Best Forensic Science Schools Near Clarksburg, WV (2026)

Clarksburg, West Virginia has 10 accredited schools offering forensic science programs, with tuition ranging from $8,708 to $48,986 per year for indexed programs. Clarksburg has a population of about 15,829. Median household income is $46,859 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 24.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In West Virginia, the top-earning forensic science-related role is Detective and Criminal Investigator at a median $92,410 annually (BLS, May 2025).


Closest Forensic Science Schools to Clarksburg

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

#1

Salem University

Salem, WV 13.1 miles from Clarksburg BOC Score 35.3
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 43%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $34,642
Avg net price $12,303/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 53%
  • Programs offered: 9

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Fairmont State University

Fairmont, WV 16.2 miles from Clarksburg BOC Score 50.9
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 54%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $46,857
Avg net price $9,032/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 66%
  • Programs offered: 23

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

West Virginia University

Morgantown, WV 30.6 miles from Clarksburg BOC Score 67.4
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 64%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $55,939
Avg net price $15,634/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 82%
  • Programs offered: 59

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

West Virginia University Institute of Technology

Beckley, WV 114.2 miles from Clarksburg BOC Score 37.7
  • 4 year
Graduation rate 31%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $55,939
Avg net price $9,337/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 61%
  • Programs offered: 6

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#5

Blue Ridge Community and Technical College

Martinsburg, WV 124.4 miles from Clarksburg BOC Score 71.1
  • 2 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Graduation rate 37%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $39,293
Avg net price $4,641/yr
Tuition
In‑state$4,752
Out‑of‑state$8,808
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 58

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Marshall University

Huntington, WV 128.0 miles from Clarksburg BOC Score 54.7
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 54%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $46,354
Avg net price $7,502/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 75%
  • Programs offered: 52

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#7

American Public University System

Charles Town, WV 131.7 miles from Clarksburg BOC Score 50.2
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 26%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $44,409
Avg net price $9,597/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 96%
  • Programs offered: 58

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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


Forensic Science Wages Near Clarksburg

OccupationMedian Annual Wage (West Virginia, statewide)
Forensic Science Technician$63,330
Detective and Criminal Investigator$92,410
Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officer$56,960

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.


Clarksburg at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population15,829Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$46,859Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+24.1%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)

Other Clarksburg-Area Cities With Forensic Science Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited forensic science schools are near Clarksburg, WV?

Our directory has 10 accredited schools offering forensic science programs near Clarksburg. The closest is Salem University in Salem, WV (13.3 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Ohio University-Main Campus (95.1 miles). 10 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying forensic science roles in West Virginia?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying forensic science-related roles in West Virginia are: Detective and Criminal Investigator ($92,410), Forensic Science Technician ($63,330), Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officer ($56,960). Wages for Clarksburg workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Fairmont instead of Clarksburg?

Fairmont, WV is 16.1 miles from Clarksburg 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 Clarksburg an affordable place to study forensic science?

Clarksburg’s median household income of $46,859 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Clarksburg while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and West Virginia 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 Clarksburg

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

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.