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CIP 43.0406 Homeland Security and Law Enforcement

Forensic Science and Technology

IPEDS Completions, US Department of Education · 2025

中文

Total graduates

3,717

2025 · 192 schools

International share

1.8%

68 international students

Bachelor's degrees

2,188

1.1% international

Master's degrees

949

3.6% international

Overview

Forensic Science and Technology is an interdisciplinary field that combines principles of science and technology to analyze evidence collected from crime scenes. This area of study is vital in the criminal justice system as it provides scientific insights that can help solve crimes and ensure justice is served.

Students in Forensic Science and Technology learn a variety of subjects, including biology, chemistry, and physics, as well as specific techniques used in crime scene investigation, such as fingerprint analysis, DNA profiling, and toxicology. The curriculum often includes hands-on laboratory work, enabling students to apply theoretical knowledge to practical situations.

Moreover, forensic scientists must also be trained in law enforcement procedures and legal standards, ensuring that the evidence they collect and analyze can hold up in court. This requires strong attention to detail, critical thinking skills, and the ability to communicate findings clearly, both in writing and verbally.

Career opportunities in this field are diverse, ranging from working in crime laboratories, law enforcement agencies, and government organizations to roles in private consulting firms. Some forensic scientists specialize in particular areas, such as digital forensics, which involves recovering data from electronic devices, or forensic anthropology, which focuses on analyzing human remains.

Overall, Forensic Science and Technology is a dynamic and evolving field that plays a crucial role in modern law enforcement, leveraging advances in science and technology to aid in the pursuit of truth and justice.

Graduates by year

Graduates by degree level (first and second majors)

AssociateBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral

From 2020 to 2025, graduates grew 25% and the international share went from 3.2% to 1.8%.

International share (%)
Graduates by group, 2025
White
51.7%
Asian
4.3%
Hispanic
23.5%
Black
9.4%
Other
9.2%
Intl.
1.8%

Colleges that award this degree

In 2025, 192 schools awarded this degree as a first major. The table lists those in the 2027 U.S. News National or Liberal Arts rankings, plus the unranked schools with the most graduates.

RankSchoolStateGraduatesInternational
#34 University of California-Davis California 18 0
#34 Boston University Massachusetts 22 2
#55 The Pennsylvania State University Pennsylvania 67 1
#59 George Washington University D.C. 11 1
#59 Texas A & M University-College Station Texas 90 0
#72 Syracuse University New York 39 3
#85 New Jersey Institute of Technology New Jersey 11 0
#95 Rutgers University--Camden New Jersey 6 3
#100 Florida International University Florida 9 1
#100 Saint Louis University Missouri 18 0
#121 University of Central Florida Florida 72 2
#121 Loyola University Chicago Illinois 43 0
#121 SUNY at Albany New York 3 0
#121 George Mason University Virginia 98 5
#133 Thomas Jefferson University Pennsylvania 1 0
#137 University of Alabama at Birmingham Alabama 7 2
#137 San Jose State University California 67 1
#148 California State University-Los Angeles California 9 0
#156 Duquesne University Pennsylvania 13 0
#156 Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia 71 1
#169 University of Nebraska-Lincoln Nebraska 30 0
#179 Seattle University Washington 4 0
#186 Texas Tech University Texas 21 2
#191 Hofstra University New York 41 1
#208 Ohio Northern University Ohio 16 0
#219 Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis Indiana 54 1
#227 University of North Dakota North Dakota 24 1
#227 West Virginia University West Virginia 109 0
#250 Pace University-New York New York 14 2
#250 La Salle University Pennsylvania 1 0
#262 University of Texas--El Paso Texas 32 0
#276 Harding University Arkansas 1 0
#276 University of New Haven Connecticut 167 2
#288 Wichita State University Kansas 12 1
#288 Arcadia University Pennsylvania 7 0
#308 University of Southern Mississippi Mississippi 60 0
#317 Marshall University West Virginia 6 0
#332 University of Baltimore Maryland 15 0
#332 University of Findlay Ohio 5 0
#332 Point Park University Pennsylvania 14 0
#353 Southern Illinois University--Edwardsville Illinois 2 0
#353 Plymouth State University New Hampshire 4 0
#353 Youngstown State University Ohio 10 0
#365 William Carey University Mississippi 1 0
#365 Liberty University Virginia 14 1
#376 University of Arkansas--Little Rock Arkansas 1 0
#382 Grand Canyon University Arizona 121 2
#382 National University California 92 0
#382 Saint Leo University Florida 17 0
#382 Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Gurabo Campus Puerto Rico 27 0
LAC #180 Alabama State University Alabama 2 0
— Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences Oklahoma 156 2
— University of Central Oklahoma Oklahoma 151 1
— Arizona State University Digital Immersion Arizona 96 0
— Farmingdale State College New York 89 2
— CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice New York 81 7
— Stevenson University Maryland 57 0
— Utah Valley University Utah 52 0
— American Public University System West Virginia 46 0
— Keiser University Florida 45 1
— Loyola University Maryland Maryland 43 0
— East Los Angeles College California 41 0
— Hilbert College New York 33 0
— University of Wisconsin-Platteville Wisconsin 33 0
— Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Pennsylvania 29 0
— Miami Dade College Florida 27 2
— Wake Technical Community College North Carolina 27 0
— Middle Tennessee State University Tennessee 27 0
— Fox Valley Technical College Wisconsin 27 0
— St. Mary's University Texas 25 0
— University of Maryland Global Campus Maryland 24 0
— University of Puerto Rico-Carolina Puerto Rico 23 0
— Grossmont College California 22 0
— The University of Tampa Florida 22 0
— Chaminade University of Honolulu Hawaii 21 0
— Fayetteville Technical Community College North Carolina 21 0
— Savannah State University Georgia 20 1
— Lewis University Illinois 19 0
— Towson University Maryland 18 1
— Madonna University Michigan 18 0
— CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College New York 18 2

Purple: international students are 25% or more of the school's graduates.

Related jobs and pay

OccupationUS employmentMean hourly wageMean annual wage
Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other 73,910 $31.86 $66,280
Forensic Science Technicians 19,120 $38.08 $79,200
Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary 13,150 — $87,550

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.

Graduate counts: IPEDS Completions, US Department of Education, 2020–2025. Rankings: 2027 U.S. News.