Fire Science programs in Illinois
41 fire science programs at 23 Illinois schools are in the federal data. Where earnings are reported (1 programs), the state median is $53,930 one year after completion, about the same as the national median of $52,616. Median borrower debt is $13,400.
| School | City | Program | Credential | Completers/yr | 1-yr earnings | Median debt | Monthly payment* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prairie State College | Chicago Heights, IL | Fire Protection | Certificate | 26 | $53,930 | $11,500 | $131 |
| Southwestern Illinois College | Belleville, IL | Fire Protection | Certificate | 68 | not reported | $15,300 | $174 |
| Southwestern Illinois College | Belleville, IL | Fire Protection | Associate degree | 1 | not reported | – | – |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College | Chicago, IL | Fire Protection | Certificate | – | not reported | – | – |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College | Chicago, IL | Fire Protection | Associate degree | 3 | not reported | – | – |
| Danville Area Community College | Danville, IL | Fire Protection | Certificate | 0 | not reported | – | – |
| Danville Area Community College | Danville, IL | Fire Protection | Associate degree | 0 | not reported | – | – |
| College of DuPage | Glen Ellyn, IL | Fire Protection | Certificate | 2 | not reported | – | – |
| College of DuPage | Glen Ellyn, IL | Fire Protection | Associate degree | 30 | not reported | – | – |
| Elgin Community College | Elgin, IL | Fire Protection | Certificate | 39 | not reported | – | – |
| Elgin Community College | Elgin, IL | Fire Protection | Associate degree | 7 | not reported | – | – |
| Illinois Central College | East Peoria, IL | Fire Protection | Certificate | 0 | not reported | – | – |
| Illinois Central College | East Peoria, IL | Fire Protection | Associate degree | 4 | not reported | – | – |
| John Wood Community College | Quincy, IL | Fire Protection | Associate degree | 11 | not reported | – | – |
| Joliet Junior College | Joliet, IL | Fire Protection | Certificate | 0 | not reported | – | – |
| Joliet Junior College | Joliet, IL | Fire Protection | Associate degree | 9 | not reported | – | – |
| College of Lake County | Grayslake, IL | Fire Protection | Certificate | – | not reported | – | – |
| College of Lake County | Grayslake, IL | Fire Protection | Associate degree | 7 | not reported | – | – |
| Lake Land College | Mattoon, IL | Fire Protection | Associate degree | 1 | not reported | – | – |
| Lewis and Clark Community College | Godfrey, IL | Fire Protection | Certificate | 34 | not reported | – | – |
| Lewis and Clark Community College | Godfrey, IL | Fire Protection | Associate degree | 8 | not reported | – | – |
| Lincoln Land Community College | Springfield, IL | Fire Protection | Certificate | 11 | not reported | – | – |
| Lincoln Land Community College | Springfield, IL | Fire Protection | Associate degree | 2 | not reported | – | – |
| McHenry County College | Crystal Lake, IL | Fire Protection | Certificate | 40 | not reported | – | – |
| McHenry County College | Crystal Lake, IL | Fire Protection | Associate degree | 12 | not reported | – | – |
| Moraine Valley Community College | Palos Hills, IL | Fire Protection | Associate degree | 23 | not reported | – | – |
| Morton College | Cicero, IL | Fire Protection | Associate degree | 2 | not reported | – | – |
| Oakton College | Des Plaines, IL | Fire Protection | Certificate | 17 | not reported | – | – |
| Oakton College | Des Plaines, IL | Fire Protection | Associate degree | 4 | not reported | – | – |
| Parkland College | Champaign, IL | Fire Protection | Certificate | 1 | not reported | – | – |
| Parkland College | Champaign, IL | Fire Protection | Associate degree | 5 | not reported | – | – |
| Prairie State College | Chicago Heights, IL | Fire Protection | Associate degree | 1 | not reported | – | – |
| Rock Valley College | Rockford, IL | Fire Protection | Certificate | 0 | not reported | – | – |
| Rock Valley College | Rockford, IL | Fire Protection | Associate degree | 8 | not reported | – | – |
| Southeastern Illinois College | Harrisburg, IL | Fire Protection | Certificate | 0 | not reported | – | – |
| Southeastern Illinois College | Harrisburg, IL | Fire Protection | Associate degree | 0 | not reported | – | – |
| Triton College | River Grove, IL | Fire Protection | Certificate | 3 | not reported | – | – |
| Triton College | River Grove, IL | Fire Protection | Associate degree | 7 | not reported | – | – |
| Waubonsee Community College | Sugar Grove, IL | Fire Protection | Certificate | 39 | not reported | – | – |
| Waubonsee Community College | Sugar Grove, IL | Fire Protection | Associate degree | 17 | not reported | – | – |
| William Rainey Harper College | Palatine, IL | Fire Protection | Associate degree | 15 | not reported | – | – |
*Scorecard's estimated monthly payment on the median debt over 10 years. “Not reported” means the Department suppressed or did not publish the figure.
Compare schools near you
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Before you choose a fire science school in Illinois
Firefighters usually pass a department's own academy and exams; a degree or certificate can help promotion and inspector roles but rarely guarantees hiring.
- Does the program include a recognized fire academy or EMT certification?
- How do local departments view the credential?
- What is the cost compared with department-paid academies?
More programs in Illinois
All Illinois programs · Fire Science & Protection nationwide
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study and Institution files (release dated 10/15/2026). Earnings are median annual earnings of completers working and not enrolled one year after finishing; debt is median federal loan debt of borrowers; both describe past cohorts and small programs are suppressed by the Department. See our methodology.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best-paying fire science program in Illinois?
By reported one-year earnings, Prairie State College leads at $53,930 in the certificate program, but compare cost and local jobs too.
How many fire science programs are in Illinois?
The Scorecard lists 41 certificate or associate programs in this field at 23 schools in Illinois.