Gadsden, Alabama has 6 accredited schools offering forensic science programs, with tuition ranging from $3,248 to $23,334 per year for indexed programs. Gadsden has a population of about 33,086. In Alabama, the top-earning forensic science-related role is Detective and Criminal Investigator at a median $66,290 annually (BLS, May 2025).
Closest Forensic Science Schools to Gadsden
The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer forensic science programs near Gadsden, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Gadsden city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.
How We Rank Schools
Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most
recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS).
To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the
U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked
against schools at the same credential level:
BOCSCORE
- Graduation rate 30%
- Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
- Average net price (lower is better) 20%
- Retention rate 15%
- Fully online availability 10%
Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score.
On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Gadsden.
Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
Acceptance rate
88%
Graduation rate
63%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$54,501
Avg net price
$18,749/yr
TuitionIn‑state$9,098
Out‑of‑state$22,562
Key stats- Retention rate: 81%
- Programs offered: 55
Source:Accreditor: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges · IPEDS · College Scorecard
Acceptance rate
98%
Graduation rate
30%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$34,502
Avg net price
$20,435/yr
TuitionIn‑state$11,248
Out‑of‑state$19,576
Key stats- Retention rate: 65%
- Programs offered: 24
Source:Accreditor: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges · IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
48%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$63,534
Avg net price
$14,580/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats- Retention rate: 66%
- Programs offered: 28
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Alabama schools on the Alabama forensic science page.
Forensic Science Wages Near Gadsden
Gadsden is part of the Gadsden, AL metro area (BLS area code 23460). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Alabama statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|
| Forensic Science Technician | $59,560 | AL statewide | $69,498 |
| Detective and Criminal Investigator | $66,290 | AL statewide | $77,351 |
| Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officer | $48,340 | Gadsden, AL | $56,406 |
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.
Gadsden at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 85.7 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Gadsden-Area Cities With Forensic Science Programs
- Albertville, AL – 20.8 mi away (37,451 pop)
- Anniston, AL – 26.0 mi away (21,127 pop)
- Oxford, AL – 29.7 mi away (21,120 pop)
- Trussville, AL – 41.4 mi away (21,422 pop)
- Cullman, AL – 48.6 mi away (20,239 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited forensic science schools are near Gadsden, AL?
Our directory has 6 accredited schools offering forensic science programs near Gadsden. The closest is Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, AL (19.3 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Atlanta Metropolitan State College (94.7 miles). 6 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying forensic science roles near Gadsden?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying forensic science-related roles near Gadsden are: Detective and Criminal Investigator ($66,290), Forensic Science Technician ($59,560), Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officer ($48,340). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Alabama statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Albertville instead of Gadsden?
Albertville, AL is 20.8 miles from Gadsden and has its own set of local forensic science programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
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.
Learn More About Forensic Science Programs
Other Programs Available in Gadsden
Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Gadsden:
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Data verified: August 11, 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.
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