Forensic Science Degree Programs in Minnesota

Updated September 23, 2026

Minnesota’s federal education data lists three institutions in the security-science-and-technology field, the broader category that includes forensic science: Century College, Hamline University and Capella University. Minnesota forensic science technicians earn a median of $76,960 a year, per May 2025 BLS data, in a civilian lab role that’s separate from sworn law enforcement licensing.

Crime shows make forensic science look like instant lab results and dramatic reveals. The real job is slower and more procedural, built around careful evidence handling rather than solving a case single-handedly. Here’s what the federal data says about training for it in Minnesota, and what the state pays for the work.

Featured Programs:

What Forensic Science Technicians Actually Do

Forensic science technicians process physical evidence in a lab or at a scene: running tests, documenting chain of custody, and writing reports that can hold up in court. It’s a civilian scientific role, separate from sworn law enforcement.

If you’re picturing a path from forensic science straight into detective work, Minnesota draws a hard line between the two. Sworn law enforcement in the state is licensed through the Minnesota Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST Board), which requires a qualifying postsecondary degree, completion of POST-approved Professional Peace Officer Education (PPOE), and a passing score on the Peace Officer Licensing Examination before an agency can appoint you. A forensic science credential doesn’t satisfy that pathway on its own, and detective work runs on POST licensing rules, not a forensic science degree.

Forensic Science Programs in Minnesota

Three Minnesota institutions appear in the federal Security Science and Technology CIP family, the broad Department of Education category that includes forensic science alongside general security science and computer forensics: Century College, Hamline University, and Capella University. The federal classification doesn’t specify which of these programs teach forensic science specifically, or in what format. Confirm the actual curriculum, delivery format, and current enrollment status directly with each school’s admissions office before applying.

Institution	Location	Control	CIP-Family Credential(s) Listed	Institution Is Distance-Only?
Century College	White Bear Lake, MN	Public	Undergraduate Certificate	No
Hamline University	Saint Paul, MN	Private nonprofit	Undergraduate Certificate	No
Capella University	Minneapolis, MN	Private for-profit	Graduate Certificate, Master’s	Yes

Credential level and distance-only status come from Department of Education classification, not from verifying each school’s specific forensic science curriculum. 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.

Pay and Job Outlook: Forensic Science Technicians and Detectives in Minnesota

Forensic Science Technicians

As of the May 2025 BLS wage data, forensic science technicians in Minnesota earn a median of $76,960 a year, with the middle 50 percent of the field earning between $64,980 and $86,490 (25th to 75th percentile). ProjectionsCentral’s 2024–34 outlook projects 15.1% employment growth for the occupation in Minnesota.

Detectives and Criminal Investigators

Detectives and criminal investigators, a separate sworn occupation requiring Minnesota POST licensure, earn a median of $80,000 a year in the state, per the same May 2025 BLS data. ProjectionsCentral projects 3.6% employment growth for the occupation in Minnesota through 2034. This figure reflects the detective occupation overall, not earnings tied to a forensic science credential.

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 education do forensic science technicians typically need?

Nationally, BLS identifies a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education for forensic science technicians. Specific requirements at individual Minnesota labs depend on the employer and the forensic specialty, so confirm the standard with any lab or agency you’re targeting.

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

No. Forensic science coursework covers lab methods and the science behind physical evidence. Criminal justice programs cover policing, courts, and corrections more broadly, and sworn law enforcement work requires separate POST licensure in Minnesota regardless of degree field.

Can I complete a forensic-science-adjacent credential online in Minnesota?

Capella University, a distance-only institution per federal data, is classified under the same broad CIP family as forensic science, offering it at the graduate certificate and master’s level. Confirm directly with the school whether its specific coursework covers forensic science before enrolling.

Are there Minnesota-specific requirements for forensic science analysts?

Yes, but they’re narrow. Minnesota’s rules governing evidentiary blood and urine testing, for example, recognize a bachelor’s degree or higher in a qualifying science field, including forensic science, chemistry, biochemistry, biology, criminalistics or toxicology, combined with specific occupational qualifications for that specialty. That’s a rule for one type of lab test, not a universal Minnesota forensic-science requirement.

What does a forensic science technician actually do day to day?

Processing evidence, running lab tests, documenting chain of custody, and writing reports that can hold up in court. It’s closer to careful lab work than the on-scene drama TV shows portray, and it’s a civilian role separate from sworn law enforcement.

Key Takeaways

Federal data lists three Minnesota institutions in the broader security-science-and-technology CIP family, which includes forensic science. Confirm with each school which programs actually cover forensic science and in what format.
Minnesota forensic science technicians earn a median of $76,960 a year, with 15.1% growth projected through 2034, per May 2025 BLS data and ProjectionsCentral.
Forensic science and sworn detective work are separate careers in Minnesota. Detective work requires POST Board licensing, PPOE training plus the Peace Officer Licensing Examination, and a forensic science credential doesn’t grant that license on its own.

Before you enroll, ask any program directly about graduate employment outcomes, laboratory internship placements, program-specific accreditation, and any specialty certifications tied to the forensic discipline you want to work in. Federal classification data can tell you a program exists in a broad category. Only the school can tell you what its graduates actually do next.

Looking for a Forensic Science Program in Another State?

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