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Best Digital Forensics Schools Near Helena, MT (2026)
Updated September 7, 2026BLS dataCollege ScorecardOn this page
Helena, Montana is home to about 33,126 residents. Median household income is $69,341 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 50.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Helena, MT metro area, the top-earning digital forensics-related role is Computer Occupations, All Other at a median $86,940 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Closest Digital Forensics Schools to Helena
The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer digital forensics programs near Helena, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Helena city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.
Helena is part of the Helena, MT metro area (BLS area code 25740). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Montana statewide.
Occupation
Median Wage
Source
COL-Adjusted (US=100)
Information Security Analysts
$81,950
Helena, MT
$85,632
Computer Occupations, All Other
$86,940
Helena, MT
$90,846
Detectives and Criminal Investigators
$73,950
Helena, MT
$77,273
Forensic Science Technicians
$82,200
MT statewide
$85,893
Computer Systems Analysts
$79,700
Helena, MT
$83,281
Computer Network Support Specialists
$62,440
Helena, MT
$65,246
Private Detectives and Investigators
$47,430
MT statewide
$49,561
Network and Computer Systems Administrators
$82,240
Helena, MT
$85,935
Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.
Helena at a Glance
Metric
Value
Source
Population
33,126
Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income
$69,341
Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+
50.4%
Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)
95.7 (below U.S. average)
BEA RPP 2024
Other Helena-Area Cities With Digital Forensics Programs
What are the highest-paying digital forensics roles near Helena?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying digital forensics-related roles near Helena are: Computer Occupations, All Other ($86,940), Network and Computer Systems Administrators ($82,240), Forensic Science Technicians ($82,200). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Montana statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Butte instead of Helena?
Butte, MT is 56.8 miles from Helena and has its own set of local digital forensics programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Is Helena an affordable place to study digital forensics?
Helena’s median household income of $69,341 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Helena while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Montana public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
How do I verify a program is accredited?
Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.
Data verified: September 7, 2026.
Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.