Best Forensic Science Schools Near Bristol, CT (2026)

Bristol, Connecticut has 26 accredited schools offering forensic science programs, with tuition ranging from $5,338 to $47,820 per year for indexed programs. Bristol has a population of about 61,129. Median household income is $83,458 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 30.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Connecticut, the top-earning forensic science-related role is Detective and Criminal Investigator at a median $95,240 annually (BLS, May 2025).


Closest Forensic Science Schools to Bristol

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

#1

Connecticut State Community College

New Britain, CT 15.1 miles from Bristol BOC Score 47.6
  • 2 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 25%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $41,344
Avg net price $11,513/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 139

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

University of New Haven

West Haven, CT 27.0 miles from Bristol BOC Score 56.1
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 65%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $60,126
Avg net price $34,192/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 77%
  • Programs offered: 60

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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


Forensic Science Wages Near Bristol

OccupationMedian Annual Wage (Connecticut, statewide)
Forensic Science Technician$85,910
Detective and Criminal Investigator$95,240
Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officer$82,170

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.


Bristol at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population61,129Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$83,458Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+30.5%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)

Other Bristol-Area Cities With Forensic Science Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited forensic science schools are near Bristol, CT?

Our directory has 26 accredited schools offering forensic science programs near Bristol. The closest is Connecticut State Community College in Hartford, CT (15.1 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is University of Rhode Island (74.3 miles). 10 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

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

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying forensic science-related roles in Connecticut are: Detective and Criminal Investigator ($95,240), Forensic Science Technician ($85,910), Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officer ($82,170). Wages for Bristol workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in New Britain instead of Bristol?

New Britain, CT is 8.0 miles from Bristol 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 Bristol an affordable place to study forensic science?

Bristol’s median household income of $83,458 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Bristol while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Connecticut 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 Bristol

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

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.