Best Forensic Science Schools Near Chandler, AZ (2026)

Chandler, Arizona has 11 accredited schools offering forensic science programs, with tuition ranging from $2,358 to $33,139 per year for indexed programs. Chandler has a population of about 278,123. Median household income is $103,691 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 46.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area, the top-earning forensic science-related role is Detective and Criminal Investigator at a median $98,860 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).


Closest Forensic Science Schools to Chandler

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer forensic science programs near Chandler, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Chandler 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:

  • 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 Chandler. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

#1

Chandler-Gilbert Community College

Chandler, AZ 3.4 miles from Chandler BOC Score 53.0
  • 2 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 22%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $51,111
Avg net price $12,726/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 52

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Arizona schools on the Arizona forensic science page.


Forensic Science Wages Near Chandler

Chandler is part of the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area (BLS area code 38060). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Arizona statewide.

OccupationMedian WageSourceCOL-Adjusted (US=100)
Forensic Science Technician$65,220Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ$63,136
Detective and Criminal Investigator$98,860Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ$95,702
Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officer$85,050Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ$82,333

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.


Chandler at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population278,123Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$103,691Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+46.8%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)103.3 (above U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024

Other Chandler-Area Cities With Forensic Science Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited forensic science schools are near Chandler, AZ?

Our directory has 11 accredited schools offering forensic science programs near Chandler. The closest is Chandler-Gilbert Community College in Chandler, AZ (3.3 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Glendale Community College (27.9 miles). 8 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying forensic science roles near Chandler?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying forensic science-related roles near Chandler are: Detective and Criminal Investigator ($98,860), Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officer ($85,050), Forensic Science Technician ($65,220). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Arizona statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Gilbert instead of Chandler?

Gilbert, AZ is 6.4 miles from Chandler 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.

Is Chandler an affordable place to study forensic science?

Chandler’s median household income of $103,691 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Chandler while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Arizona 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.


Learn More About Forensic Science Programs

Other Programs Available in Chandler

Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Chandler:

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 2024โ€“2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.