Best Forensic Science Schools Near Ann Arbor, MI (2026)

Ann Arbor, Michigan has 10 accredited schools offering forensic science programs, with tuition ranging from $3,020 to $43,842 per year for indexed programs. Ann Arbor has a population of about 121,179. Median household income is $81,089 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 77.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Ann Arbor, MI metro area, the top-earning forensic science-related role is Detective and Criminal Investigator at a median $105,780 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).


Closest Forensic Science Schools to Ann Arbor

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

#1

Madonna University

Livonia, MI 18.2 miles from Ann Arbor BOC Score 60.3
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 61%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $59,058
Avg net price $17,755/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 72%
  • Programs offered: 47

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI 49.2 miles from Ann Arbor BOC Score 80.6
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 82%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $67,253
Avg net price $19,680/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 91%
  • Programs offered: 82

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

Mott Community College

Flint, MI 50.7 miles from Ann Arbor BOC Score 38.0
  • 2 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Graduation rate 26%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $32,538
Avg net price $5,687/yr
Tuition
In‑state$6,845
Out‑of‑state$11,460
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 73

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, MI 104.7 miles from Ann Arbor BOC Score 60.7
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Acceptance rate 90%
Graduation rate 60%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $55,874
Avg net price $17,597/yr
Tuition
In‑state$14,760
Out‑of‑state$14,760
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 75%
  • Programs offered: 91

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

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


Forensic Science Wages Near Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor is part of the Ann Arbor, MI metro area (BLS area code 11460). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Michigan statewide.

OccupationMedian WageSourceCOL-Adjusted (US=100)
Forensic Science TechnicianN/AMI statewide
Detective and Criminal Investigator$105,780Ann Arbor, MI$104,836
Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officer$74,410Ann Arbor, MI$73,746

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.


Ann Arbor at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population121,179Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$81,089Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+77.7%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)100.9 (above U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024

Other Ann Arbor-Area Cities With Forensic Science Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited forensic science schools are near Ann Arbor, MI?

Our directory has 10 accredited schools offering forensic science programs near Ann Arbor. The closest is Madonna University in Livonia, MI (18.3 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Tiffin University (84.8 miles). 10 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying forensic science roles near Ann Arbor?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying forensic science-related roles near Ann Arbor are: Detective and Criminal Investigator ($105,780), Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officer ($74,410). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Michigan statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Ypsilanti instead of Ann Arbor?

Ypsilanti, MI is 6.1 miles from Ann Arbor 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 Ann Arbor an affordable place to study forensic science?

Ann Arbor’s median household income of $81,089 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Ann Arbor while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Michigan 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 Ann Arbor

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

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.