Forensic Science Degrees in South Dakota

Updated October 1, 2026

South Dakota’s May 2025 BLS wage survey counts about 30 forensic science technicians statewide, with a median pay of $51,690. Separately, state occupational projections put the job’s 2024 base at 80 positions, growing to 90 by 2034, a 14.7% increase. One South Dakota school, Mount Marty University, offers a Pre-Forensic Science concentration within its bachelor’s degree program.

If you’re weighing a forensic science career in South Dakota, start with the numbers above. Here’s how the degree works in South Dakota, what the job actually pays, and where you can study for it without leaving the state.

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

A forensic science background can lead toward two different career paths. One is lab work: an evidence technician or forensic science technician role, processing DNA, ballistics, or toxicology samples under a state or regional lab’s supervision. The other is criminal investigation, where a forensic background helps you read a scene the way the lab will later read it. South Dakota’s size means fewer standalone lab openings than a state like Texas or California, so expect to apply statewide, and possibly relocate within South Dakota, for your first position.

Forensic Science Degrees in South Dakota

Federal education data identifies one South Dakota institution offering an undergraduate program in the CIP family that includes forensic science: Mount Marty University, through a Pre-Forensic Science concentration inside its broader Pre-Professional Studies bachelor’s degree. Bachelor’s programs in this field commonly require around 120 or more credits, though exact requirements vary by institution. Mount Marty’s degree, for example, requires 128 credits total, with the Pre-Forensic Science concentration itself making up 63 of those credits. General-education and major-credit distributions vary by school and program, so check a specific college’s catalog rather than assuming a standard split.

Expect several lab-based courses. These are where you practice the techniques from lecture, and that hands-on time matters when you’re applying for your first crime-lab job. Mount Marty’s concentration, for instance, is built on microbiology, genetics, cell and molecular biology, organic chemistry, biochemistry, physics, and calculus. Programs vary, so treat any single school’s course list as an example rather than a universal requirement. An internship at a real crime lab, where you can find one, can provide relevant laboratory experience and may strengthen a candidate’s résumé.

Example Coursework: Mount Marty’s Pre-Forensic Science Concentration

Microbiology and Genetics: The biological foundation for interpreting DNA and other biological evidence.
Cell and Molecular Biology: Deeper grounding in the biological mechanisms behind DNA-based evidence analysis.
Organic Chemistry I and II, Biochemistry: The chemistry behind drug analysis, trace evidence, and toxicology testing.
Calculus and Physics I and II: The quantitative and physical-science foundation most forensic lab techniques are built on.

Where to Study Forensic Science in South Dakota

Per U.S. Department of Education data, one South Dakota institution reports an undergraduate program in the security-science-and-technology CIP family, the federal category that covers forensic science: Mount Marty University in Yankton, offering a Pre-Forensic Science concentration within its Pre-Professional Studies bachelor’s degree.

Institution	City	Control	Program
Mount Marty University	Yankton	Private nonprofit	B.A. Pre-Professional Studies — Pre-Forensic Science concentration

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 South Dakota

If crime-lab work is the draw, the title to target is forensic science technician. As of May 2025, forensic science technicians in South Dakota earn a median $51,690 a year. That’s the wage-survey employment count, about 30 statewide. Separately, state occupational projections put the job’s 2024 base at 80 positions, growing to 90 by 2034, a 14.7% increase, per ProjectionsCentral — a faster growth rate than most criminal justice occupations in the state, though the small base means openings will stay competitive.

If you’d rather pair the degree with police or investigative experience, detectives and criminal investigators in South Dakota earn a median $77,730 a year as of May 2025, with the state projecting modest 2.3% growth through 2034. Many detectives first gain experience in patrol or other law-enforcement assignments, but requirements vary by agency.

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 South Dakota crime lab?

Forensic science technicians typically need at least a bachelor’s degree, while individual employers determine which majors, coursework, and other requirements they’ll accept. A criminal justice degree alone may not meet every lab’s requirements, though it can support an investigator or evidence-technician role that leans more on procedure than lab chemistry.

How much do forensic scientists make in South Dakota?

Forensic science technicians in South Dakota earn a median of $51,690 a year, per May 2025 BLS data. Pay varies by employer, so a state crime lab position and a county sheriff’s office contract role won’t necessarily pay the same. Check the specific posting.

Is forensic science a growing field in South Dakota?

State occupational projections show the job’s base growing from about 80 to 90 positions between 2024 and 2034, a 14.7% increase. That’s a small number of total positions, so expect competition for each opening even with strong growth.

Can I become a forensic scientist with an online degree?

Some forensic science programs offer online coursework, but lab and experiential components vary by school. Confirm with a specific program how it handles required laboratory hours and internships before enrolling.

Key Takeaways

Two separate data points, not one trend line – South Dakota’s wage survey counts about 30 forensic science technicians today. A separate state projection puts the job’s 2024-34 growth at 80 to 90 positions.
A bachelor’s is the typical entry point – Most lab jobs look for a four-year degree in forensic science or a closely related science, though exact requirements vary by employer.
One in-state option – Mount Marty University’s Pre-Forensic Science concentration is the only South Dakota program showing up in federal CIP-family data, so many students also look at online or out-of-state programs.
Two career paths pay differently – Lab technicians earn a median $51,690, while detectives and investigators earn a median $77,730.

Want to see the concentration’s full course list? Mount Marty publishes its Pre-Forensic Science requirements directly on its site, worth a look before you apply.

Looking for a Forensic Science Program in Another State?

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