by our College Data Analytics TeamDiscover the key facts every forensic science and technology. major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering forensic science and technology. programs.
Nationwide, forensic science and technology. is a popular field of study, with 4,612 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Forensic Science and Technology. Schools ranking analyzes these 228 schools to determine the best overall colleges for forensic science and technology. students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of forensic science and technology. programs later in this article.
Coursework for Forensic Science and Technology. emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations forensic science and technology. graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a forensic science and technology. program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a forensic science and technology. major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several forensic science and technology. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 186 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 559 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,922 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,920 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 25 |
People currently working in careers related to forensic science and technology. tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 25.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 23.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 13.1% |
| Master’s degree | 9.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 8.1% |
| Doctoral degree | 5.9% |
| Some college courses | 5.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.9% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 2.6% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 2.0% |
| First professional degree | 0.4% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in forensic science and technology. careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying forensic science and technology. prepares you for many career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to forensic science and technology..
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to forensic science and technology..
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Quality Control Analysts | 105,873 | 12.9% |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | 71,781 | 0.4% |
| Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary | 52,113 | 12.0% |
| Forensic Science Technicians | 33,121 | 9.3% |
| Remote Sensing Technicians | 30,427 | -2.2% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of forensic science and technology. graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow 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 forensic science and technology. graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers forensic science and technology. grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Remote Sensing Technicians | $99,834 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $95,957 |
| Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary | $91,449 |
| Forensic Science Technicians | $85,117 |
| Quality Control Analysts | $53,423 |
With 228 different forensic science and technology. programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased forensic science and technology. school rankings to help you.
Students interested in forensic science and technology., you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
