Forensic Science Degrees in Pennsylvania: Programs, Schools, and Pay

Updated October 1, 2026

Pennsylvania has 21 colleges and universities reporting programs in the federal security-science-and-technology CIP family, which covers forensic science along with security science and computer/cyber forensics. Forensic science technicians here earn a median $61,580 a year (BLS, May 2025), and the agency says the role typically needs at least a bachelor’s degree. Confirm a school’s exact offerings directly.

If you’re looking at a forensic science career in Pennsylvania, the credential path isn’t one-size-fits-all. Lab-based forensic science technician roles typically call for at least a bachelor’s degree, per BLS, while computer and digital forensics is its own specialty with its own entry points. Here’s what the degree options actually require, what the work pays, and where you can study it in-state.

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

As a forensic science professional, you’re part of cases that turn on what the evidence actually shows, not what anyone assumes happened. Your job is to look at it objectively and use it to determine what occurred and who’s responsible.

A Pennsylvania case shows why that work matters. A mother was convicted of drowning her two young sons in the bathtub after staging it to look like an accident (People, 2017). Forensic evidence established the cause of death, DNA testing tied her to the scene, and the lab work held up through trial.

Forensic Science Degrees in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania schools report programs in this CIP family at several credential levels, from undergraduate certificates through master’s degrees, per federal education data. Lab-based forensic science technician work typically requires at least a bachelor’s degree, according to the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Exact requirements vary by employer and specialty.

Computer and digital forensics is a separate specialty within this same CIP family, not simply an entry-level version of laboratory forensic science. It focuses on digital evidence: tracing communications, pinpointing the locations of suspects and victims, and building a record of spending and GPS activity. Some schools offer it at the associate level. Check a specific program’s focus before assuming it leads toward a lab-science role.

Example Associate-Level Computer Forensics Coursework

Course titles vary by school. These are examples from programs in this CIP family.

Evidence and Procedures
Computer Forensics
Principles of Information Security
Project in Computer Forensics

A bachelor’s is the credential BLS points to for forensic science technician roles. Programs in this CIP family often include laboratory courses where you work with crime lab equipment, run experiments, and process evidence- the hands-on training a textbook alone can’t give you. Credit requirements and exact coursework vary by institution. Confirm specifics with the school.

Example Bachelor’s Degree Coursework

Course titles vary by program. These are examples.

Essential Practices of Forensic Science
Scientific Approach to CSI
Trace and Impression Evidence
Courtroom Testimony

Graduate programs in this CIP family set their own prerequisites. Required undergraduate major, specific science coursework, minimum GPA, and accreditation standards all vary by school. Program length also varies by institution, typically measured in credits and years rather than a fixed timeline.

Example Graduate Coursework

Course titles vary by program. These are examples.

Courtroom Proceedings and Testimony
Non-Biology Criminalistics
Biology Criminalistics
Drug Chemistry and Toxicology

Where to Study Forensic Science Programs in Pennsylvania

21 Pennsylvania institutions report a program in the security-science-and-technology CIP family, the federal category that includes forensic science alongside security science and computer/cyber forensics, per U.S. Department of Education data. The data doesn’t break out which specific credential at each school is forensic science versus one of the other specialties in the family. Confirm a school’s actual forensic science offerings, current enrollment status, and admission requirements directly with the school before you apply.

Institution	City	Control	Credential Levels Reported in CIP Family
Alvernia University	Reading	Private nonprofit	Bachelor’s
Arcadia University	Glenside	Private nonprofit	Master’s
Carlow University	Pittsburgh	Private nonprofit	Master’s
Cedar Crest College	Allentown	Private nonprofit	Bachelor’s, Master’s, Undergraduate certificate
Chestnut Hill College	Philadelphia	Private nonprofit	Bachelor’s, Undergraduate certificate
Community College of Philadelphia	Philadelphia	Public	Associate
Drexel University	Philadelphia	Private nonprofit	Master’s, Graduate certificate
Duquesne University	Pittsburgh	Private nonprofit	Master’s
Holy Family University	Philadelphia	Private nonprofit	Bachelor’s
La Salle University	Philadelphia	Private nonprofit	Master’s, Graduate certificate
Mercyhurst University	Erie	Private nonprofit	Bachelor’s
Mount Aloysius College	Cresson	Private nonprofit	Undergraduate certificate
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus	University Park	Public	Bachelor’s, Master’s, Undergraduate certificate
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine	Philadelphia	Private nonprofit	Master’s
Point Park University	Pittsburgh	Private nonprofit	Bachelor’s
Robert Morris University	Moon Township	Private nonprofit	Bachelor’s
Seton Hill University	Greensburg	Private nonprofit	Bachelor’s
University of Scranton	Scranton	Private nonprofit	Bachelor’s
Waynesburg University	Waynesburg	Private nonprofit	Bachelor’s
Westmoreland County Community College	Youngwood	Public	Associate
York College of Pennsylvania	York	Private nonprofit	Bachelor’s

