Forensic Science Degree Programs in Montana

Updated October 1, 2026

Montana has one in-state school with a federally tracked forensic science program, the University of Providence in Great Falls, which independently confirms a B.S. in Forensic Science with Forensic Biology and Forensic Chemistry concentrations. The job itself pays well: forensic science technicians earned a $82,200 median in Montana as of May 2025 BLS data.

Montana runs its forensic work through a single state system rather than county-by-county labs. The Montana Department of Justice’s Forensic Science Division operates its main crime lab in Missoula and a satellite facility in Billings that also houses the state Medical Examiner’s Office, together covering everything from DNA and toxicology to firearms and latent prints for the whole state. Here’s what the degree track, the pay, and your in-state school options actually look like.

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What Can You Do With a Forensic Science Degree in Montana?

A forensic science credential can lead to lab work, crime scene response, or courtroom testimony as an expert witness, and which one you land in depends on the agency or lab you work for. The Montana DOJ’s Forensic Science Division itself covers disciplines including biology and DNA, chemistry, toxicology, firearms and toolmarks, and latent prints, plus medical examiner services through its Billings office, but how those responsibilities get split varies by position and location rather than following one statewide pattern.

What Degree Do You Need to Become a Forensic Scientist in Montana?

Per the Montana DOJ’s Forensic Science Division, science coursework with a laboratory component is valuable for most forensic disciplines, and the baseline is a bachelor’s degree in a natural, physical, chemical, or biological science. Exact requirements vary by discipline: DNA analysis calls for coursework in biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, and statistics, while seized-drug chemistry and toxicology roles typically need 18 to 20 credits of chemistry. Those are discipline-specific standards for state lab positions, not a blanket rule for every forensic job in Montana.

University of Providence’s Forensic Science Program

University of Providence runs a Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science built around biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics, with separate concentration tracks in Forensic Biology and Forensic Chemistry depending on which lab discipline interests you. Students get hands-on exposure through visits to the state crime lab and internships with the Great Falls Police Department, the kind of experience that matters more than a transcript once you’re applying to the state lab.

What Does a Forensic Scientist Earn in Montana?

As of the May 2025 BLS wage data, a forensic science technician in Montana earns a median of $82,200 a year, out of roughly 60 people employed in the role statewide. ProjectionsCentral’s 2024-34 outlook puts growth at 13.5%, with about 10 average annual openings.

Criminal investigators earn more on paper, a $92,410 median per the same May 2025 BLS data, but ProjectionsCentral’s 2024-34 projection shows 0% net growth and about 20 average annual openings, which means replacement hiring rather than new positions. If investigative work interests you more than lab analysis, that’s the tradeoff: higher pay, but you’re filling a seat that opens up, not a new one.

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 October 2026.

Where Can You Study Forensic Science in Montana?

Per U.S. Department of Education data, one in-state school carries a federally tracked program in the security-science-and-technology family, the CIP category that includes forensic science alongside general security science. That school, University of Providence, independently confirms on its own site that the program is a named B.S. in Forensic Science with Forensic Biology and Forensic Chemistry concentrations, not just a generic security-science listing.

Institution	City	Control	Credential Offered
University of Providence	Great Falls	Private nonprofit	Bachelor’s

Confirm the current program name, delivery format, and admission requirements directly with the school before you apply. Federal reporting data can lag a school’s actual catalog. Most students who want more options look at an online bachelor’s or a program in a neighboring state, which is what the sponsored listings above and the state picker below are built for.

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 October 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

What degree do you need to become a forensic scientist in Montana?

Forensic science technicians typically need at least a bachelor’s degree in a natural, physical, chemical, or biological science, with exact degree and coursework requirements varying by employer and specialty. DNA analysis and drug chemistry/toxicology roles carry their own specific coursework requirements on top of that baseline.

What does a forensic science technician do day to day?

You’ll collect and analyze physical evidence, including fingerprints, DNA samples, and trace materials, then document your findings for use in an investigation or trial. Which disciplines you touch depends on the agency and position, since Montana’s state lab splits work by section rather than having every technician do everything.

How much do forensic scientists make in Montana?

Forensic science technicians earned a median of $82,200 a year in Montana as of May 2025 BLS wage data. Pay varies by employer and position within the field.

Can you build a full forensic science career without leaving Montana?

You can start here: Montana has one in-state school with a verified forensic science bachelor’s program, and the state’s own crime lab in Missoula and Billings is the main employer for forensic science technicians. Some specialties and advanced coursework may still require looking outside the state, depending on what you want to specialize in.

Key Takeaways

One in-state option, independently confirmed – University of Providence is Montana’s only federally tracked forensic science school, and its own site confirms a named B.S. in Forensic Science with Forensic Biology and Forensic Chemistry concentrations.
Pay is solid, growth is uneven – Forensic science technicians earn a $82,200 median with 13.5% growth projected through 2034, while the related detective track pays more but is flat.
Requirements are discipline-specific, not universal – Montana DOJ requires biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, and statistics for DNA work, and 18 to 20 chemistry credits for drug chemistry and toxicology, on top of a baseline science bachelor’s.

If cost is what’s holding you back, start with the scholarships built for criminal justice majors before you look at loans. The list covers eligibility, award amounts, and deadlines.

Comparing Forensic Science Programs in Another State?

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