Best Forensic Science Schools Near Paragould, AR (2026)

Updated August 31, 2026 BLS data College Scorecard On this page

Paragould, Arkansas has 1 accredited school offering forensic science programs. Paragould has a population of about 29,940. Median household income is $56,181 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 16.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Arkansas, the top-earning forensic science-related role is Detective and Criminal Investigator at a median $54,500 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest Forensic Science Schools to Paragould

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer forensic science programs near Paragould, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Paragould 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 Paragould. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

Ranked by BOC Score — U.S. Dept. of Education outcome data. Advertising never affects rankings.

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#1

Harding University

Searcy, AR 88.0 miles from Paragould
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
63.3 BOC Score
Graduation rate 68%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $52,876
Avg net price $22,130/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 87%
  • Programs offered: 100

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Arkansas State University-Beebe

Beebe, AR 103.1 miles from Paragould
  • 2 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
49.5 BOC Score
Graduation rate 40%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $36,603
Avg net price $11,698/yr
Tuition
In‑state$3,336
Out‑of‑state$5,232
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 36

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

University of Arkansas at Little Rock

Little Rock, AR 138.0 miles from Paragould
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
42.7 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 59%
Graduation rate 42%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $45,265
Avg net price $17,248/yr
Tuition
In‑state$9,748
Out‑of‑state$22,158
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 74%
  • Programs offered: 84

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

NorthWest Arkansas Community College

Bentonville, AR 205.0 miles from Paragould
  • 2 year
  • Offers a fully online program
52.6 BOC Score
Graduation rate 24%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $43,505
Avg net price $7,196/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 40

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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

Forensic Science Wages Near Paragould

OccupationMedian Annual Wage (Arkansas, statewide)
Forensic Science Technician$44,670
Detective and Criminal Investigator$54,500
Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officer$47,670

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.

Paragould at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population29,940Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$56,181Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+16.3%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)

Other Paragould-Area Cities With Forensic Science Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited forensic science schools are near Paragould, AR?

Our directory has 1 accredited schools offering forensic science programs near Paragould. The closest is Harding University in Searcy, AR (88.0 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Harding University (88.0 miles). 1 of the highlighted schools is flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying forensic science roles in Arkansas?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying forensic science-related roles in Arkansas are: Detective and Criminal Investigator ($54,500), Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officer ($47,670), Forensic Science Technician ($44,670). Wages for Paragould workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Jonesboro instead of Paragould?

Jonesboro, AR is 18.7 miles from Paragould 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 Paragould an affordable place to study forensic science?

Paragould’s median household income of $56,181 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Paragould while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Arkansas 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 Paragould

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

Data verified: August 31, 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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