Best Forensic Science Schools Near Walla Walla, WA (2026)

Walla Walla, Washington has 1 accredited school offering forensic science programs, with tuition ranging from $6,555 to $8,668 per year for indexed programs. Walla Walla has a population of about 33,766. Median household income is $65,493 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 28.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Washington, the top-earning forensic science-related role is Detective and Criminal Investigator at a median $115,790 annually (BLS, May 2025).


Closest Forensic Science Schools to Walla Walla

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

#1

Columbia Basin College

Pasco, WA 39.5 miles from Walla Walla BOC Score 61.3
  • 4 year
  • Accredited
Graduation rate 30%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $46,680
Avg net price $8,317/yr
Tuition
In‑state$6,555
Out‑of‑state$8,668
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 60

Source:Accreditor: Northwest Commission on Colleges and UniversitiesIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Green River College

Auburn, WA 201.3 miles from Walla Walla BOC Score 56.8
  • 4 year
  • Accredited
Graduation rate 40%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $50,712
Avg net price $13,803/yr
Tuition
In‑state$4,711
Out‑of‑state$5,263
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 55

Source:Accreditor: Northwest Commission on Colleges and UniversitiesIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

Pierce College District

Lakewood, WA 215.1 miles from Walla Walla BOC Score 69.7
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Graduation rate 31%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $47,532
Avg net price $10,222/yr
Tuition
In‑state$5,418
Out‑of‑state$5,976
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 37

Source:Accreditor: Northwest Commission on Colleges and UniversitiesIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Seattle University

Seattle, WA 220.2 miles from Walla Walla BOC Score 70.2
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 75%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $75,272
Avg net price $34,662/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 84%
  • Programs offered: 39

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#5

Edmonds College

Lynnwood, WA 223.6 miles from Walla Walla BOC Score 67.5
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Graduation rate 31%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $48,144
Avg net price $11,010/yr
Tuition
In‑state$4,810
Out‑of‑state$10,875
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 76

Source:Accreditor: Northwest Commission on Colleges and UniversitiesIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Centralia College

Centralia, WA 224.9 miles from Walla Walla BOC Score 56.5
  • 4 year
Graduation rate 46%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $43,140
Avg net price $9,862/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 47

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#7

Whatcom Community College

Bellingham, WA 270.6 miles from Walla Walla BOC Score 66.7
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 46%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $44,092
Avg net price $11,795/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 28

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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


Forensic Science Wages Near Walla Walla

Walla Walla is part of the Walla Walla, WA metro area (BLS area code 47460). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Washington statewide.

OccupationMedian WageSourceCOL-Adjusted (US=100)
Forensic Science Technician$81,310WA statewide$82,548
Detective and Criminal Investigator$115,790WA statewide$117,553
Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officer$83,620Walla Walla, WA$84,893

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.


Walla Walla at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population33,766Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$65,493Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+28.9%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)98.5 (below U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024

Other Walla Walla-Area Cities With Forensic Science Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited forensic science schools are near Walla Walla, WA?

Our directory has 1 accredited schools offering forensic science programs near Walla Walla. The closest is Columbia Basin College in Pasco, WA (39.7 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Columbia Basin College (39.7 miles).

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

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying forensic science-related roles near Walla Walla are: Detective and Criminal Investigator ($115,790), Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officer ($83,620), Forensic Science Technician ($81,310). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Washington statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Pasco instead of Walla Walla?

Pasco, WA is 39.9 miles from Walla Walla 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 Walla Walla an affordable place to study forensic science?

Walla Walla’s median household income of $65,493 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Walla Walla while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Washington 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 Walla Walla

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

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.