Best Forensic Science Schools Near Nixa, MO (2026)

Nixa, Missouri has 1 accredited school offering forensic science programs, with tuition ranging from $3,342 to $5,238 per year for indexed programs. Nixa has a population of about 24,131. Median household income is $80,491 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 34.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Springfield, MO metro area, the top-earning forensic science-related role is Detective and Criminal Investigator at a median $63,920 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).


Closest Forensic Science Schools to Nixa

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

#1

Columbia College

Columbia, MO 142.3 miles from Nixa BOC Score 32.6
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Graduation rate 44%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $45,378
Avg net price $22,715/yr
Tuition
In‑state$25,826
Out‑of‑state$25,826
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 72%
  • Programs offered: 22

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Saint Louis University

Saint Louis, MO 201.8 miles from Nixa BOC Score 74.6
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 75%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $70,783
Avg net price $24,398/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 88%
  • Programs offered: 49

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

Missouri Western State University

Saint Joseph, MO 204.0 miles from Nixa BOC Score 37.8
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 42%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $42,647
Avg net price $13,251/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 56%
  • Programs offered: 49

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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


Forensic Science Wages Near Nixa

Nixa is part of the Springfield, MO metro area (BLS area code 44180). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Missouri statewide.

OccupationMedian WageSourceCOL-Adjusted (US=100)
Forensic Science Technician$62,750MO statewide$70,824
Detective and Criminal Investigator$63,920Springfield, MO$72,144
Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officer$58,460Springfield, MO$65,982

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.


Nixa at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population24,131Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$80,491Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+34.8%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)88.6 (below U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024

Other Nixa-Area Cities With Forensic Science Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited forensic science schools are near Nixa, MO?

Our directory has 1 accredited schools offering forensic science programs near Nixa. The closest is NorthWest Arkansas Community College in Bentonville, AR (68.0 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is NorthWest Arkansas Community College (68.0 miles). 1 of the highlighted schools is flagged as offering distance education.

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

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying forensic science-related roles near Nixa are: Detective and Criminal Investigator ($63,920), Forensic Science Technician ($62,750), Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officer ($58,460). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Missouri statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Springfield instead of Nixa?

Springfield, MO is 10.3 miles from Nixa 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 Nixa an affordable place to study forensic science?

Nixa’s median household income of $80,491 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Nixa while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Missouri 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 Nixa

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

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.