Fire academy in Indiana

2 firefighter programs with costs, results and funding that can make them free

2 schools offer these firefighter programs, and Indiana has approved every one for workforce funding. Each shows its price if you pay yourself and how past students did.

Firefighters put out fires and answer emergencies that put people, property or the environment at risk. Most need a high school diploma, must pass written and physical tests and an interview, and then train for a few months at a fire academy run by a fire department or the state. Firefighters may also need EMT or paramedic certification.¹

In Indiana, 1 of the 2 programs takes students without a high school diploma and 1 asks for a diploma or equivalent.

By kind, the 2 programs here are fire academy (Firefighter I and II, 1 program) and fire science (associate degree, 1 program).

See the 2 programs

How much does fire academy cost in Indiana?

$950 to $10,961

from the lowest-priced program to the highest, if you pay yourself

These two programs

Finished the program: 63% to 89%
Working 6 months later: 68% to 79%
Earned a year, estimated: about $33,200 to $36,600
Length: 18 to 104 weeks

Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are listed; other schools in Indiana may also offer fire academy training. How these figures are made

Is there free fire academy training in Indiana?

Yes, if you qualify. WIOA (public workforce funding) can pay for any program on this page, in full or in part, depending on local limits.²³⁴For a degree, the job center first looks at grants such as a federal Pell Grant; WIOA pays toward what they don't cover.⁴
Ask an American Job Center whether you qualify, or call 1-877-872-5627.⁵ Before funding training, the center goes through an assessment and a career plan with you.⁴
Or pay yourself. These programs cost $950 to $10,961.

Who qualifies, and other ways to pay: financial aid, grants and the GI Bill

All 2 firefighter programs in Indiana approved for WIOA funding

2 programs

Fire academy (Firefighter I and II)In personNo diploma needed
Firefighter I Ii
Central Nine Career Center
Greenwood
No diploma needed
Central Nine Career Center, GreenwoodFire academy (Firefighter I and II)In person · No diploma needed
Earned a year, estimated$36,600
Price if you pay yourself$950
Program website, Firefighter I Ii at Central Nine Career Center
More details about Firefighter I Ii at Central Nine Career Center
Finished
89%
Working at 6 months
68%
Earned in a quarter
$9,141
Length
18 weeks, 6 hours a week
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
108
Earned a year, estimated
$36,600
Price if you pay yourself
$950
Program website, Firefighter I Ii at Central Nine Career Center
Fire science (associate degree)In personHigh school diploma or equivalent
Fire Science 7350
Vincennes University
Vincennes
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
Vincennes University, VincennesFire science (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimated$33,200
Price if you pay yourself$10,961
Program website, Fire Science 7350 at Vincennes University
More details about Fire Science 7350 at Vincennes University
Finished
63%
Working at 6 months
79%
Earned in a quarter
$8,294
Length
104 weeks, 15 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$1,294
Students counted
70
Earned a year, estimated
$33,200
Price if you pay yourself
$10,961
Program website, Fire Science 7350 at Vincennes University

How to pay for fire academy training in Indiana

WIOA funding can pay for fire academy training in Indiana

Every program on this page is approved for it. Whether you qualify, how much your local area pays and how to apply are on our page Does WIOA pay for job training?

Financial aid and grants for fire academy training

Most students can get federal student aid for college, career school or trade school. A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, usually doesn't have to be repaid. Ask the school whether its program qualifies.⁶⁷

GI Bill for fire academy training

Veterans, service members and qualified dependents can use GI Bill benefits for non-college training programs.⁸

The program list does not show which programs accept these. Ask the school.

Fire academy in Indianapolis, Vincennes and other Indiana cities

Choosing an area filters the program list above.

Other training in Indiana

How fire academy training compares with the rest of public safety: First responder training in Indiana

Where the Indiana firefighter program numbers come from

Which Indiana firefighter programs are on this list?

These are the firefighter programs Indiana approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), as reported to the US Department of Labor for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).⁹ The list here covers programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what Indiana offers.

How the prices and results of Indiana firefighter programs are measured

Prices are tuition and required fees for someone paying without workforce funding, as the school reported them; check the current price with the school. Results describe students who left each program in recent years, so they are no guarantee, and the yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. A program without a "Trained with WIOA funding" line may still take WIOA students. Where a field was left empty or withheld, the page says "Not reported", and "Left out" where a figure was filed but failed one of our checks; nothing is estimated to fill a gap. Where the numbers come from explains each figure in full.

Sources for the facts about fire academy training in Indiana

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