Best Forensic Science Schools Near Norwalk, OH (2026)

Norwalk, Ohio has 8 accredited schools offering forensic science programs, with tuition ranging from $13,135 to $41,164 per year for indexed programs. Norwalk has a population of about 17,054. Median household income is $58,940 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 20.3% 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 Norwalk

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

#1

Ashland University

Ashland, OH 30.3 miles from Norwalk 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

#2

The University of Findlay

Findlay, OH 55.8 miles from Norwalk BOC Score 50.5
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 59%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $56,996
Avg net price $27,221/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 73%
  • Programs offered: 43

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

University of Akron Main Campus

Akron, OH 57.8 miles from Norwalk BOC Score 48.4
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Acceptance rate 60%
Graduation rate 50%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $46,600
Avg net price $13,946/yr
Tuition
In‑state$13,135
Out‑of‑state$20,815
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 73%
  • Programs offered: 82

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Ohio Northern University

Ada, OH 71.9 miles from Norwalk 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

#5

Defiance College

Defiance, OH 91.1 miles from Norwalk BOC Score 34.4
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 48%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $49,351
Avg net price $26,337/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 59%
  • Programs offered: 23

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Youngstown State University

Youngstown, OH 102.4 miles from Norwalk BOC Score 48.5
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 52%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $41,544
Avg net price $12,767/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 76%
  • Programs offered: 69

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#7

Cedarville University

Cedarville, OH 121.0 miles from Norwalk 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

#8

Wright State University-Main Campus

Dayton, OH 126.3 miles from Norwalk 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

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


Forensic Science Wages Near Norwalk

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.


Norwalk at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population17,054Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$58,940Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+20.3%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)

Other Norwalk-Area Cities With Forensic Science Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

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

Our directory has 8 accredited schools offering forensic science programs near Norwalk. The closest is Ashland University in Ashland, OH (30.4 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Defiance College (90.9 miles). 7 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 Norwalk workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Sandusky instead of Norwalk?

Sandusky, OH is 14.8 miles from Norwalk 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 Norwalk an affordable place to study forensic science?

Norwalk’s median household income of $58,940 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Norwalk 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 Norwalk

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

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.