Forensic Science Programs in Maine

Updated September 22, 2026

Maine’s forensic science path runs through two schools with named programs: Husson University’s B.S. in Forensic Science (minimum 128 credit hours) and the University of Maine at Augusta’s Forensic Science Certificate. Forensic science technicians in Maine earn a median $70,870 a year, per May 2025 BLS wage data, with modest growth projected through 2034.

Forensic science sits at the intersection of criminal justice theory, physical science, and criminal psychology. Forensic scientists analyze evidence to reconstruct what happened at a scene, build timelines, and turn physical material into testimony a court can rely on. If you’re weighing a change into this specialty, here’s what training and hiring actually look like in Maine.

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

Maine forensic technicians train across several types of evidence, including DNA analysis. The Maine State Police Crime Laboratory in Augusta says its lab staff holds bachelor’s degrees in biology, chemistry, forensic science, or clinical laboratory science, with some staff holding master’s degrees, a useful benchmark if you’re deciding how far to take your education.

Forensic Science Degrees in Maine

Your first decision is which credential fits where you’re starting from. Maine has two schools with named forensic science programs, and they serve different starting points.

Certificate in Forensic Science (University of Maine at Augusta)

UMA’s Forensic Science Certificate covers criminal investigation procedure and the collection, preservation, and custody of forensic evidence, including how the law of criminal evidence applies at a crime scene and in court. The program runs six required courses, split into two tracks: an Investigation Focus (18 credit hours) or a Scientific Focus (20 credit hours) with additional forensic science coursework. Entry only requires a high school diploma or GED, and the credits apply toward UMA’s Associate or Bachelor’s in Justice Studies. Confirm the current course list directly with UMA’s Justice Studies program before enrolling; federal and third-party program data lag a school’s own catalog.

B.S. in Forensic Science (Husson University)

Husson’s program requires a minimum of 128 credit hours and pairs hard science with criminal justice coursework. On the science side: Chemistry I & II, Organic Chemistry I & II, Biochemistry, General Biology I & II, Genetics, and Physics I & II. On the CJ side: Criminalistics, Criminal Procedure, Investigations, Evidence, Criminal Law, and a Criminal Justice Internship. The program culminates in Forensic Science I and a capstone Forensic Seminar that ends with a mock trial, giving you a run at direct and cross-examination before you do it for real. Husson’s own program materials describe the degree as preparing graduates for entry-level forensic science positions in crime laboratories, police departments, and medical-related fields.

Where to Study Forensic Science in Maine

Two Maine schools currently list a named forensic science program, confirmed directly against each school’s own catalog: Husson University’s B.S. in Forensic Science and the University of Maine at Augusta’s Forensic Science Certificate. Federal education data independently places both under the same broader CIP family (security science and technology), that federal category is wider than forensic science alone, so it doesn’t prove these are the only two schools in the state with anything forensic-adjacent, but it does corroborate the two programs found by checking the schools directly.

Institution	City	Type	Program
Husson University	Bangor, ME	Private nonprofit, 4-year	B.S. in Forensic Science (128+ credit hours)
University of Maine at Augusta	Augusta, ME	Public, 4-year	Forensic Science Certificate (Investigation or Scientific Focus)

Confirm current course lists, format, and admission requirements directly with each school before applying. Program details can shift between catalog updates. If two schools feels thin for a state this size, that’s a fair read — look at accredited out-of-state or online options if you need a different pace or focus than these two offer.

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 Maine

A forensic science background supports a few distinct careers in Maine, and it’s worth being precise about which one you’re aiming for, since each has its own hiring path.

Forensic science technician (laboratory role). This is the most direct use of the degree — analyzing evidence at the Maine State Police Crime Laboratory or a similar facility, working closely with investigators and prosecutors. Maine forensic science technicians earn a median of $70,870 a year, according to May 2025 BLS wage data, compared to a $72,060 national median for the same occupation. Maine’s forensic science technician workforce, about 30 positions as of the 2024 base year, is projected to grow 6.1% by 2034 (ProjectionsCentral, 2024-34 state projections), modest movement, typical for a state this size.

