Best Forensic Science Schools Near Duluth, MN (2026)

Duluth, Minnesota is home to about 86,863 residents. Median household income is $66,263 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 42.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Duluth, MN-WI metro area, the top-earning forensic science-related role is Detective and Criminal Investigator at a median $77,330 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).


Closest Forensic Science Schools to Duluth

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

#1

Hamline University

Saint Paul, MN 134.7 miles from Duluth BOC Score 66.4
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Acceptance rate 88%
Graduation rate 59%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $61,106
Avg net price $20,744/yr
Tuition
In‑state$50,004
Out‑of‑state$50,004
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 76%
  • Programs offered: 28

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

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


Forensic Science Wages Near Duluth

Duluth is part of the Duluth, MN-WI metro area (BLS area code 20260). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Minnesota statewide.

OccupationMedian WageSourceCOL-Adjusted (US=100)
Forensic Science Technician$76,960MN statewide$86,667
Detective and Criminal Investigator$77,330Duluth, MN-WI$87,083
Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officer$76,220Duluth, MN-WI$85,833

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.


Duluth at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population86,863Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$66,263Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+42.3%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)88.8 (below U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024

Other Duluth-Area Cities With Forensic Science Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

What are the highest-paying forensic science roles near Duluth?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying forensic science-related roles near Duluth are: Detective and Criminal Investigator ($77,330), Forensic Science Technician ($76,960), Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officer ($76,220). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Minnesota statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Superior instead of Duluth?

Superior, WI is 6.4 miles from Duluth 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 Duluth an affordable place to study forensic science?

Duluth’s median household income of $66,263 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Duluth while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Minnesota 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 Duluth

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

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.