Best Fire Protection Degrees in the US by ROI
Top colleges ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment across all active states. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs Analyzed
28
Colleges with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
+$285,150
Across all programs
Average Annual Cost
$16,369
Cost of attendance
| # | College | State | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
North Shore Community College
Grad rate: 19.4% |
MA | +$1,329,332 | $110,475 | $13,204 | $10,192 | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Santa Ana College
Grad rate: 29.2% |
CA | +$1,024,244 | $95,342 | $11,848 | $14,000 | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
St Petersburg College
Grad rate: 37.9% |
FL | +$825,072 | $84,317 | $10,634 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
Utah Valley University
Grad rate: 40.0% |
UT | +$790,496 | $83,742 | $15,172 | $10,370 | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
Tarrant County College District
Grad rate: 22.7% |
TX | +$519,480 | $69,146 | $11,720 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
Waldorf University
Grad rate: 27.5% |
IA | +$500,127 | $71,661 | $38,035 | $12,609 | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
Columbia Southern University
Grad rate: 35.0% |
AL | +$421,561 | $65,587 | $18,002 | $10,500 | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
Louisiana State University-Eunice
Grad rate: 15.4% |
LA | +$389,158 | $63,112 | $16,541 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale
Grad rate: 49.1% |
FL | +$382,238 | $65,682 | $45,701 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
Lake Superior State University
Grad rate: 53.9% |
MI | +$353,386 | $62,245 | $25,757 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
Purdue University Global
Grad rate: 30.4% |
IN | +$315,372 | $61,002 | $17,994 | $21,244 | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
American Public University System
Grad rate: 54.3% |
WV | +$271,746 | $58,451 | $16,358 | $18,191 | Full ROI → |
| 13 |
Southern Maine Community College
Grad rate: 19.4% |
ME | +$269,180 | $57,099 | $16,400 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
Northland Community and Technical College
Grad rate: 43.6% |
MN | +$233,414 | $55,460 | $17,893 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 15 |
Fox Valley Technical College
Grad rate: 55.2% |
WI | +$224,506 | $55,465 | $15,647 | $10,000 | Full ROI → |
| 16 |
Suffolk County Community College
Grad rate: 24.1% |
NY | +$156,168 | $50,971 | $11,626 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 17 |
Pima Community College
Grad rate: 19.6% |
AZ | +$152,268 | $50,505 | $8,916 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 18 |
Southeast Community College Area
Grad rate: 28.6% |
NE | +$57,282 | $46,096 | $12,319 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 19 |
San Antonio College
Grad rate: 23.7% |
TX | +$45,968 | $45,456 | $11,576 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 20 |
Hutchinson Community College
Grad rate: 45.7% |
KS | +$35,078 | $45,042 | $12,881 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 21 |
Milwaukee Area Technical College
Grad rate: 19.7% |
WI | +$23,262 | $44,884 | $17,209 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 22 |
Lansing Community College
Grad rate: 20.8% |
MI | +$13,500 | $43,693 | $10,180 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 23 |
El Paso Community College
Grad rate: 21.3% |
TX | +$618 | $43,305 | $12,741 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 24 |
Red Rocks Community College
Grad rate: 38.0% |
CO | -$12,456 | $43,182 | $18,048 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 25 |
Indian River State College
Grad rate: 44.4% |
FL | -$18,968 | $42,228 | $11,764 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 26 |
Central New Mexico Community College
Grad rate: 28.2% |
NM | -$70,172 | $39,582 | $10,906 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 27 |
Elgin Community College
Grad rate: 38.9% |
IL | -$95,014 | $38,233 | $9,837 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 28 |
Vincennes University
Grad rate: 34.1% |
IN | -$152,632 | $37,123 | $19,446 | $12,000 | Full ROI → |
How ROI is calculated
20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost − Debt Payoff (×1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20). Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.
Find Best Fire Protection Degrees by State
Browse Fire Protection programs ranked by 20-year ROI in every state that offers this degree.