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 Pennsylvania

An internship or practicum is worth doing even if your program doesn’t require one. It puts you in front of real crime lab equipment and gives you professional exposure you won’t get from coursework alone. It’s not a guarantee of employment, and requirements vary: some programs or employers require one, others don’t.

Forensic science technicians in Pennsylvania earn a median $61,580 a year, according to May 2025 BLS wage data. BLS says the role typically requires at least a bachelor’s degree, often in a physical science, biology, or forensic science, and that exact requirements vary by employer. The state’s employment projection for this occupation shows 12.9% growth from 2024 to 2034, with about 70 average annual openings (ProjectionsCentral).

Some graduates move toward investigative law enforcement roles instead of lab work. Pennsylvania detectives and criminal investigators earn a median $97,580 a year (BLS, May 2025). Becoming a detective or criminal investigator in Pennsylvania generally requires separate law-enforcement training, experience, and hiring processes specific to the agency and position. A forensic science degree alone doesn’t qualify you for a sworn investigative role. Employment for this occupation is projected to grow only 0.7% through 2034, while approximately 280 average annual openings are projected (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 October 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

What degree do I need to become a forensic scientist in Pennsylvania?

Forensic science technicians typically need at least a bachelor’s degree, often in a physical science, biology, or forensic science, according to BLS. An associate degree may lead to certain entry-level lab-support or computer forensics positions depending on the employer. A master’s may support specialization or advancement, though exact requirements and outcomes vary by employer and position.

How much do forensic science technicians make in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania forensic science technicians earn a median $61,580 a year, according to May 2025 BLS wage data. Pay varies by employer, lab specialty, and years of experience.

How long does a forensic science degree take?

Program length varies by institution and credential level. An associate typically runs about two years and a bachelor’s about four, but exact credit requirements and timelines are set by each school. Confirm specifics with the program you’re considering.

Can I work in forensics with a criminal justice degree instead of a forensic science degree?

Some entry-level or investigative roles may accept a general criminal justice degree, but requirements vary by employer and agency. BLS points to a bachelor’s in a physical science, biology, or forensic science for lab-based technician work specifically. Check the job posting or agency’s hiring page before assuming your degree qualifies.

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

A forensic science technician works primarily in the lab, processing evidence. A detective or criminal investigator works the case itself: interviews, surveillance, building the file, and relies on the lab’s findings rather than producing them. The two require different training paths. Detective and investigator roles typically require separate law-enforcement hiring and training specific to the employing agency.

Key Takeaways

21 Pennsylvania schools report a program in the federal security-science-and-technology CIP family, which includes forensic science alongside security science and computer/cyber forensics, from certificate through master’s level.
Forensic science technicians earn a median $61,580/year in Pennsylvania (BLS, May 2025). The state projects 12.9% growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 (ProjectionsCentral), about 70 openings a year.
Detectives and criminal investigators earn a median $97,580/year in Pennsylvania (BLS, May 2025). Employment here is projected to grow only 0.7% through 2034, with about 280 average annual openings (ProjectionsCentral).
Credential and hiring requirements are role- and employer-specific. A forensic science degree alone doesn’t qualify you for a sworn investigative position, and program prerequisites, length, and credit requirements vary by school.

Ready to narrow it down? Use the credential-level column in the table above as a starting point, then confirm each school’s specific forensic science offerings, current enrollment, and admission requirements directly with the admissions office before you apply.

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