by our College Data Analytics TeamDiscover the key facts every financial forensics and fraud investigation. major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering financial forensics and fraud investigation. programs.
In the U.S., financial forensics and fraud investigation. is a popular field of study, with 324 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Financial Forensics and Fraud Investigation. Schools ranking analyzes these 36 schools to determine the best overall colleges for financial forensics and fraud investigation. students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of financial forensics and fraud investigation. programs later in this article.
Studies in Financial Forensics and Fraud Investigation. build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations financial forensics and fraud investigation. graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a financial forensics and fraud investigation. program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a financial forensics and fraud investigation. major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several financial forensics and fraud investigation. degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 2 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 82 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 240 |
People currently working in careers related to financial forensics and fraud investigation. tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 34.4% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 23.1% |
| Some college courses | 15.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 13.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 6.2% |
| Master’s degree | 3.5% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.0% |
| Doctoral degree | 0.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.2% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in financial forensics and fraud investigation. careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in financial forensics and fraud investigation. can lead to numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to financial forensics and fraud investigation..
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to financial forensics and fraud investigation..
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Police Identification and Records Officers | 532,882 | 7.1% |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | 469,816 | 14.5% |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | 421,320 | 11.8% |
| Accountants and Auditors | 388,087 | 3.0% |
| Intelligence Analysts | 313,116 | 11.7% |
| Financial Examiners | 136,492 | 13.1% |
| Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary | 52,113 | 12.0% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of financial forensics and fraud investigation. graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $51,422 |
| 4 years | $49,125 |
| 5 years | $55,237 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for financial forensics and fraud investigation. graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers financial forensics and fraud investigation. grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Financial Examiners | $117,139 |
| Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary | $91,449 |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,222 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $71,252 |
| Intelligence Analysts | $65,483 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $64,492 |
| Police Identification and Records Officers | $61,847 |
With 36 different financial forensics and fraud investigation. programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased financial forensics and fraud investigation. school rankings to help you.
Students interested in financial forensics and fraud investigation., you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
