Best Forensic Science Schools Near Saint Cloud, MN (2026)

Saint Cloud, Minnesota has 1 accredited school offering forensic science programs, with tuition ranging from $50,004 to $50,004 per year for indexed programs. Saint Cloud has a population of about 69,926. Median household income is $61,112 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 29.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Minnesota, the top-earning forensic science-related role is Forensic Science Technician at a median $76,960 annually (BLS, May 2025).


Closest Forensic Science Schools to Saint Cloud

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

#1

Hamline University

Saint Paul, MN 62.7 miles from Saint Cloud 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 Saint Cloud

Saint Cloud is part of the St. Cloud, MN metro area (BLS area code 41060). 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$87,854
Detective and Criminal Investigator$68,490St. Cloud, MN$78,185
Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officer$76,880St. Cloud, MN$87,763

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.


Saint Cloud at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population69,926Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$61,112Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+29.4%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)87.6 (below U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024

Other Saint Cloud-Area Cities With Forensic Science Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited forensic science schools are near Saint Cloud, MN?

Our directory has 1 accredited schools offering forensic science programs near Saint Cloud. The closest is Hamline University in Saint Paul, MN (62.8 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Hamline University (62.8 miles). 1 of the highlighted schools is flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying forensic science roles near Saint Cloud?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying forensic science-related roles near Saint Cloud are: Forensic Science Technician ($76,960), Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officer ($76,880), Detective and Criminal Investigator ($68,490). 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 Monticello instead of Saint Cloud?

Monticello, MN is 24.4 miles from Saint Cloud 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 Saint Cloud an affordable place to study forensic science?

Saint Cloud’s median household income of $61,112 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Saint Cloud 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 Saint Cloud

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

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.