Criminal investigator/detective (sworn law enforcement role). This is a separate career track, not an extension of lab work, and a forensic science degree alone doesn’t get you there. Full-time officers in Maine, including those who move into investigative roles, generally must complete the Maine Criminal Justice Academy’s Basic Law Enforcement Training Program (BLETP), an 18-week, roughly 720-hour residential academy, within 12 months of being hired. A forensic science background can be useful once you’re doing investigative work, but it doesn’t substitute for BLETP certification. Maine detectives and criminal investigators earn a median $88,310 a year, per May 2025 BLS wage data; that figure covers the occupation broadly, not specifically forensic-science-degree holders, and the state projects the role declining 3.8% (from about 530 to roughly 510 positions) by 2034, with about 30 average annual openings projected over the same period (ProjectionsCentral, 2024-34).

Death investigation. Maine doesn’t use county coroners. Deaths that meet the legal threshold for investigation go through the statewide Office of Chief Medical Examiner (OCME), based in Augusta under the Department of the Attorney General. The Chief Medical Examiner role itself requires an M.D. or D.O., a Maine medical license, and board certification in forensic pathology; a forensic science bachelor’s degree doesn’t qualify you for that specific position. If death investigation interests you without a medical degree, look at the OCME’s Medicolegal Death Investigator roles instead, and confirm current openings and requirements directly with the office.

One more thing worth knowing before you commit to a path: there’s no single Maine license or exam that covers “forensic scientist” as a blanket credential. Crime lab training requirements are set by the employer and the specific discipline (DNA, firearms, latent prints, and so on), sworn investigative work runs through MCJA certification, and forensic psychology work requires its own state psychology license. Confirm the specific requirement for the role you want rather than assuming one credential covers all of them.

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 work in forensic science in Maine?

The Maine State Police Crime Laboratory says its scientific staff holds bachelor’s degrees in biology, chemistry, forensic science, or clinical laboratory science, with some holding master’s degrees. A certificate alone, like UMA’s, builds investigation and evidence-handling skills but isn’t positioned as a substitute for that bachelor’s-level science background for lab scientist roles.

Which Maine schools offer forensic science programs?

Two, confirmed against each school’s own catalog: Husson University’s B.S. in Forensic Science in Bangor, and the University of Maine at Augusta’s Forensic Science Certificate, offered with an Investigation Focus or a Scientific Focus.

How much do forensic science technicians make in Maine?

Maine’s forensic science technicians earn a median $70,870 a year, according to May 2025 BLS wage data, compared to a $72,060 national median for the occupation.

Does a forensic science degree qualify me to become a Maine police detective?

Not by itself. Becoming a sworn investigator in Maine runs through the Maine Criminal Justice Academy’s Basic Law Enforcement Training Program (BLETP), an 18-week academy required of full-time officers. A forensic science background can help once you’re on the job, but it doesn’t replace that certification.

Does Maine use county coroners?

No. Maine investigates deaths through a single statewide Office of Chief Medical Examiner rather than county-level coroners. The Chief Medical Examiner position itself requires a medical degree and board certification in forensic pathology.

Key Takeaways

Two schools, two different credentials – Husson’s B.S. in Forensic Science (128+ credits) and UMA’s Forensic Science Certificate (18 or 20 credits, depending on focus) are Maine’s two confirmed named programs.
Lab work wants a bachelor’s – the Maine State Police Crime Lab reports its scientists hold bachelor’s degrees in biology, chemistry, forensic science, or clinical laboratory science.
A forensic science degree isn’t a law enforcement credential – becoming a Maine investigator still requires MCJA’s BLETP academy, separate from any science degree.
Maine has no county coroners – death investigation runs through a single statewide Office of Chief Medical Examiner, and the top role there requires a medical degree.

If Maine’s two in-state programs feel narrow for what you want to do, that’s a fair read for a state this size; check the sponsored programs above for accredited options elsewhere, and confirm accreditation and transferability 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.