Best Forensic Science Schools Near Salina, KS (2026)

Salina, Kansas has 3 accredited schools offering forensic science programs, with tuition ranging from $7,106 to $35,500 per year for indexed programs. Salina has a population of about 46,432. Median household income is $60,624 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 28.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Kansas, the top-earning forensic science-related role is Detective and Criminal Investigator at a median $75,740 annually (BLS, May 2025).


Closest Forensic Science Schools to Salina

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

#1

Wichita State University

Wichita, KS 77.9 miles from Salina BOC Score 51.5
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 53%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $51,532
Avg net price $13,194/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 68%
  • Programs offered: 72

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Newman University

Wichita, KS 79.5 miles from Salina BOC Score 57.6
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 65%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $55,041
Avg net price $19,971/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 70%
  • Programs offered: 23

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

Emporia State University

Emporia, KS 82.3 miles from Salina BOC Score 49.0
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 55%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $47,601
Avg net price $16,261/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 71%
  • Programs offered: 43

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Washburn University

Topeka, KS 104.0 miles from Salina BOC Score 53.8
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 60%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $49,774
Avg net price $15,280/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 69%
  • Programs offered: 44

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#5

Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College

Goodland, KS 222.2 miles from Salina BOC Score 66.7
  • 2 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 69%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $38,616
Avg net price $13,074/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 31

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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


Forensic Science Wages Near Salina

OccupationMedian Annual Wage (Kansas, statewide)
Forensic Science TechnicianN/A
Detective and Criminal Investigator$75,740
Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officer$59,230

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.


Salina at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population46,432Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$60,624Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+28.7%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)

Other Salina-Area Cities With Forensic Science Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited forensic science schools are near Salina, KS?

Our directory has 3 accredited schools offering forensic science programs near Salina. The closest is Wichita State University in Wichita, KS (77.7 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Emporia State University (82.3 miles). 3 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

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

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying forensic science-related roles in Kansas are: Detective and Criminal Investigator ($75,740), Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officer ($59,230). Wages for Salina workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Junction City instead of Salina?

Junction City, KS is 43.7 miles from Salina 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 Salina an affordable place to study forensic science?

Salina’s median household income of $60,624 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Salina while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Kansas 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 Salina

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

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.