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2025 Best Fire Protection Associate Degree Schools in California

11 Colleges in California
1,097 Associate Degrees
$53,847 Avg Early-Career Salary
If you plan on getting your associate degree in fire protection, you won't be alone since the degree program is ranked #36 in the country in terms of popularity. As a result, there are many college that offer the degree, making your choice of school a hard one.

College Factual looked at 11 colleges and universities when compiling its 2025 Best Fire Protection Associate Degree Schools in California ranking. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 1,097 associate degrees in fire protection during the 2022-2023 academic year.

What's on this page: * Our Methodology

Choosing a Great Fire Protection School for Your Associate Degree

Best Fire Protection Associate Degree Schools in California The fire protection associate degree program you select can have a big impact on your future. Important measures of a quality fire protection program can vary widely even among the top schools. To make it into this list, a school must excel in the following areas.

A Great Overall School

A school that excels in educating for a particular major and degree level must be a great school overall as well. To account for this we consider a college's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a host of different factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.

Early-Career Earnings

Average early-career salary of those graduating with their associate degree is one indicator we use in our analysis to find the schools that offer the highest-quality education. That is, everyone wants their associate degree to be worth something, and salaries are one measure of determining that.

Other Factors We Consider

The metrics below are just some of the other metrics that we use to determine our rankings.

Our full ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best schools for fire protection students working on their associate degree.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Fire Protection Rankings Other Ranking Categories

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we've developed the Best Fire Protection Associate Degree Schools in California ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

Best Schools for Associate Students to Study Fire Protection in California

Learn about the top ranked colleges and universities for fire protection students seeking a an associate degree.

10 Top California Schools for an Associate in Fire Protection

1
Butte College crest
Butte College
Oroville, CA
24 Annual Graduates

Butte College is one of the finest schools in the United States for getting an associate degree in fire protection. Butte College is a large public college located in the rural area of Oroville.More information about a associate in fire protection from Butte College

2
21 Annual Graduates

Every student who is interested in an associate degree in fire protection has to look into Santa Rosa Junior College. Located in the medium-sized city of Santa Rosa, SRJC is a public college with a large student population.More information about a associate in fire protection from Santa Rosa Junior College

3
Moreno Valley College crest
Moreno Valley College
Moreno Valley, CA
30 Annual Graduates

Moreno Valley College is a wonderful option for individuals pursuing an associate degree in fire protection. Moreno Valley College is a large public college located in the large suburb of Moreno Valley.More information about a associate in fire protection from Moreno Valley College

4
14 Annual Graduates

Modesto Junior College is a great option for students interested in an associate degree in fire protection. Located in the medium-sized city of Modesto, MJC is a public college with a large student population.More information about a associate in fire protection from Modesto Junior College

5
Victor Valley College crest
Victor Valley College
Victorville, CA
17 Annual Graduates

Victor Valley College is a large public college located in the suburb of Victorville.More information about a associate in fire protection from Victor Valley College

6
Yuba College crest
Yuba College
Marysville, CA
15 Annual Graduates

Located in the medium-sized suburb of Marysville, Yuba College is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.More information about a associate in fire protection from Yuba College

7
SAC crest
Santa Ana College
Santa Ana, CA

SAC is a fairly large public college located in the city of Santa Ana.

After graduating, fire protection associate recipients generally make about $53,847 in their early careers.

More information about a associate in fire protection from Santa Ana College

8
17 Annual Graduates

Located in the large city of Fresno, Fresno City College is a public college with a very large student population.More information about a associate in fire protection from Fresno City College

9
East Los Angeles College crest
East Los Angeles College
Monterey Park, CA
20 Annual Graduates

East Los Angeles College is a very large public college located in the suburb of Monterey Park.More information about a associate in fire protection from East Los Angeles College

10
12 Annual Graduates

Antelope Valley College is a large public college located in the large suburb of Lancaster.More information about a associate in fire protection from Antelope Valley College

Best Fire Protection Colleges in the Far Western US Region

Explore all the Best Fire Protection Schools in the Far Western US Area or other specific states within that region.

State Colleges Degrees Awarded
Oregon 147 76
Washington 131 94
Nevada 112 25
Hawaii 59 72
Alaska 54 16

View All Rankings >

One of 4 majors within the Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting area of study, Fire Protection has other similar majors worth exploring.

Fire Protection Concentrations

Major Annual Graduates
Fire Prevention & Safety Technology/Technician 1,054
Fire Science 28
Wildl&/Forest Firefighting & Investigation 15

Related Major Annual Graduates
Criminal Justice & Corrections 6,014
Security Science and Technology 83
Homeland Security 15

Notes and References

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