Forensic Science Degree Programs in Oregon

Updated September 30, 2026

The federal education dataset behind this page found no Oregon institution reporting a program under the forensic-science-adjacent CIP code. Oregon’s crime lab work runs through the Oregon State Police (OSP) Forensic Services Division, which operates five regional labs. Forensic science technicians in Oregon earn a median $80,950 a year (BLS, May 2025), with ProjectionsCentral projecting 15.3% job growth through 2034.

You won’t find an Oregon college advertising a degree literally titled “forensic science,” at least not in the federal dataset used for this page. What you will find is the Oregon State Police (OSP) Forensic Services Division, which runs five regional labs and calls itself the state’s only full-service forensic laboratory system. Here’s what those labs actually do, what coursework tends to lead toward the work, and what forensic science and related roles pay in Oregon.

Compare Forensic Science and Criminal Justice Programs Serving Oregon

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What Forensic Science Work in Oregon Actually Looks Like

OSP’s Forensic Services Division employs more than 100 people across five regional labs and describes itself as the sole provider of most forensic science services in the state, handling casework for police departments, sheriff’s offices, district attorneys, and the FBI (Oregon State Police, 2026).

Services aren’t identical at every lab. The Portland lab, whose street address is actually in Clackamas, is the only one that runs DNA analysis and trace evidence. Firearms and toolmark work happens at Central Point, Pendleton, Portland, and Springfield. Toxicology runs out of Portland and Springfield only. If you land a forensic scientist role at OSP, which lab you’re assigned to determines which of those disciplines you’ll actually practice day to day.

Coursework That Tends to Lead Toward Forensic Science Work

No program in the federal dataset used for this page is titled “forensic science” at an Oregon school. What follows is illustrative of the kind of coursework that shows up in related programs at different credential levels, not a required curriculum. Program requirements vary by school and change over time, so confirm the current catalog directly with any school you’re considering.

Coursework You Might See at the Associate Level

Courses like these turn up in associate-level criminal justice and related programs:

Introduction to Criminal Justice
Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs
Arrest, Search, and Seizure
Juvenile Criminal Justice Process

Coursework You Might See at the Bachelor’s Level

The BLS identifies a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education for forensic science technicians nationally. Coursework at that level can include:

Principles of Biology
Fundamentals of Toxicology
Environmental Forensic Chemistry

Coursework You Might See at the Graduate Level

Graduate coursework goes deeper into the science and the casework:

Crime Scene Investigation and Reconstruction
Forensic Pattern Analysis
Forensic Serology
Research Methods in Forensic Science

Where to Study in Oregon

The federal dataset used for this page, the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, did not identify an Oregon institution reporting a program under CIP 43.04, the code covering the forensic-science-adjacent Security Science and Technology family. That doesn’t rule out an Oregon school offering forensic-science coursework under a different program code or name. It means this dataset didn’t surface one. Confirm directly with any school’s admissions or catalog office before assuming a program does or doesn’t exist.

The same dataset lists 40 program rows across 22 Oregon institutions in the broader Criminal Justice and Corrections family (CIP 43.01), spanning credential levels from undergraduate certificate through master’s. That’s a program count from federal reporting data, not a measure of how Oregon’s current forensic workforce was actually trained.

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 and Related Careers Pay in Oregon

Pay depends on the specific role. Here’s what the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports for forensic science technicians, plus a related law-enforcement occupation for comparison.

Occupation	Median Annual Wage	Projected Job Growth (2024-34)
Forensic Science Technicians	$80,950	+15.3%
Detectives and Criminal Investigators	$107,450	+2.6%

As of the May 2025 BLS wage data, Oregon’s forensic science technicians earn a median $80,950 a year, and ProjectionsCentral’s 2024-34 outlook projects 15.3% job growth for the occupation in Oregon. The Oregon median for detectives and criminal investigators, a separate sworn law-enforcement occupation, was $107,450 as of the same May 2025 BLS data, with ProjectionsCentral projecting 2.6% growth through 2034.

Detectives are certified through Oregon’s Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST), not through a forensic-science credential. Oregon law requires anyone attending the police academy to already be employed by an Oregon law enforcement agency, so the path runs through hiring first and training second.

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

Does Oregon have a forensic science degree program?

The federal dataset used for this page didn’t identify an Oregon institution reporting a program under the CIP code covering forensic-science-adjacent work. It did find 40 program rows across 22 Oregon institutions in the broader Criminal Justice and Corrections family. Confirm directly with any school before ruling a program in or out.

What does the Oregon State Police Forensic Services Division do?

OSP calls itself Oregon’s only full-service forensic laboratory system and the sole provider of most forensic science services in the state, running five regional labs in Bend, Central Point, Pendleton, Portland, and Springfield. Services vary by lab. DNA analysis and trace evidence, for example, run only out of the Portland lab.

How much do forensic science technicians make in Oregon?

The median is $80,950 a year, per May 2025 BLS wage data, with 15.3% projected job growth through 2034 per ProjectionsCentral.

Do I need a specific degree to work in a crime lab?

It depends on the employer and the discipline. Laboratory scientist roles typically call for coursework in chemistry, biology, or forensic science, while other forensic positions carry different requirements. Check the specific lab’s or agency’s posted qualifications before choosing a major.

Key Takeaways

The federal dataset behind this page didn’t identify an Oregon institution offering a program coded to the forensic-science-adjacent family. That’s a dataset gap, not proof no such program exists. Confirm with schools directly.
Oregon State Police describes itself as the state’s only full-service forensic laboratory system and the sole provider of most forensic science services, running five regional labs in Bend, Central Point, Pendleton, Portland, and Springfield.
Forensic science technicians earn a median of $80,950 a year in Oregon (BLS, May 2025), with 15.3% job growth projected through 2034 (ProjectionsCentral).
The Oregon median for detectives and criminal investigators, a separate sworn law-enforcement occupation, was $107,450 (BLS, May 2025).

Financial aid eligibility depends on the school, the program, and your own situation. It’s rarely automatic, so talk to the financial aid office at any Oregon school you’re considering before ruling a program out on cost alone.

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