Forensic Science Degrees in North Dakota

Updated October 1, 2026

North Dakota’s federal education data shows one in-state option for forensics-adjacent coursework: the University of North Dakota’s bachelor’s program in the broader security-science-and-technology family. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a bachelor’s degree as the typical requirement for forensic science technicians, who earn a North Dakota median of $71,090 a year (BLS, May 2025).

North Dakota is one of the most rural states in the country, and that shapes the career landscape here. Agencies tend to be smaller and cover more ground than they would in a denser state, which generally means fewer dedicated specialist positions to apply for.

If you’re science-minded, patient with detail work, and don’t mind that your results may end up read aloud in a courtroom, forensic science is worth a serious look. Here’s what the degree path and the job market actually look like in North Dakota.

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What Can I Do with a Forensic Science Degree in North Dakota?

Forensic science covers more ground than lab work alone. Cyber forensics, for instance, has a real presence in North Dakota: it relies on pulling data off computing devices to trace a crime, confirm or disprove a suspect’s alibi, or reconstruct a victim’s movements before an incident. North Dakota State University’s Cyber Security Conference has specifically covered how forensic techniques help investigators trace identity theft cases (WDAY, 2017).

Forensic Science Degrees in North Dakota

Education matters more in this field than in most. When a crime occurs, the evidence that exists is often all you’ll get. Mishandle it, store it wrong, or process it out of order, and it can decay or get contaminated before it ever reaches a courtroom. With no backup evidence to test, that kind of mistake can stall or sink an entire case.

The standard entry credential nationally is a bachelor’s degree. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a bachelor’s, often in a physical science, biology, or forensic science, as the typical requirement for forensic science technicians. Exact coursework, experience, and training requirements vary by employer and specialty.

If you already know forensic science is the direction you want to go, a bachelor’s degree is the credential most postings in this field are built around. Programs typically combine classroom coursework with laboratory, practicum, or internship components, though the specific mix varies by school. Coursework commonly found in programs like this includes:

Bachelor’s Degree Coursework

Statistics for Forensic Science
Criminal Investigation
Criminal Procedure
Forensic Biology

Where to Study a Security Science and Technology Program in North Dakota

Only one North Dakota institution shows up in federal education data under the CIP family that includes forensic science (Security Science and Technology, CIP 4304). That family also covers general security science and computer/cyber forensics, so this data alone doesn’t establish that the program below is titled or structured specifically as forensic science. It’s the closest federal match available, not a confirmation.

Institution	City	Control	Credential Reported in CIP Family
University of North Dakota	Grand Forks	Public	Bachelor’s Degree

Confirm current enrollment, course sequencing, and admission requirements directly with the school before you apply. Federal data reports what a school told the Department of Education at a point in time, not necessarily what’s enrolling students this term.

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.

Working as a Forensic Scientist in North Dakota

Two occupations make up most of the forensic-science-adjacent job market in North Dakota: forensic science technicians and detectives and criminal investigators.

If lab work is where you want to land, forensic science technician is the title to search. As of the May 2025 BLS wage data, North Dakota forensic science technicians earn a median of $71,090 a year, close to the national median of $72,060 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). Long-term state demand projections through 2034 put growth at roughly 8.6%, per ProjectionsCentral (2024-34). That’s modest, but it tracks with a state whose base of technician jobs is small to begin with.

Criminal investigation is a distinct occupation with its own agency-specific hiring, training, and certification requirements, not a direct extension of forensic science coursework. North Dakota detectives and criminal investigators earn a median of $82,290 a year as of the May 2025 BLS wage data (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). State-level demand is projected to be essentially flat through 2034, per ProjectionsCentral (2024-34), which estimates about 30 average annual openings in the state for this occupation.

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a forensic science degree to work in a North Dakota crime lab?

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a bachelor’s degree, often in a physical science, biology, or forensic science, as the typical requirement for forensic science technicians. Exact coursework, experience, and training requirements vary by employer and specialty, so confirm specifics directly with any lab or agency you’re applying to.

What’s the difference between a forensic science technician and a criminal investigator?

A forensic science technician processes physical evidence in a lab or at a scene: fingerprints, DNA samples, and trace materials. A criminal investigator, or detective, runs the broader case, interviews witnesses and suspects, and builds the file that goes to prosecutors. The two roles work closely together, but qualifications and training requirements vary by occupation and by the hiring agency.

Is there a dedicated forensic science degree program in North Dakota?

Federal education data shows one North Dakota institution, the University of North Dakota, with a bachelor’s program reported under the CIP family that includes forensic science (Security Science and Technology). That family also covers general security science and cyber/computer forensics, so this doesn’t confirm the program is titled or structured specifically as forensic science. Confirm the program’s actual focus directly with the school.

Can I complete a forensic science degree online if I live in North Dakota?

Federal data for this page doesn’t indicate which programs offer online or hybrid formats. If an online option matters to you, confirm directly with the school, since many lab-based forensic science courses include in-person components that can’t be completed remotely. Fully distance-only schools are also excluded from this page’s in-state count.

Key Takeaways

One in-state option, loosely matched – University of North Dakota has a bachelor’s program reported under the CIP family that includes forensic science, per federal education data, not a confirmed forensic-science-specific degree.
Lab work pays a median of $71,090 – North Dakota forensic science technicians, May 2025 BLS data, with modest projected growth through 2034.
Investigation work pays more but isn’t growing – detectives and criminal investigators earn a median $82,290, with state demand projected essentially flat through 2034.
Evidence handling leaves no room for error – mishandled or contaminated evidence often can’t be replaced once a case moves forward.

Ready to compare programs? Use the request-information block above to hear directly from schools about current admission requirements and program structure, since that’s the fastest way to get specifics federal data can’t provide.

Looking for a Forensic Science Program in Another State?

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