Best Forensic Science Schools Near Chillicothe, OH (2026)

Updated August 11, 2026 BLS data College Scorecard On this page

Chillicothe, Ohio has 6 accredited schools offering forensic science programs, with tuition ranging from $7,491 to $41,221 per year for indexed programs. Chillicothe has a population of about 21,958. Median household income is $49,193 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 21.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Ohio, the top-earning forensic science-related role is Detective and Criminal Investigator at a median $79,300 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest Forensic Science Schools to Chillicothe

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

#1

Ohio University-Main Campus

Athens, OH 47.7 miles from Chillicothe BOC Score 63.0
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 69%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $52,581
Avg net price $21,637/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 83%
  • Programs offered: 86

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Cedarville University

Cedarville, OH 52.4 miles from Chillicothe BOC Score 66.7
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 74%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $55,443
Avg net price $24,468/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 87%
  • Programs offered: 29

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

Wright State University-Main Campus

Dayton, OH 64.4 miles from Chillicothe BOC Score 45.3
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 48%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $49,500
Avg net price $15,415/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 65%
  • Programs offered: 51

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Miami University-Middletown

Middletown, OH 73.8 miles from Chillicothe BOC Score 45.7
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Graduation rate 28%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $55,076
Avg net price $10,809/yr
Tuition
In‑state$7,491
Out‑of‑state$19,407
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 64%
  • Programs offered: 19

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#5

Miami University-Hamilton

Hamilton, OH 83.9 miles from Chillicothe BOC Score 43.1
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Graduation rate 23%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $55,076
Avg net price $11,286/yr
Tuition
In‑state$7,491
Out‑of‑state$19,407
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 53%
  • Programs offered: 18

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Miami University-Oxford

Oxford, OH 93.7 miles from Chillicothe BOC Score 67.4
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Acceptance rate 75%
Graduation rate 81%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $55,076
Avg net price $28,384/yr
Tuition
In‑state$18,161
Out‑of‑state$41,221
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 90%
  • Programs offered: 55

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#7

Ohio Northern University

Ada, OH 108.2 miles from Chillicothe BOC Score 65.1
  • 4 year
Graduation rate 74%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $80,928
Avg net price $24,478/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 86%
  • Programs offered: 28

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

Ashland University

Ashland, OH 111.0 miles from Chillicothe BOC Score 52.2
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Acceptance rate 76%
Graduation rate 61%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $52,928
Avg net price $21,988/yr
Tuition
In‑state$31,210
Out‑of‑state$31,210
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 74%
  • Programs offered: 45

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

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

Forensic Science Wages Near Chillicothe

OccupationMedian Annual Wage (Ohio, statewide)
Forensic Science TechnicianN/A
Detective and Criminal Investigator$79,300
Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officer$77,020

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.

Chillicothe at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population21,958Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$49,193Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+21.0%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)

Other Chillicothe-Area Cities With Forensic Science Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited forensic science schools are near Chillicothe, OH?

Our directory has 6 accredited schools offering forensic science programs near Chillicothe. The closest is Ohio University-Main Campus in Athens, OH (47.7 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Miami University-Oxford (93.6 miles). 6 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying forensic science roles in Ohio?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying forensic science-related roles in Ohio are: Detective and Criminal Investigator ($79,300), Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officer ($77,020). Wages for Chillicothe workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Lancaster instead of Chillicothe?

Lancaster, OH is 33.8 miles from Chillicothe 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 Chillicothe an affordable place to study forensic science?

Chillicothe’s median household income of $49,193 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Chillicothe while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Ohio 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 Chillicothe

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

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.

Back to Best Forensic Science Schools in Ohio: Online Programs (2026)