Forensic Science Degree Programs in Rhode Island

Updated October 1, 2026

Rhode Island’s Roger Williams University offers an actual bachelor’s in Forensic Science. Two other schools, the University of Rhode Island and Salve Regina University, report post-baccalaureate certificates in the broader security-science-and-technology field, which leans cybersecurity rather than crime-lab work. Forensic science technicians nationally earn a median $72,060 a year (BLS, 2025), and Rhode Island’s detectives and criminal investigators median $88,450.

Rhode Island is a small state, which means its municipal departments, state agencies, and one crime lab end up working closely together by necessity. If you’re weighing a forensic science path here, your in-state options are narrower than in a bigger state: one four-year major, and two certificate programs that actually lean more toward cybersecurity than crime lab.

A few forensic science programs serving Rhode Island students are highlighted below.

Featured Programs:

What Does a Forensic Scientist Do in Rhode Island?

The Rhode Island State Crime Laboratory (RISCL) at URI offers several ways to get exposure to the work before you commit to it. It offers laboratory tours capped at 10 people, free public forensic science seminars through its university partnership, and a competitive summer internship: two unpaid placements each summer, 40 hours total, rotating through the Latent Prints, Trace Evidence, Firearms, and Quality Assurance sections. To apply, you’ll need a life science, physical science, or forensic science major, a 3.0 GPA, and, if you’re an undergrad, at least 60 completed credit hours. Social science majors, including criminal justice, don’t qualify.

What It Takes to Break Into Forensic Science

Forensic science technicians typically need at least a bachelor’s degree to enter the occupation, usually in a physical science, biology, or forensic science itself. An associate’s degree may be enough for some entry-level lab support roles, but that depends entirely on the employer, not on a standard path. In Rhode Island, Roger Williams University is the school most associated with the degree itself, with a Forensic Science major that lets you choose a Chemistry or Biology track built around examining, analyzing, and testifying about physical evidence.

Where to Study Forensic Science in Rhode Island

Three Rhode Island institutions report a program in Security Science and Technology, the federal CIP family that groups forensic science together with security science and computer/cyber forensics. Only Roger Williams has confirmed, on its own site, that its program is specifically a Forensic Science major. URI’s and Salve Regina’s certificates in this same family lean toward digital forensics and cybersecurity/intelligence work rather than physical crime-lab science. None of the three are distance-only.

School	City	Control	Credential Reported in CIP Family
Roger Williams University	Bristol	Private nonprofit	Bachelor’s (confirmed: Forensic Science major)
University of Rhode Island	Kingston	Public	Post-baccalaureate certificate (digital forensics/cybersecurity)
Salve Regina University	Newport	Private nonprofit	Post-baccalaureate certificate (cybersecurity/intelligence)

Confirm current course sequencing, format, and admission requirements directly with each school before you apply. 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.

Forensic Science Careers and Pay in Rhode Island

Rhode Island doesn’t report a state-level wage or growth figure for forensic science technicians specifically, so here’s the national picture: forensic science technicians earned a median of $72,060 a year as of May 2025, and the occupation is projected to grow 13% nationally from 2025 to 2035, with about 2,800 openings a year on average (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Separately, it’s worth knowing what detectives and criminal investigators earn in Rhode Island, since you’ll work closely with them on crime-scene and lab cases: a median of $88,450 a year as of May 2025 (Bureau of Labor Statistics). Rhode Island projects 2% employment growth for the role through 2034, with about 30 average annual openings once replacement and turnover are counted in (ProjectionsCentral, 2024-34). Becoming a detective runs through an agency’s own law-enforcement hiring and training process, not a forensic science degree, and the specifics vary department to department.

May 2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures for Forensic Science Technicians and Detectives and Criminal Investigators. Long-term Rhode Island job growth projections (2024-34) from the US Department of Labor-sponsored resource, ProjectionsCentral. National job growth projections (2025-35) from BLS directly. Figures reflect national and Rhode Island state-level data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed October 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

What forensic science degree should I get in Rhode Island?

It depends on where you’re starting. If you want an actual bachelor’s in Forensic Science within the state, Roger Williams University is it. If you already hold a bachelor’s and want a certificate, URI and Salve Regina both offer post-baccalaureate options in the broader security-science-and-technology field, though both lean toward cybersecurity and intelligence work rather than physical crime-lab forensics.

Do I need a degree to work as a forensic science technician?

Forensic science technicians typically need at least a bachelor’s degree. Exact degree and coursework requirements vary by employer and specialty.

How much do forensic science technicians make in Rhode Island?

Rhode Island doesn’t publish a state-specific figure for this occupation. Nationally, the median was $72,060 a year as of May 2025 (BLS). Pay in Rhode Island will depend on which lab or agency hires you and whether the role is state, municipal, or federal.

Is there a four-year forensic science degree in Rhode Island?

Yes. Roger Williams University’s Forensic Science major is a confirmed bachelor’s program, with a choice between a Chemistry or Biology track. Confirm the current course sequence and admission requirements directly with the school.

Key Takeaways

One confirmed bachelor’s – Roger Williams University is the only Rhode Island school independently confirmed to offer an actual Forensic Science major. URI’s and Salve Regina’s certificates sit in the same federal CIP family but lean cybersecurity and intelligence.
National pay, not state pay – Rhode Island doesn’t report a state-level wage for forensic science technicians, so $72,060 (BLS, May 2025) is the national median, not a Rhode Island guarantee.
Growth is real – 13% national growth projected through 2035 (BLS), much faster than average for all occupations.
Detective work is a separate track – Detectives and criminal investigators in Rhode Island median $88,450 a year, but getting there runs through an agency’s own hiring and training process, not a forensic science degree.

Worried about paying for the degree? The scholarships guide lists awards built for criminal justice and forensic science majors, with eligibility, amounts, and deadlines.

Read: Scholarships for Criminal Justice Majors and Grad Students

Looking for Forensic Science Programs in Another State?

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