Passionate about helping people and interested in becoming a firefighter, but worried about the financial costs? Don’t worry, there are many firefighting scholarships available for you! 

Whether you’re a seasoned firefighter or thinking about attending a four-year university, fire academy, or vocational school, we have you covered when it comes to scholarships!

Jump ahead to:

• Top scholarships for firefighters
• Scholarships for children of firefighters
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Summary of Scholarships

Keep on reading to learn about all the best firefighter scholarships available to help you fund your journey.

Top Firefighter Scholarships

Pearl Mae Scholarship

• Eligibility: Students seeking careers in healthcare or first responder fields (including firefighting). Graduate students may also apply
• Amount: Varies
• Deadline: April 15, 2021

Charles W. Riley Firefighter and Ambulance and Rescue Squad Member Scholarship

• Eligibility: Active (1,000 + hours working or 50 LOSAP points) career or volunteer firefighters, ambulance, or rescue squad members in Maryland. Applicants must be enrolled or plan on enrolling in an eligible institution and maintain a 2.5 or above GPA
• Amount: Annual award of at least 50% of the student’s annual tuition and school fees
• Deadline: April 15, 2021

Phillip L. Turner Fire Protection Scholarship

• Eligibility: Full-time sophomores, juniors, or seniors enrolled in a four-year Fire Protection Engineering or Fire Administration degree program or Master’s degree program within the U.S. or Canada
• Amount: $5,000
• Deadline: June 1, 2021

IAFC Foundation Scholarship

• Eligibility: Members of the U.S. or Canadian Fire Service or volunteers with 3+ years of experience who will use the scholarship money to pursue higher education during the 2021-2022 academic year
• Amount: Varies
• Deadline: June 25, 2021 (11:59 PM EDT)

IAFC Foundation Explorer Scholarship

• Eligibility: Young men and women who plan on pursuing a career in the Fire Sciences or a related program in the 2021-2022 academic year. Applicants must be graduating high school in the year the application is submitted and have a minimum 2.5 GPA
• Amount: Varies
• Deadline: June 25, 2021

Future Firefighters Scholarships

• Eligibility: Applicants must be at least 17 years old and planning on pursuing one of the following: Fire Academy training, Paramedic training, Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training, Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) Training
• Amount: Varies
• Deadline: July 2, 2021

Chief Larry Williams Scholarship

• Eligibility: Members of the South Carolina Firefighters’ Association in good standing
• Amount: Up to $1,000
• Deadline: October 31st of each year

Sam Carbis Scholarship

• Eligibility: Members of the South Carolina Firefighters’ Association in good standing
• Amount: Up to $1,000
• Deadline: October 31st of each year

See also: Top Community College Scholarships

Scholarships for children of firefighters

Daniel A. Terry Scholarship

• Eligibility: Biological or adopted children of a fallen California firefighter
• Amount: $2,000/yr (renewable up to four years)
• Deadline: May 1, 2021

ESA Youth Scholarship

• Eligibility: Children of first responders (firefighters, police, paramedics, and EMTs)
• Amount: Varies
• Deadline: May 14, 2021

Fire Family Scholarship

• Eligibility: Biological or adopted children of a firefighter. Must be a high school senior, at least 16 years old with a GED, or be enrolled in college or trade school. Applicants cannot be older than 26 and must have at GPA of 3.2 or above
• Amount: $5,000
• Deadline: May 17, 2021

First Responders Children’s Foundation Scholarship

• Eligibility: The child of a first responder (biological, adopted, or step-child) who is pursuing a degree at any accredited college or vocational school. Applicants must be full-time students and maintain a GPA of 2.7 or higher
• Amount: Up to $6,250 for a single academic year
• Deadline: June 15, 2021

Frequently Asked Questions

Does being a firefighter pay for college?

Unfortunately, being a firefighter does not pay for college. However, there are many different ways to become a firefighter, and some programs are cheaper than others. Attending a university is generally more expensive than attending a fire academy or training school. However, such costs can be offset with scholarships and by attending in-state public universities.

Do firefighters get paid more with a college degree?

Firefighters with a bachelor’s or master’s degree will receive higher wages in some fire departments, but not all. Thus, an individual who wants to pursue firefighting should be confident in their decision to go to college for reasons unrelated to future salary.

Summary of firefighting scholarships

1. Pearl Mae Scholarship
2. Charles W. Riley Firefighter and Ambulance and Rescue Squad Member Scholarship
3. Phillip L. Turner Fire Protection Scholarship
4. IAFC Foundation Scholarship
5. IAFC Foundation Explorer Scholarship
6. Future Firefighters Scholarships
7. Chief Larry Williams Scholarship
8. Sam Carbis Scholarship
9. Daniel A. Terry Scholarship
10. ESA Youth Scholarship
11. Fire Family Scholarship
12. First Responders Children’s Foundation Scholarship