Hattiesburg, Mississippi has 2 accredited schools offering forensic science programs, with tuition ranging from $8,054 to $16,954 per year for indexed programs. Hattiesburg has a population of about 48,507. Median household income is $44,140 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 35.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Hattiesburg, MS metro area, the top-earning forensic science-related role is Detective and Criminal Investigator at a median $57,420 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Closest Forensic Science Schools to Hattiesburg
The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer forensic science programs near Hattiesburg, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Hattiesburg 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:
BOCSCORE
- 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 Hattiesburg.
Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
Acceptance rate
60%
Graduation rate
51%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$43,087
Avg net price
$14,258/yr
TuitionIn‑state$15,480
Out‑of‑state$15,480
Key stats- Retention rate: 79%
- Programs offered: 35
Source:Accreditor: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges · IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
53%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$44,140
Avg net price
$21,708/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats- Retention rate: 71%
- Programs offered: 51
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Mississippi schools on the Mississippi forensic science page.
Forensic Science Wages Near Hattiesburg
Hattiesburg is part of the Hattiesburg, MS metro area (BLS area code 25620). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Mississippi statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|
| Forensic Science Technician | $52,850 | MS statewide | $60,331 |
| Detective and Criminal Investigator | $57,420 | Hattiesburg, MS | $65,548 |
| Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officer | $44,080 | Hattiesburg, MS | $50,320 |
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.
Hattiesburg at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|
| Population | 48,507 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $44,140 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 35.0% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 87.6 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Hattiesburg-Area Cities With Forensic Science Programs
- Laurel, MS – 28.7 mi away (26,433 pop)
- Gulfport, MS – 62.6 mi away (222,131 pop)
- Biloxi, MS – 63.7 mi away (45,975 pop)
- Slidell, LA – 75.7 mi away (94,320 pop)
- Brandon, MS – 77.8 mi away (23,826 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited forensic science schools are near Hattiesburg, MS?
Our directory has 2 accredited schools offering forensic science programs near Hattiesburg. The closest is University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, MS (1.6 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Southern University at New Orleans (98.5 miles). 2 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying forensic science roles near Hattiesburg?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying forensic science-related roles near Hattiesburg are: Detective and Criminal Investigator ($57,420), Forensic Science Technician ($52,850), Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officer ($44,080). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Mississippi statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Laurel instead of Hattiesburg?
Laurel, MS is 28.7 miles from Hattiesburg 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 Hattiesburg an affordable place to study forensic science?
Hattiesburg’s median household income of $44,140 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Hattiesburg while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Mississippi 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
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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.
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