University Headquarters (HQ) is an industry-leading, independent educational organization that provides independent college rankings using a proprietary formula to create first class, unbiased rankings. The team at University HQ strives to provide accurate and trustworthy rankings that highlight the best programs for associates in fire science.
Overview of an Associate Fire Science Degree
Fire science is the study of fire prevention and fire protection, emergency response, and investigation into how fires start and spread. In this era of increasing forest fires, drought, and other poor conditions, the reality of destructive fires has been brought closer than ever. Like so many other fields, our response to fires increasingly relies on technology and scientific measures. For this reason, fire science programs have proliferated to train the professionals we need, to prepare for and respond to fires of all sorts.
If you are interested in this fascinating, and much-needed field, this will help you prepare for an associate degree program in fire science, and the brilliant career to follow. Luckily, despite the hands-on aspect of firefighting and other careers in this field, there are 100% online degrees available for fire science. There are also hybrid options for those who are looking for more of a hands-on element, which offer online and in-person learning.
An online or traditional associate degree program in fire science will help you prepare for your first job. When you seek out fire science degree programs, you should affirm that your school is accredited, even if it is offered only online. For fire science, you'll also want to find a program that is part of Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE), which is part of the U.S. Fire Administration, a part of FEMA. You can find fully accredited and FESHE-approved programs, both on traditional campuses and online fire science options.
Full accreditation, plus FESHE status, will ensure that you can launch the career of your dreams in fire service. When your online associate fire science degree is accredited, you will be able to later apply your credits to a bachelor's degree in fire science because you will have already completed much of the required general education courses and some major coursework. The FESHE-approved status can help students gain access to career opportunities and even leadership roles with the U.S. Fire Service, U.S. Fire Administration, or your local Fire Department. In sum, these credentials are vital to your success.
Top 25 Best Online Associate in Fire Science Programs
American Public University System
Score: 84.97
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,400
- Out-of-State:$8,400
- Net Price: $11,172
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 90%
- Graduation Rate: 55%
- Total Enrollment: 48,668
- Undergrad Students: 39,206
- Graduate Students: 9,462
- Grads Salary: $79,000
- Student-to-faculty: 24:1
Idaho State University
Score: 74.1
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,356
- Out-of-State:$27,466
- Net Price: $12,425
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 71%
- Graduation Rate: 37%
- Total Enrollment: 12,301
- Undergrad Students: 10,017
- Graduate Students: 2,284
- Grads Salary: $73,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
St. Petersburg College
Score: 72.73
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $2,682
- Out-of-State:$9,286
- Net Price: $2,132
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 74%
- Graduation Rate: 38%
- Total Enrollment: 23,501
- Undergrad Students: 23,501
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $63,000
- Student-to-faculty: 22:1
Columbia Southern University
Score: 67.51
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $5,808
- Out-of-State:$5,808
- Net Price: $12,366
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 42%
- Graduation Rate: 33%
- Total Enrollment: 15,948
- Undergrad Students: 11,330
- Graduate Students: 4,618
- Grads Salary: $77,000
- Student-to-faculty: 28:1
Southern Crescent Technical College
Score: 65.83
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $3,126
- Out-of-State:$5,526
- Net Price: $4,354
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 63%
- Graduation Rate: 57%
- Total Enrollment: 5,018
- Undergrad Students: 5,018
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $33,600
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
Purdue Global
Score: 65.01
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,110
- Out-of-State:$14,421
- Net Price: $6,785
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 17%
- Graduation Rate: 20%
- Total Enrollment: 45,125
- Undergrad Students: 33,510
- Graduate Students: 11,615
- Grads Salary: $83,000
- Student-to-faculty: 26:1
John Wood Community College
Score: 62.91
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,000
- Out-of-State:$9,000
- Net Price: $6,557
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 67%
- Graduation Rate: 47%
- Total Enrollment: 1,718
- Undergrad Students: 1,718
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $35,400
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
Keiser University-Ft. Lauderdale
Score: 61.23
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $24,136
- Out-of-State:$24,136
- Net Price: $33,865
- Acceptance Rate: 97%
- Retention Rate: 69%
- Graduation Rate: 44%
- Total Enrollment: 19,020
- Undergrad Students: 16,960
- Graduate Students: 2,060
- Grads Salary: $61,000
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
Navarro College
Score: 60.9
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $4,718
- Out-of-State:$6,578
- Net Price: $10,124
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 59%
- Graduation Rate: 25%
- Total Enrollment: 6,277
- Undergrad Students: 6,277
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $61,000
- Student-to-faculty: 21:1
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College
Score: 59.99
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $3,212
