Forensic Science Degrees in Delaware: Programs, Pay & Careers

Updated September 23, 2026

Wilmington University’s 21-credit forensic science certificate stacks into a B.S. in Biology and is the one Delaware program appearing in federal CIP-family data. Forensic science technicians earn a national median of $72,060 a year (BLS, May 2025); Delaware has no published estimate. Detectives and criminal investigators, a separate sworn path, earn a Delaware median of $122,050.

Delaware’s forensic-science-family offerings run through one program: Wilmington University’s forensic science certificate, which can stand alone or feed into a bachelor’s. Beyond the certificate, the field splits into two different jobs with two different paths in: lab work and sworn investigation. Worth understanding both before you commit to either.

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Degree Options for Forensic Science in Delaware

Wilmington University offers a 21-credit undergraduate certificate in forensic science: Biology I, Survey of Criminal Justice, Criminal Investigation, Anatomy and Physiology I, Forensic Biology, and Scientific CSI, all with labs. It’s available fully online or in person, and its courses count toward Wilmington’s B.S. in Biology with a Forensic Science concentration, so it works as a standalone credential or a building block toward the bachelor’s (Wilmington University, 2024). Wilmington also offers separate certificates in Crime Scene Investigation and Digital Evidence Discovery and Investigation, three related but distinct programs that federal reporting can’t fully tell apart.

Federal education data lists Wilmington University as the one Delaware institution appearing in the CIP family that includes forensic science (security science and technology). That’s a reporting-code limit, not proof that Wilmington’s forensic-specific programs are Delaware’s only forensic-science-related offerings. Confirm current admission requirements, format, and course sequencing directly with the school before applying.

Where to Study Forensic Science in Delaware

Institution	City	Control	Credential Offered
Wilmington University	New Castle	Private nonprofit	Undergraduate certificate

This table reflects the security-science-and-technology CIP family per U.S. Department of Education data, the broader federal category that includes forensic science. It isn’t a forensic-science-only listing, since the Scorecard doesn’t separate the two below the 4-digit code. Confirm current enrollment, format, and admission requirements directly with the school before applying.

What Forensic Science Work in Delaware Pays

Forensic science technicians process the physical evidence collected from a scene: DNA, trace materials, fingerprints, toxicology. BLS lists a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education for the occupation. The national median wage is $72,060 a year as of May 2025, and BLS does not publish a separate Delaware estimate for this occupation. Nationally, employment is projected to grow 13% from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations (BLS Employment Projections).

Detectives and criminal investigators are a separate, sworn law enforcement occupation, not a typical next step after a forensic science credential. In Delaware, detectives and criminal investigators earn a median of $122,050 a year, against a national median of $93,790 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Nationally, employment in the occupation is projected to hold essentially flat through 2035, per the latest BLS Employment Projections.

Certification: Two Separate Paths

If you’re aiming for lab work, there’s no single Delaware license covering every forensic discipline. Requirements are set by the employer and the specific lab or accrediting body, not by a statewide forensic-science board.

If you’re aiming for sworn work as a detective, that’s a different path, governed by the Delaware Police Officer Standards and Training Commission (POST), formerly the Council on Police Training (COPT). POST sets Delaware’s minimum selection and training requirements for police officers: a job-related written exam, a background investigation, medical and psychological screening, physical standards, and completion of POST’s approved basic training curriculum, currently 584 hours. Individual departments can require more. That written exam and the rest of the POST process test for police work, not for civilian forensic-scientist qualification.

August 2026 US Bureau of Labor Statistics wage figures for Forensic Science Technicians and Detectives and Criminal Investigators, May 2025 OEWS survey. National job growth projections (2025-35) from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections program. Figures reflect national and Delaware state data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed September 2026.

School and program data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, institution file May 2025 and field-of-study file April 2025. Data accessed September 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Delaware have a forensic science degree program?

Yes. Wilmington University offers a 21-credit undergraduate certificate in forensic science, covering biology, anatomy and physiology, forensic biology, and crime scene investigation coursework, available online or in person. It’s also the one Delaware institution reporting a program in the federal CIP family that includes forensic science, though that reporting code covers more than forensic science alone.

How much do forensic science technicians make in Delaware?

BLS doesn’t publish a separate Delaware wage estimate for forensic science technicians. The national median was $72,060 a year as of May 2025.

Is a forensic science technician the same as a detective?

No. A forensic science technician processes physical evidence and typically needs a bachelor’s degree, not a law enforcement certification. A detective or criminal investigator is a sworn law enforcement officer certified through a state POST process. In Delaware, detectives and criminal investigators earn a median of $122,050 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), well above the $93,790 national median.

What certification do I need to become a police detective in Delaware?

Detectives typically start as police officers, so you’d first go through Delaware’s Police Officer Standards and Training Commission (POST) process: a written exam, background investigation, medical and psychological screening, and POST’s approved basic training curriculum, currently 584 hours. That’s separate from any forensic-science credential.

Key Takeaways

One in-state program, verified on the school’s site: Wilmington University’s 21-credit undergraduate certificate in forensic science, which can stack into its B.S. in Biology with a Forensic Science concentration.
Lab work and sworn investigation are separate paths: a forensic science technician processes evidence under lab/employer requirements; a detective or investigator is a sworn law enforcement role certified through Delaware POST.
Forensic science technician pay is a national figure: $72,060 median (BLS, May 2025). Delaware has no published state estimate.
Detective and investigator pay in Delaware: $122,050 median (BLS OEWS, May 2025), against a $93,790 national median.
Delaware POST certification governs sworn roles: 584 hours of mandatory basic training plus a written exam, background investigation, and medical and physical standards, separate from any forensic-science qualification.

If cost is what’s holding you back, start with the scholarships built for criminal justice majors before you look at loans. The list covers eligibility, award amounts, and deadlines.

Read: Scholarships for Criminal Justice Majors and Grad Students

Want the bigger picture? Read the full guide to Compare Forensic Scientist Schools & Training Programs.