Fire academy in Nebraska

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

1 school offers these firefighter programs, and Nebraska 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 Nebraska, both programs ask for a high school diploma or equivalent.

By kind, the 2 programs here are fire science certificate or diploma (1 program) and fire science (associate degree, 1 program).

See the 2 programs

How much does fire academy cost in Nebraska?

$6,148 to $7,888

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

These two programs

Finished the program: Not reported; Neither program reports it
Working 6 months later: Not reported; Neither program reports it
Earned a year, estimated: Not reported; Neither program reports it
Length: 32 to 64 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 Nebraska may also offer fire academy training. How these figures are made

Is there free fire academy training in Nebraska?

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 $6,148 to $7,888.

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

All 2 firefighter programs in Nebraska approved for WIOA funding

2 programs

Fire science certificate or diplomaIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent
Fire Science Technology - Diploma
Mid-Plains Community College
North Platte
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
Mid-Plains Community College, North PlatteFire science certificate or diploma · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourself$6,148
More details about Fire Science Technology - Diploma at Mid-Plains Community College
Finished
Not reported
Working at 6 months
Not reported
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
32 weeks, 28 hours a week
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
Not reported
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Price if you pay yourself
$6,148
Fire science (associate degree)In personHigh school diploma or equivalent
Fire Science Technology - Associate of Applied Science
Mid-Plains Community College
North Platte
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
Mid-Plains Community College, North PlatteFire science (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourself$7,888
More details about Fire Science Technology - Associate of Applied Science at Mid-Plains Community College
Finished
Not reported
Working at 6 months
Not reported
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
64 weeks, 28 hours a week
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
Not reported
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Price if you pay yourself
$7,888

How to pay for fire academy training in Nebraska

WIOA funding can pay for fire academy training in Nebraska

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.

Other training in Nebraska

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

Where the Nebraska firefighter program numbers come from

Which Nebraska firefighter programs are on this list?

These are the firefighter programs Nebraska 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 Nebraska offers.

How the prices and results of Nebraska 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 Nebraska

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