- Out-of-State:$5,612
- Net Price: $4,914
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 66%
- Graduation Rate: 43%
- Total Enrollment: 4,003
- Undergrad Students: 4,003
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $32,600
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
Casper College
Score: 59.72
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $4,410
- Out-of-State:$10,710
- Net Price: $8,451
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 72%
- Graduation Rate: 42%
- Total Enrollment: 3,354
- Undergrad Students: 3,354
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $35,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
Albany Technical College
Score: 58.81
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $3,196
- Out-of-State:$5,596
- Net Price: $5,159
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 52%
- Graduation Rate: 45%
- Total Enrollment: 2,577
- Undergrad Students: 2,577
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $30,800
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
Bucks County Community College
Score: 58.1
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,221
- Out-of-State:$13,421
- Net Price: $7,061
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 71%
- Graduation Rate: 25%
- Total Enrollment: 6,162
- Undergrad Students: 6,162
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $45,500
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
Chattanooga State Community College
Score: 57.06
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $4,550
- Out-of-State:$17,750
- Net Price: $6,827
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 53%
- Graduation Rate: 22%
- Total Enrollment: 6,429
- Undergrad Students: 6,429
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $50,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
Hillsborough Community College
Score: 56.38
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $2,506
- Out-of-State:$9,111
- Net Price: $3,628
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 60%
- Graduation Rate: 33%
- Total Enrollment: 19,504
- Undergrad Students: 19,504
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $38,800
- Student-to-faculty: 23:1
Black River Technical College
Score: 55.83
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $4,584
- Out-of-State:$7,242
- Net Price: $6,480
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 62%
- Graduation Rate: 34%
- Total Enrollment: 1,566
- Undergrad Students: 1,566
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $35,600
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
Lanier Technical College
Score: 55.71
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $3,716
- Out-of-State:$6,716
- Net Price: $7,408
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 59%
- Graduation Rate: 37%
- Total Enrollment: 5,599
- Undergrad Students: 5,599
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $34,200
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
Northcentral Technical College
Score: 55.48
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $3,861
- Out-of-State:$5,615
- Net Price: $10,866
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 63%
- Graduation Rate: 32%
- Total Enrollment: 6,069
- Undergrad Students: 6,069
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $41,700
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
Eastern Gateway Community College
Score: 54.36
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $4,385
- Out-of-State:$6,071
- Net Price: $1,845
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 64%
- Graduation Rate: 31%
- Total Enrollment: 30,364
- Undergrad Students: 30,364
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $38,700
- Student-to-faculty: 33:1
CT State Community College Middlesex
Score: 53.54
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $4,700
- Out-of-State:$14,100
- Net Price: $6,306
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 59%
- Graduation Rate: 20%
- Total Enrollment: 1,880
- Undergrad Students: 1,880
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $43,600
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
Mount Wachusett Community College
Score: 53.41
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,000
- Out-of-State:$10,920
- Net Price: $7,889
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 53%
- Graduation Rate: 27%
- Total Enrollment: 2,868
- Undergrad Students: 2,868
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $38,400
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
Virginia Peninsula Community College
Score: 53.34
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $4,944
- Out-of-State:$10,947
- Net Price: $6,716
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 64%
- Graduation Rate: 31%
- Total Enrollment: 6,018
- Undergrad Students: 6,018
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $35,400
- Student-to-faculty: 21:1
Lake Superior College
Score: 53.28
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $5,786
- Out-of-State:$5,786
- Net Price: $14,978
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 60%
- Graduation Rate: 34%
- Total Enrollment: 3,849
- Undergrad Students: 3,849
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $40,500
- Student-to-faculty: 19:1
Johnson County Community College
Score: 52.97
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $2,784
- Out-of-State:$5,472
- Net Price: $13,733
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 64%
- Graduation Rate: 27%
- Total Enrollment: 16,497
- Undergrad Students: 16,497
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $43,600
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
Rio Hondo College
Score: 52.84
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $1,388
- Out-of-State:$9,884
- Net Price: $6,099
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 89%
- Graduation Rate: 25%
- Total Enrollment: 16,139
- Undergrad Students: 16,139
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $37,400
- Student-to-faculty: 29:1
