Forensic Science Degrees in Maryland

Updated September 23, 2026

Maryland’s forensic science field centers on the crime lab, not the interview room. Forensic science technicians here earn a median $82,140 a year and the role is projected to grow 15.6% through 2034 (BLS Maryland OEWS, ProjectionsCentral, May 2025). Most labs want a bachelor’s degree in forensic science, chemistry, or biology, though requirements vary by employer and specialty. Detective and investigator work is a separate, sworn law enforcement career that a forensic science degree does not itself qualify you for.

If you’re weighing a forensic science degree against a general criminal justice degree, the difference comes down to where you want to work: at the bench running evidence, or in the field building a case.

Make Your First Move Now by Contacting Forensic Science Schools in Maryland

Featured Programs:

What Forensic Science Technicians Do in Maryland

Forensic science technicians process physical evidence: collecting it at a scene, running it through lab analysis, and documenting a chain of custody that can hold up in court. Most work inside a crime lab, a medical examiner’s office, or a state or county police agency.

Digital and computer forensics is a related but separate specialty, with its own coursework and, often, its own degree track. Don’t assume a general forensic science program covers it. If digital evidence work is the goal, look specifically for a cyber forensics or digital forensics program rather than a lab-science one.

Choosing a Forensic Science Degree Level

BLS identifies a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education for forensic science technicians. An associate degree or a certificate may support evidence-related work, lab-assistant roles, or serve as a step toward a bachelor’s, but confirm directly with employers before assuming it opens the door to a technician position on its own.

A bachelor’s is the level most job postings ask for, but requirements vary by employer and by forensic discipline. The specific science coursework you take, chemistry, biology, or a named forensic science curriculum, can matter as much as the degree title itself.

Towson University’s M.S. in Forensic Science is a concrete example of what a graduate program in the state looks like: a 37-credit, FEPAC-accredited program with DNA and forensic chemistry tracks, requiring a bachelor’s in biological science, chemistry, natural science, or forensic science plus science prerequisites to get in. A master’s can deepen your specialization, but it doesn’t automatically confer supervisory authority or qualify you as a forensic pathologist. Forensic pathology is a physician specialty that requires medical school and residency training, not a forensic science master’s.

Where to Study Forensic Science in Maryland

Seven Maryland institutions offer a program in the Security Science and Technology CIP family, the federal classification that includes forensic science, per U.S. Department of Education data. That family is broad. It also covers cybersecurity, digital forensics, and general security management, so a listing here doesn’t mean every program is lab-based forensic science. Confirm the specific major, delivery format, and current admission requirements with each school before applying.

Institution	City	Control	Level	What’s Confirmed
Mount St. Mary’s University	Emmitsburg	Private nonprofit	4-year	Bachelor’s-level program in this CIP family; confirm the specific major with the school
Prince George’s Community College	Largo	Public	2-year	Forensic Science A.S.
Stevenson University	Owings Mills	Private nonprofit	4-year	Master’s in Forensic Science, offered 100% online through Stevenson University Online
Towson University	Towson	Public	4-year	B.S. in Forensic Chemistry; M.S. in Forensic Science (FEPAC-accredited)
University of Baltimore	Baltimore	Public	4-year	B.S. in Forensic Studies (forensic sciences or police science option); graduate offerings lean toward cyber and digital forensics, not lab science
University of Maryland, Baltimore	Baltimore	Public	4-year	Master’s-level program in this CIP family; confirm the specific program with the school
University of Maryland Global Campus	Adelphi	Public	4-year	Bachelor’s and Master’s-level programs in this CIP family; confirm the specific program and delivery format with the school

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.

What Forensic Science Technicians Earn in Maryland

Occupation	Median Annual Wage (May 2025, Maryland)	Projected Growth (2024-34, Maryland)
Forensic Science Technicians	$82,140	+15.6%

Forensic science technicians in Maryland earned a median $82,140 as of May 2025 BLS Maryland OEWS data, and the role is projected to grow 15.6% through 2034 (ProjectionsCentral, 2024-34).

May 2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures for Forensic Science Technicians. 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.

Detective and Criminal Investigator Work Is a Separate Career Path

Some readers researching forensic science are really asking about detective work. That’s a different, sworn law enforcement career with its own hiring and certification path, not something a forensic science degree leads to on its own. In Maryland, police certification and training standards are set by the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission (PTSC), not by any forensic-science credential, and individual agencies can add their own hiring requirements on top of PTSC’s minimums.

For reference: Maryland detectives and criminal investigators earned a median $126,730 as of May 2025 BLS Maryland OEWS data, and the role is projected to decline 8.2% through 2034 (ProjectionsCentral, 2024-34). These are separate occupational statistics, not a comparison point for which degree path pays more.

Frequently Asked Questions

What degree do I need to work in forensic science in Maryland?

BLS identifies a bachelor’s degree in forensic science, chemistry, or biology as the typical entry-level education for forensic science technicians. Requirements vary by employer and by forensic discipline, so confirm specifics with labs you’re targeting.

How much do forensic science technicians make in Maryland?

Maryland forensic science technicians earned a median $82,140 a year as of May 2025 BLS OEWS data, with the role projected to grow 15.6% through 2034.

Can an associate degree get me into forensic science work?

An associate degree or certificate may support evidence-related roles or serve as a step toward a bachelor’s, but BLS identifies a bachelor’s as the typical entry-level education for forensic science technicians. Confirm with employers before assuming an associate degree alone opens the door.

Is a forensic science degree the same as a criminal justice degree?

No. A criminal justice degree covers the broader system: policing, courts, and corrections. A forensic science degree focuses on physical and digital evidence, with more lab science coursework, and it doesn’t by itself qualify you for sworn law enforcement work like detective or investigator roles.

Key Takeaways

Forensic science technicians and detectives are different careers – A forensic science degree prepares you for lab and evidence work, not for sworn law enforcement roles like detective or investigator.
A bachelor’s is the typical entry point – BLS identifies it as typical for forensic science technicians, though specific requirements vary by employer and forensic discipline.
Technician employment is projected to grow 15.6% – That’s the Maryland state projection for 2024-34.
Seven Maryland schools offer programs in the relevant CIP family – Per federal education data, but the family also covers cybersecurity and digital forensics, so confirm the specific program with each school.
Detective and investigator certification runs through PTSC – The Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission, separate from any forensic science credential.

Worried about paying for the degree? Start with a scholarship search built for criminal justice and forensic science students before you look at loans.

Looking for a Forensic Science Program in Another State?

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