Forensic Science Degree Programs in Indiana

Updated September 22, 2026

Federal education data identifies three Indiana schools with forensic-science-family programs: Indiana University-Indianapolis (B.S. in Forensic and Investigative Sciences, M.S. in Forensic Science), Indiana Institute of Technology (B.S. in Forensic Science), and Trine University (B.S. in Forensic Science). Forensic science technicians statewide earn a median $66,520 a year, and detectives and criminal investigators earn $70,340 (BLS, May 2025).

If you’re weighing a career in criminal justice, forensic science is worth a close look when you’re detail-oriented and comfortable with lab equipment and digital tools. The job runs on chemistry, biology, and procedure: you need to understand how evidence gets collected, tested, and defended in court. Indiana has real, named programs behind this path, not just a general concentration, so it’s worth knowing exactly what each school offers before you apply.

Contact Indiana schools to find out more.

Featured Programs:

What Can I Do with a Forensic Science Degree in Indiana?

Forensic science sits at the intersection of lab work and the courtroom. Technicians analyze physical evidence, from blood and fiber samples to digital devices and trace chemicals, using methods built to hold up under cross-examination, not just produce a result. That combination, scientific rigor plus legal defensibility, is what separates the field from a general chemistry or biology lab job.

Forensic Science Degrees in Indiana

Indiana’s three named forensic-science programs sit at the Bachelor’s and Master’s level. BLS identifies a bachelor’s degree, not an associate degree, as the typical entry-level education for forensic science technicians, so that’s where these programs start.

Bachelor’s Degree in Forensic Science

Coursework centers on your concentration, and it runs heavier on chemistry and biology than a general criminal justice degree. At Indiana University-Indianapolis, the B.S. in Forensic and Investigative Sciences offers forensic biology or forensic chemistry concentration tracks. At Trine University, the B.S. in Forensic Science runs 120 credits with a biology or chemistry concentration and substantial lab preparation. Indiana Institute of Technology also runs a B.S. track in forensic science. IU Indianapolis added a B.S. in Digital Forensics starting fall 2025, for students who want to specialize in digital evidence instead of the physical or biological side of the field.

Master’s Degree in Forensic Science

Indiana University-Indianapolis runs the state’s named forensic Master’s: a 30-credit M.S. in Forensic Science, with forensic chemistry or forensic biology concentration tracks. Admission specifically requires a bachelor’s in a physical, life, forensic, or related science, not just any undergraduate major. You can choose a thesis track, typically about two years, or a non-thesis track that full-time students can finish in about one academic year. The non-thesis option can include up to six credits of internship or research work, but it isn’t a blanket long-internship requirement.

What the IU Indianapolis M.S. Covers

Confirmed coursework includes:

Advanced Forensic Microscopy
Forensic Science and the Law
Track-specific Forensic Chemistry or Forensic Biology coursework

Where to Study Forensic Science in Indiana

Federal education data identifies three Indiana institutions with a program in the security-science-and-technology CIP family, which includes forensic science technology: Indiana University-Indianapolis, Indiana Institute of Technology, and Trine University. This is a federal dataset filtered by CIP code, not a complete list, and it won’t catch every forensic program in the state. It also reports how the institution as a whole is classified, not how any single program is delivered. Indiana Institute of Technology, for example, runs its B.S. forensic tracks on campus but also offers a separate online Forensic Science Certificate.

Institution	City	Type	Named Program(s)
Indiana University-Indianapolis	Indianapolis	Public, 4-year	B.S. Forensic and Investigative Sciences, M.S. Forensic Science, B.S. Digital Forensics (new fall 2025)
Indiana Institute of Technology	Fort Wayne	Private nonprofit, 4-year	B.S. Forensic Science, plus a separate online Forensic Science Certificate
Trine University	Angola	Private nonprofit, 4-year	B.S. Forensic Science

Confirm current curriculum, delivery format, and admission requirements directly with each school before you apply.

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.

Working as a Forensic Scientist in Indiana

The coursework above lines up with two different career tracks in Indiana, each with its own pay and its own path in. Both figures below are occupation-wide BLS medians, not earnings tied specifically to a forensic-science degree. Actual pay depends on employer, role, and experience.

Forensic science technicians process and analyze physical evidence in the lab. BLS says the role typically needs a bachelor’s degree, often in a physical science, biology, or forensic science field, and specific Indiana lab or agency openings can layer on more particular coursework requirements. In Indiana, forensic science technicians earn a median $66,520 a year, as of the 2025 BLS wage data (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025), with 10.6% projected job growth between 2024 and 2034 (ProjectionsCentral). There’s no single Indiana license or certification exam required to work in the role. Requirements are set by individual employers and specialties, and the degree alone doesn’t confer professional certification.

Some graduates move toward law enforcement instead, most often by starting as a police officer and working into an investigator role rather than entering directly with a forensic-science degree. Indiana police officers must first be hired by a department, then complete required basic training through the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, generally within one year of becoming a sworn officer. Detectives and criminal investigators in Indiana earn a median $70,340 a year, as of the 2025 BLS wage data (BLS, May 2025), with a flatter growth outlook: 0.9% projected through 2034 (ProjectionsCentral).

May 2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures for Forensic Science Technicians and Detectives and Criminal Investigators. Long-term (2024-34) job growth projections from the US Department of Labor-sponsored resource, ProjectionsCentral. Figures reflect state-level data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed September 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

What degree do I need to become a forensic scientist in Indiana?

Most entry-level lab roles want at least a Bachelor’s, often in forensic science, biology, or chemistry, per BLS guidance for forensic science technicians. There’s no single Indiana license or certification that comes bundled with the degree. Individual employers set their own hiring requirements on top of it.

Which Indiana schools offer forensic science degrees?

Federal education data identifies Indiana University-Indianapolis, Indiana Institute of Technology, and Trine University, and each runs a named forensic science degree: IU Indianapolis offers a B.S. in Forensic and Investigative Sciences and an M.S. in Forensic Science, and Indiana Tech and Trine each offer a B.S. in Forensic Science. Confirm current details with each school directly.

How much do forensic science technicians earn in Indiana?

The occupation-wide median is $66,520 a year, per May 2025 BLS wage data. That’s a statewide occupational figure, not a forensic-science-degree-specific number, and actual pay varies by employer and experience.

Is forensic science the same as criminal justice?

No. Criminal justice covers law enforcement, courts, and corrections broadly. Forensic science is a specialized, lab-based track built around chemistry and biology coursework, distinct from a general criminal justice degree.

What’s the difference between a forensic science technician and a criminal investigator?

A forensic science technician works primarily in the lab, testing and analyzing evidence, and typically needs a bachelor’s in a science field. A criminal investigator works cases directly and, in Indiana, usually starts as a sworn police officer trained through the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy before moving into investigative work. A forensic science degree doesn’t by itself qualify someone as a detective.

Key Takeaways

Three Indiana schools, named programs – IU Indianapolis, Indiana Tech, and Trine each run a specific forensic science degree, per federal data and current catalogs
Bachelor’s is the standard entry point – BLS lists a bachelor’s, not an associate degree, as typical for forensic science technicians
Two different occupational medians – Forensic science technicians earn $66,520, and detectives and criminal investigators earn $70,340 (May 2025 BLS), different jobs with different hiring paths, not a ranked comparison
Investigator work runs through police service first – Indiana detectives typically start as sworn officers trained through the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, not directly from a forensic-science degree

Whichever path you’re weighing, confirm current curriculum, admission requirements, and delivery format directly with the school before you commit.

Looking for a Forensic Science Program in Another State?

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