Compare 14 Fire Protection. programs ranked by graduate earnings. Average earnings: $76,074. Top programs: $110,044+.
With top graduates earning $110,044, Fire Protection stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $34K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige. Across 14 ranked programs, a small private college in Massachusetts outranks larger, better-known universities on the metric that matters most: what graduates actually earn.
Anna Maria College leads the rankings, with Fire Protection graduates earning $110,044—well above the $76,074 field average. Close behind, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale delivers $108,135 in median earnings at a net price of just $9,415. That a regional public in Carbondale, IL nearly matches a private Massachusetts college on earnings—while costing a fraction of the price—is exactly the kind of insight prestige-based rankings miss.
For students borrowing on their own, CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice sets the standard: graduates carry $11,000 in student debt and face just a 3.0% payment burden, earning an 'Excellent' GPS affordability rating. For families factoring in parent loans, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale leads with a 7.0% combined burden—also 'Excellent'—on $108,135 in earnings. [Learn how to evaluate programs beyond school prestige →](https://collegeazimuth.com/blog/how-to-evaluate-programs)
Highest program earnings: $110,044
Strong outcomes ($108,135) with 87% acceptance
3.0% payment burden | Excellent
7.0% family burden | Excellent
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Anna Maria CollegePrivate | $110,044 | 67 | $25,000 | Excellent | $26,017 | Good |
| #2 | $108,135 | 36 | $21,543 | Excellent | $19,500 | Excellent | |
| #3 | $98,019 | 8 | $20,000 | Excellent | $36,000 | Good | |
| #4 | $92,632 | 44 | $20,500 | Excellent | $15,500 | Excellent | |
| #5 | $80,497 | 64 | $22,500 | Excellent | $14,685 | Good | |
| #6 | University Of New HavenPrivate | $79,199 | 24 | $27,000 | Excellent | $54,414 | Challenging |
| #7 | $73,969 | 38 | $22,987 | Excellent | $8,791 | Good | |
| #8 | $72,228 | 37 | $11,000 | Excellent | $16,130 | Good | |
| #9 | $71,482 | 14 | $23,250 | Excellent | $22,000 | Manageable | |
| #10 | $69,444 | 20 | $18,500 | Excellent | $13,884 | Good | |
| #11 | $68,753 | 14 | $25,251 | Excellent | $20,764 | Manageable | |
| #12 | Methodist UniversityPrivate | $53,649 | 23 | $27,000 | Good | $36,335 | High |
| #13 | $47,260 | 14 | $23,250 | Manageable | $23,414 | High | |
| #14 | $39,729 | 32 | $13,000 | Good | $12,526 | Challenging |
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 May 2026 refresh for 2026 rankings, based on Department of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
