by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 239 U.S. colleges awarded 5,123 degrees and certificates in Forensic Science and Technology. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 43% of graduates. College Factual ranks 114 schools in its 2027 Best Forensic Science and Technology Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $51,422 one year after completing, rising to $69,868 after four years.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, forensic science and technology is a popular field of study, with 5,123 degrees awarded annually. 239 colleges award forensic science and technology degrees, an average of 21 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 297.
By level, the 5,123 awards include 221 certificates, 516 associate degrees, 2,188 bachelor’s degrees, 2,134 master’s degrees and 64 doctorates.
Women earned 80% of forensic science and technology degrees and certificates in the latest year (4,112 of 5,123). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (2,495) and Hispanic or Latino (1,431), and international students earned 82.
College Factual ranks 114 schools in its 2027 Best Forensic Science and Technology Schools ranking, including 20 for associate degrees, 56 for bachelor’s degrees and 29 for master’s degrees. It also ranks forensic science and technology schools within 30 states. In all, 239 colleges offer forensic science and technology programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Forensic Science and Technology Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common forensic science and technology credential is the bachelor’s degree: 2,188 of the 5,123 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to forensic science and technology call most for Reading Comprehension, Speaking and Monitoring, and for knowledge of English Language, Computers and Electronics and Mathematics, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Written Comprehension, Oral Comprehension and Written Expression.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a forensic science and technology degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 221 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 516 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 2,188 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 2,134 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 64 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to forensic science and technology, at 25.8%.
| 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% |
Source: O*NET Online.
5 occupations are related to Forensic Science and Technology, with an average median salary of $85,156; the strongest outlook belongs to Quality Control Analysts, at 12.9% projected job growth. Typical job titles include QA Testing Analyst (Quality Assurance Testing Analyst), Quality Control Tester (QC Tester), Quality Coordinator and Lab Analyst.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to forensic science and technology, at 105,873.
| 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% |
Forensic Science and Technology graduates earn a median $51,422 one year after completing their program, $69,868 after four years and $58,543 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $51,422 |
| 4 years | $69,868 |
| 5 years | $58,543 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to forensic science and technology is Remote Sensing Technicians, with a median salary of $99,834.
| 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 |
Forensic Science and Technology has 8 similar majors in the Law Enforcement & Firefighting field, which together award 5,411 degrees a year; the largest are Cyber/Computer Forensics and Counterterrorism (2,476), Cybersecurity Defense Strategy/Policy (1,714) and Criminalistics and Criminal Science (632). Browse all Law Enforcement & Firefighting majors or the full list of college majors.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
