Best Forensic Science Schools Near Big Spring, TX (2026)

Updated August 31, 2026 BLS data College Scorecard On this page

Big Spring, Texas has 1 accredited school offering forensic science programs. Big Spring has a population of about 24,769. Median household income is $70,532 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 14.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Texas, the top-earning forensic science-related role is Detective and Criminal Investigator at a median $90,510 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest Forensic Science Schools to Big Spring

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

Ranked by BOC Score — U.S. Dept. of Education outcome data. Advertising never affects rankings.

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#1

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, TX 95.7 miles from Big Spring
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
71.1 BOC Score
Graduation rate 67%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $62,454
Avg net price $19,070/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 85%
  • Programs offered: 168

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

St. Mary's University

San Antonio, TX 258.8 miles from Big Spring
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
53.0 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 98%
Graduation rate 60%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $56,955
Avg net price $21,145/yr
Tuition
In‑state$37,434
Out‑of‑state$37,434
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 70%
  • Programs offered: 51

Source:Accreditor: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on CollegesIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

The University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX 259.0 miles from Big Spring
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
84.2 BOC Score
Graduation rate 85%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $75,121
Avg net price $19,857/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 96%
  • Programs offered: 180

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Saint Edward's University

Austin, TX 260.2 miles from Big Spring
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
58.8 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 81%
Graduation rate 63%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $58,826
Avg net price $25,578/yr
Tuition
In‑state$51,384
Out‑of‑state$51,384
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 79%
  • Programs offered: 56

Source:Accreditor: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on CollegesIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#5

The University of Texas at El Paso

El Paso, TX 296.1 miles from Big Spring
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
57.8 BOC Score
Graduation rate 52%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $50,923
Avg net price $9,403/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 78%
  • Programs offered: 114

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Texas A&M University-College Station

College Station, TX 323.2 miles from Big Spring
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
81.9 BOC Score
Graduation rate 85%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $72,097
Avg net price $21,315/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 94%
  • Programs offered: 233

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#7

Tyler Junior College

Tyler, TX 361.9 miles from Big Spring
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
40.7 BOC Score
Graduation rate 26%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $38,140
Avg net price $10,206/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 60%
  • Programs offered: 73

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

Sam Houston State University

Huntsville, TX 365.1 miles from Big Spring
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
60.4 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 90%
Graduation rate 55%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $54,211
Avg net price $16,404/yr
Tuition
In‑state$9,228
Out‑of‑state$19,068
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 74%
  • Programs offered: 104

Source:Accreditor: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on CollegesIPEDSCollege Scorecard

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

Forensic Science Wages Near Big Spring

OccupationMedian Annual Wage (Texas, statewide)
Forensic Science Technician$59,870
Detective and Criminal Investigator$90,510
Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officer$75,900

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.

Big Spring at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population24,769Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$70,532Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+14.0%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)

Other Big Spring-Area Cities With Forensic Science Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited forensic science schools are near Big Spring, TX?

Our directory has 1 accredited schools offering forensic science programs near Big Spring. The closest is Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX (95.7 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Texas Tech University (95.7 miles). 1 of the highlighted schools is flagged as offering distance education.

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

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying forensic science-related roles in Texas are: Detective and Criminal Investigator ($90,510), Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officer ($75,900), Forensic Science Technician ($59,870). Wages for Big Spring workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Midland instead of Big Spring?

Midland, TX is 39.7 miles from Big Spring 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 Big Spring an affordable place to study forensic science?

Big Spring’s median household income of $70,532 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Big Spring while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Texas 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 Big Spring

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

Data verified: August 31, 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 Texas: Online Programs (2026)