Online Bachelor's Degrees in Fire Science: Comparing Programs

Popular Online Fire Science Bachelor’s Degrees

Online fire science programs offer flexible learning for students aiming to pursue careers in firefighting, emergency management, or fire safety. These programs typically include a mix of online coursework, such as fire behavior and safety regulations, and in-person components like practical training or internships.

When choosing a fire science bachelor’s program, it’s important to consider accreditation, the balance of online versus in-person requirements, and how well the program aligns with career goals and schedule flexibility. Below are some prime examples of what such programs can offer you.

Bachelor’s in Fire Science Student Support: FAQs

Can I earn my bachelor’s in fire science 100% online?

You’ll find many 100% online programs for fire science students. Many of the schools featured in this guide fall into that category. However, some programs do include more hands-on features that may require in-person residencies, so be sure to review program guidelines to identify any on-campus components.

How long does it take to earn a bachelor’s in fire science degree online?

The typical timeline for any bachelor’s degree is four years, but you can earn your degree in less time by choosing an accelerated program or transferring credits from another institution. Some programs even allow military or work experience to count toward a fire science degree.

Some of the fastest fire science degrees are the fire science management program at American Military University (two to four years) and the online fire science degree at Purdue Global (three to four years).

What are the admissions requirements for online fire science degrees?

Fire science degrees can be competitive, and individual institutions can ask for different admission requirements. That said, you’ll find commonalities among requirements, including a minimum high school grade point average (GPA), essays or short-answer responses, transcripts, letters of recommendation, and filling out an online application.

Because it’s popular to apply for a bachelor’s in fire science after working in the field or a related industry, academics aren’t weighed as heavily as in other programs. Schools often ask about work, volunteer, and military experience. Most likely, they will place more emphasis on experience than grades for candidates who aren’t applying right after high school.

How much does an online fire science bachelor’s degree cost?

Getting a college degree can be expensive. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the average public four-year degree costs $27,800, which is in alignment with the range of tuition prices we listed above as part of our program spotlights.

Once you’ve identified a school with tuition that meets your budget, you may want to consider applying for funding opportunities that apply to your situation, including financial aid for public service degrees and scholarships for fire science students. Beyond this, student loans and grants may also help you fund your education.

How much can you make with a bachelor’s degree in fire science?

Predicting how much you’ll make after graduating can be tricky, considering there are many options for what you can do with a fire science degree. Of the two most common options, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that firefighters earn $57,120 annually and fire inspectors earn $71,420 annually.

Becoming a firefighter is probably the most common career path held by graduates of online bachelor’s degree programs in fire science. Because the minimum education necessary to become a firefighter is typically a high school diploma, those with a bachelor’s are more likely to be on the higher end of the scale. In 2023, the top 10% of firefighters earned over $93,000.

Mastering the Online Fire Science Curriculum

A bachelor’s degree in fire science is designed to help students understand how to become managers and leaders within fire departments. Course topics typically cover management principles as they relate to human resources, leadership, safety, community risks, and a department’s resources and finances. Below are five courses you may take in an online fire science program.

Community Risk Reduction

While the main role of fire departments is to fight fires, they do so as a reflection of their commitment to public safety. To ensure fire science professionals understand the theory and real-world applications behind community risk reduction, many universities provide courses that cover the intricacies of this important topic.

Fire Department Management

Many fire science bachelor’s programs have at least one course related to managing a fire department. This course teaches leadership and administrative principles to ensure a fire department runs smoothly, making it particularly valuable for anyone looking to take on a managerial role within the fire science field.

Fire Service Ethics

Fire science professionals are public servants, meaning they should understand how to ethically serve the community and ensure safety. To help fire science students understand potential ethical dilemmas, many university programs, such as the fire training at Anna Maria College, offer a course on fire service ethics. This course approaches ethics from theoretical, legal, and real-world perspectives.

Fundamentals of Fire Protection

Inherent to all fire science bachelor’s programs is the need to teach specific strategies to stop or prevent fires. As a result, American Military University’s fire science program and many other colleges offer courses detailing fire suppression methods. In this course, you’ll also learn about fire chemistry and fire loss analysis.

Safety Risk Management

A fire science degree will introduce you to the evolution of organizational and leadership dynamics in fire and emergency agencies. Many fire science programs, including the program at Purdue Global, offer a course on safety risk management. During this course, you’ll learn decision-making, stress, and conflict-management skills to help you address the challenges fire science professionals face.

Fire Science Salary and Career Comparisons

Deputy Fire Chief

A deputy fire chief assists the department’s fire chief in overseeing fire department operations, including managing personnel, budgeting, and strategic planning. They ensure an effective response to emergencies, supervise fire stations, and implement training programs.

In addition to these duties, they develop and enforce safety protocols, coordinate fire prevention efforts, and act as a liaison with other agencies. The deputy fire chief also steps in for the fire chief when necessary, providing leadership and decision-making in high-pressure situations.

Fire Captain

A fire captain supervises a team of firefighters, overseeing daily operations and emergency responses. They ensure the crew is properly trained, manage fire scene operations, and maintain equipment and fire stations.

Fire captains also ensure safety protocols are followed, complete reports, and handle administrative duties such as scheduling and inventory management. They provide leadership during emergencies, make critical decisions, and report to higher-ranking officers. Their role is essential in maintaining efficient fire department operations and crew readiness.

Manager of Client Services

A manager of client services with a fire science bachelor’s degree oversees relationships with clients in industries such as fire safety, emergency management, or disaster recovery. They ensure clients receive timely and effective services, manage project implementation, and provide ongoing support.

Responsibilities for this position include analyzing client needs, coordinating with internal teams, developing safety plans, and ensuring compliance with regulations. They also address client concerns, optimize service delivery, and contribute to business development, maintaining high levels of customer satisfaction.

Resources for Fire Science Students

• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Certifications, along with your bachelor’s in fire science, can help your resume stand out when applying for jobs. FEMA offers multiple free certifications that may be of interest to you.
• Fire Ecology Chats: This podcast includes interviews with leading experts to discuss the intersection of fire science and environmental protection. Past episodes addressed such issues as the impact of Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) ignition on fire and new types of investments needed to reduce wildfire risk.
• r/Firefighting: While earning your degree and throughout your career, you may find it handy to chat with other fire science professionals. This Reddit site is a virtual space where firefighters and fire science students can discuss different aspects of the industry.
• Fire Research Group: The University of California, Berkeley created the Fire Research Group to study new potential fire protection technologies and how to implement them. The group focuses primarily on research and developing resources related to California wildfires.
• Fire Science Students Scholarships and Support: Affording your fire science degree is a primary concern for many students. To help, the team at STEPS compiled a list of scholarships and other student resources specific to fire science students.

Ranking Online Bachelor’s Programs in Fire Science

Following is our tailored list of what we believe to be the best online programs for receiving a bachelor’s degree in fire science. Our list is created based on criteria such as institutional accreditation, availability of online coursework, career placement and academic services, and more.

After generating the list of eligible schools, the STEPS team then ranked schools based on their performance in a variety of key categories. Online learning metrics received the heaviest weighting, followed by affordability, student outcomes, and academic quality metrics. You can find additional details in the methodology pop-up below.