Best Forensic Science Schools Near Galesburg, IL (2026)

Galesburg, Illinois has 5 accredited schools offering forensic science programs, with tuition ranging from $4,200 to $40,878 per year for indexed programs. Galesburg has a population of about 29,653. Median household income is $45,213 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 19.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Illinois, the top-earning forensic science-related role is Forensic Science Technician at a median $124,790 annually (BLS, May 2025).


Closest Forensic Science Schools to Galesburg

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

#1

Illinois Valley Community College

Oglesby, IL 70.7 miles from Galesburg BOC Score 58.3
  • 2 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Graduation rate 43%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $40,810
Avg net price $2,232/yr
Tuition
In‑state$4,200
Out‑of‑state$16,385
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 53

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Quincy University

Quincy, IL 87.8 miles from Galesburg BOC Score 44.9
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 54%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $50,369
Avg net price $20,359/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 67%
  • Programs offered: 27

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

Kishwaukee College

Malta, IL 103.2 miles from Galesburg BOC Score 66.2
  • 2 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Graduation rate 42%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $39,657
Avg net price $4,574/yr
Tuition
In‑state$4,560
Out‑of‑state$13,680
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 43

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Lewis University

Romeoville, IL 127.7 miles from Galesburg BOC Score 73.8
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Acceptance rate 71%
Graduation rate 65%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $66,099
Avg net price $17,028/yr
Tuition
In‑state$39,200
Out‑of‑state$39,200
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 81%
  • Programs offered: 59

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#5

William Rainey Harper College

Palatine, IL 142.6 miles from Galesburg BOC Score 59.2
  • 2 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 38%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $48,071
Avg net price $11,607/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 79

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Lake Land College

Mattoon, IL 149.3 miles from Galesburg BOC Score 53.4
  • 2 year
  • Accredited
Graduation rate 56%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $38,877
Avg net price $2,254/yr
Tuition
In‑state$4,415
Out‑of‑state$14,301
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 79

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#7

Oakton College

Des Plaines, IL 150.2 miles from Galesburg BOC Score 57.2
  • 2 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 16%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $47,852
Avg net price $5,183/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 81

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Edwardsville, IL 150.3 miles from Galesburg BOC Score 60.9
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 59%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $56,346
Avg net price $14,889/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 74%
  • Programs offered: 30

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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


Forensic Science Wages Near Galesburg

OccupationMedian Annual Wage (Illinois, statewide)
Forensic Science Technician$124,790
Detective and Criminal Investigator$91,190
Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officer$100,520

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.


Galesburg at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population29,653Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$45,213Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+19.3%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)

Other Galesburg-Area Cities With Forensic Science Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited forensic science schools are near Galesburg, IL?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering forensic science programs near Galesburg. The closest is Saint Ambrose University in Davenport, IA (42.1 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Mount Mercy University (98.1 miles). 5 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

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

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying forensic science-related roles in Illinois are: Forensic Science Technician ($124,790), Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officer ($100,520), Detective and Criminal Investigator ($91,190). Wages for Galesburg workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Moline instead of Galesburg?

Moline, IL is 37.2 miles from Galesburg 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 Galesburg an affordable place to study forensic science?

Galesburg’s median household income of $45,213 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Galesburg while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Illinois 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 Galesburg

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

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.