Forensic Science Degrees in Massachusetts

Updated September 23, 2026

Massachusetts has eight colleges offering a program in the security-science-and-technology field, the federal classification that includes forensic science, per U.S. Department of Education data. Forensic science technicians in the state earn a median $79,320 a year (BLS, May 2025), with the field projected to grow 16.7% through 2034.

Crime labs don’t hire on TV-show instinct. The Massachusetts State Police Crime Laboratory runs a full-service system across the state, and the people who staff it spent years building the science background the job actually requires, not the one procedural dramas show. Here’s what a forensic science education looks like in Massachusetts, from your first credential to your first paycheck.

Featured Forensic Science Programs in Massachusetts

Featured Programs:

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

The skills you build studying forensic science apply across a handful of employment settings. According to the Massachusetts State Police, the Massachusetts State Police Crime Laboratory operates nine locations across the state, including a dedicated evidence storage facility, with units covering criminalistics, DNA, trace and arson evidence, drug chemistry, toxicology, and firearms. Each unit specializes in a different evidence type, and the techs who staff them treat chain-of-custody paperwork as carefully as the science itself, because a broken chain can sink a case in court before it ever reaches a jury.

Degree Levels for Forensic Science in Massachusetts

The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a bachelor’s degree in a natural science as the typical requirement for forensic science technicians. A handful of Massachusetts institutions listed below offer that bachelor’s within the broader security-science-and-technology field, and some offer graduate study on top of it. Certificate and associate programs exist in the state too, but whether a given employer accepts one for an entry-level or evidence-support role depends on that specific agency or lab, not on a general rule. Confirm the exact requirement with the employer, and confirm credit counts and time-to-completion with the school directly, since both vary by program and change between catalog years.

Where to Study Forensic Science in Massachusetts

Eight Massachusetts institutions offer a security-science-and-technology program, the CIP family that includes forensic science, per U.S. Department of Education data:

Institution	City	Type	Credential(s) Offered
Anna Maria College	Paxton	Private nonprofit	Bachelor’s, Master’s
Bay Path University	Longmeadow	Private nonprofit	Bachelor’s, Master’s
Boston University	Boston	Private nonprofit	Master’s
Bunker Hill Community College	Boston	Public	Undergraduate Certificate
Middlesex Community College	Bedford	Public	Associate
Northern Essex Community College	Haverhill	Public	Undergraduate Certificate
University of Massachusetts-Lowell	Lowell	Public	Doctoral
Western New England University	Springfield	Private nonprofit	Master’s

This federal classification is broader than forensic science alone. It also covers general security science and criminal justice research, so a listing here isn’t a guarantee that a program is a dedicated forensic-science track. UMass Lowell’s doctorate, for example, is a Ph.D. in Criminology and Criminal Justice with a graduate certificate option in forensic criminology, not a stand-alone forensic-science doctorate. Confirm a program’s actual forensic science content, current enrollment status, and admission requirements directly with each school before applying.

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 Massachusetts

Hands-on experience while you’re still in school, such as an internship or lab placement, gives you something a transcript can’t: a supervisor who can speak to your work firsthand when you apply.

One of the most common paths is forensic science technician. As of May 2025, forensic science technicians in Massachusetts earn a median $79,320 a year (Bureau of Labor Statistics), and the U.S. Department of Labor-sponsored ProjectionsCentral projects 16.7% job growth in the state through 2034, with about 50 openings a year.

Detective and criminal investigator work is a related but separate career, not a typical next step from a forensic science technician role. Sworn officers in Massachusetts go through the state’s own certification system: the Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission certifies officers, and the Municipal Police Training Committee (MPTC) sets the academy training standards agencies use to get there. That process runs independently of any forensic science degree. Massachusetts detectives and criminal investigators earn a median $110,150 a year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025), with the state projecting 3.1% growth through 2034 and about 70 openings a year (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 Massachusetts?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a bachelor’s degree in a natural science as the typical requirement for forensic science technicians. Certificate and associate programs exist, but whether an employer accepts one for an entry-level or evidence-support role depends on that specific agency or lab. Confirm the minimum requirement directly with the lab or agency you’re targeting.

How much do forensic science technicians make in Massachusetts?

Forensic science technicians in Massachusetts earn a median $79,320 a year, according to May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics data. That figure covers the whole state and isn’t specific to any one employer or degree level.

Where can I study forensic science in Massachusetts?

Eight Massachusetts institutions offer a program in the security-science-and-technology field, the federal classification that includes forensic science, per U.S. Department of Education data. That classification also covers general security science and criminal justice research, so it isn’t a guarantee that every listed program is a dedicated forensic-science track. See the table above for the full list, and confirm each program’s actual forensic science content directly with the school.

Is forensic science the same as being a crime scene investigator?

Not exactly. A forensic science technician typically processes and analyzes evidence, often in a lab setting. A detective or criminal investigator works the broader case, and in Massachusetts is certified through a separate pathway, the state’s POST and MPTC system, rather than through forensic science coursework. They’re distinct roles with different training and different day-to-day work.

What’s the job outlook for forensic science technicians in Massachusetts?

The U.S. Department of Labor-sponsored ProjectionsCentral projects 16.7% growth for forensic science technicians in Massachusetts between 2024 and 2034, with about 50 openings a year statewide.

Key Takeaways

Eight Massachusetts schools, one broad category – Institutions from Bunker Hill Community College to UMass Lowell offer a program in the security-science-and-technology field per federal education data, but that category is broader than forensic science alone, so confirm a program’s actual focus with the school.
$79,320 median pay – Forensic science technicians in Massachusetts earn this as of May 2025 BLS data, with 16.7% projected growth through 2034.
Bachelor’s is the BLS-stated requirement – The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry point for forensic science technicians. Confirm whether a certificate or associate degree meets a specific employer’s bar.
Detective work is a separate certification path – Massachusetts detectives and criminal investigators earn a median $110,150 a year, but they’re certified through the state’s POST and MPTC system, not through forensic science education.

Ready to compare programs? The featured schools above and the state finder below can help you find a forensic science program that fits where you live and what you want to study.

Looking for a Forensic Science Program in Another State?

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