Compare 17 Fire Protection. programs ranked by graduate earnings. Average earnings: $69,653. Top programs: $104,017+.
With top graduates earning $104,017, Fire Protection stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $35K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale's Fire Protection program leads with graduates earning $104,017, well above the $69,653 average across all programs. Anna Maria College follows at $100,072, while Eastern Oregon University delivers $94,819—demonstrating that specialized programs at regional universities compete effectively regardless of overall institutional rankings.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. University of Florida graduates borrow $15,000 and face just a 3.2% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. Eastern Oregon achieves a 7.3% family burden when parent loans are included, proving the best choice depends on who's paying.
Highest program earnings: $104,017
Strong outcomes with 90% acceptance
3.2% payment burden | Excellent
7.3% family burden | Excellent
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $104,017 | 44 | $21,543 | Excellent | $19,500 | Excellent | |
| #2 | Anna Maria CollegePrivate | $100,072 | 68 | $25,000 | Excellent | $26,017 | Good |
| #3 | $94,819 | 37 | $20,500 | Excellent | $15,500 | Excellent | |
| #4 | $89,490 | 50 | $20,500 | Excellent | $38,513 | Manageable | |
| #5 | University Of FloridaPublic | $86,740 | 43 | $15,000 | Excellent | $18,837 | Excellent |
| #6 | $81,333 | 22 | $20,000 | Excellent | $36,000 | Manageable | |
| #7 | $77,717 | 43 | $22,987 | Excellent | $8,791 | Good | |
| #8 | Utah Valley UniversityPublic | $70,785 | 104 | $14,750 | Excellent | $9,582 | Excellent |
| #9 | University Of New HavenPrivate | $69,910 | 44 | $27,000 | Excellent | $54,414 | High |
| #10 | $66,925 | 67 | $22,500 | Excellent | $14,685 | Manageable | |
| #11 | $61,178 | 46 | $13,000 | Excellent | $12,526 | Good | |
| #12 | $60,210 | 21 | $23,250 | Good | $23,414 | Challenging | |
| #13 | $56,675 | 24 | $18,500 | Excellent | $13,884 | Manageable | |
| #14 | $51,178 | 24 | $23,250 | Good | $22,000 | Challenging | |
| #15 | $49,907 | 33 | $11,000 | Excellent | $16,130 | Manageable | |
| #16 | Methodist UniversityPrivate | $32,382 | 26 | $27,000 | High | $36,335 | High |
| #17 | $30,771 | 40 | $25,251 | High | $20,764 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
