Best Forensic Science Schools Near Wausau, WI (2026)

Wausau, Wisconsin has 1 accredited school offering forensic science programs, with tuition ranging from $5,040 to $7,283 per year for indexed programs. Wausau has a population of about 39,893. Median household income is $61,877 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 30.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Wausau, WI metro area, the top-earning forensic science-related role is Detective and Criminal Investigator at a median $88,780 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).


Closest Forensic Science Schools to Wausau

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

#1

Fox Valley Technical College

Appleton, WI 74.7 miles from Wausau BOC Score 67.6
  • 2 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Graduation rate 63%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $45,684
Avg net price $11,407/yr
Tuition
In‑state$5,040
Out‑of‑state$7,283
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 103

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Marian University

Fond Du Lac, WI 101.9 miles from Wausau BOC Score 47.5
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Acceptance rate 75%
Graduation rate 43%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $53,501
Avg net price $21,937/yr
Tuition
In‑state$35,178
Out‑of‑state$35,178
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 65%
  • Programs offered: 42

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Milwaukee, WI 156.9 miles from Wausau BOC Score 55.0
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 54%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $54,990
Avg net price $15,014/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 73%
  • Programs offered: 52

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

University of Wisconsin-Platteville

Platteville, WI 159.6 miles from Wausau BOC Score 68.8
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 63%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $61,760
Avg net price $16,032/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 80%
  • Programs offered: 28

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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


Forensic Science Wages Near Wausau

Wausau is part of the Wausau, WI metro area (BLS area code 48140). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Wisconsin statewide.

OccupationMedian WageSourceCOL-Adjusted (US=100)
Forensic Science Technician$72,280WI statewide$77,972
Detective and Criminal Investigator$88,780Wausau, WI$95,771
Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officer$78,150Wausau, WI$84,304

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.


Wausau at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population39,893Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$61,877Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+30.0%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)92.7 (below U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024

Other Wausau-Area Cities With Forensic Science Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited forensic science schools are near Wausau, WI?

Our directory has 1 accredited schools offering forensic science programs near Wausau. The closest is Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton, WI (74.8 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Fox Valley Technical College (74.8 miles). 1 of the highlighted schools is flagged as offering distance education.

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

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying forensic science-related roles near Wausau are: Detective and Criminal Investigator ($88,780), Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officer ($78,150), Forensic Science Technician ($72,280). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Wisconsin statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Stevens Point instead of Wausau?

Stevens Point, WI is 30.6 miles from Wausau 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 Wausau an affordable place to study forensic science?

Wausau’s median household income of $61,877 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Wausau while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Wisconsin 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 Wausau

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

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.