public service and helping others. In Fire Science, you will need to be physically strong and have the ability to act quickly under pressure in emergency situations. Learn to rely on your teammates and peers in order to work together to achieve a goal.
The study of Fire Prevention requires strong math and science skills. You will take courses in physics and calculus when learning about new materials that can help fire prevention. Logic and attention to detail will help you assess risk factors and predict hazards. Most schools will require you to intern with a government agency or private company before graduating.
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. In addition to these basic fire protection program qualifications, to serve in some fire protection careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.
There are various different levels of fire protection degrees. Fire Protection programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest fire protection degree you can get. Fire Protection programs can take anywhere between one to four or more years for a full-time student to complete.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to fire protection, with approximately 28.4% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for fire protection workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 24.3% |
| High School Diploma | 23.0% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 14.8% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 14.1% |
| Some College Courses | 13.8% |
50.1% of fire protection workers have at least a associate. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in fire protection have received.
This of course varies depending on which fire protection career you choose.
A major in Fire Protection prepares students for a variety of careers including firefighting, fire protection engineering or disaster relief service. Graduates also possess the skills to investigate arson and assess risk for private insurance companies or government agencies.
Want a job when you graduate with your fire protection degree? Fire Protection careers are expected to grow 7.8% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to fire protection.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Managers | 1,071,700 | 8.0% |
| Firefighters | 350,900 | 7.2% |
| Fire Fighting Supervisors | 63,300 | 7.1% |
| Fire Inspectors | 13,200 | 7.3% |
| Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists | 2,200 | 29.4% |
Recently graduated fire protection students earned an average of $53,963 in 2019-2020. Earnings can range from as low as $23,410 to as high as $103,432. As you might expect, salaries for fire protection graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for fire protection graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers fire protection grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Managers | $115,590 |
| Fire Fighting Supervisors | $80,310 |
| Fire Inspectors | $64,140 |
| Firefighters | $53,240 |
| Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists | $49,610 |
With over 1,080 different fire protection degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased fire protection school rankings to help you with this.
Fire Protection is one of 4 different types of Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting programs to choose from.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Fire Science | 8,102 |
| Fire Prevention & Safety Technology/Technician | 3,891 |
| Fire Services Administration | 1,450 |
| Other Fire Protection | 126 |
| Wildl&/Forest Firefighting & Investigation | 90 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Criminal Justice & Corrections | 113,121 |
| Homeland Security | 7,140 |
| Security Science and Technology | 6,888 |
| Other Homeland Security | 1,695 |
