Forensic Science Programs in Utah

Updated October 2, 2026

Two Utah institutions, Utah Valley University and Weber State University, report bachelor’s programs in the broader Security Science and Technology CIP family that includes forensic science (U.S. Dept. of Education data). Forensic science technicians in the state earn a median $66,780 a year (BLS, 2025), with employment projected to grow 27% through 2034.

Utah logs some of the lowest violent crime rates in the country, but that doesn’t mean its crime labs sit idle. Every case the state does see, from a burglary to a homicide, still needs someone who can process evidence correctly enough to hold up in court. That’s the job forensic science techs and criminal investigators do, and it’s less about labs on TV and more about chain-of-custody paperwork, methodical testing, and testifying to what the evidence actually shows.

Ready to find out what a forensic science program in Utah actually involves? Start comparing programs below.

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

Forensic science touches nearly every stage of a criminal case in Utah, from the technician who processes a crime scene to the investigator who builds a case around what that evidence shows. The state’s crime lab, run by the Utah Bureau of Forensic Services, processed 1,262 sexual assault kits in fiscal year 2025 with a median turnaround of 57 days (Utah Legislature, 2025), after the state cleared its kit backlog back in 2020. That kind of throughput depends on trained lab staff, not just funding.

Forensic Science Degrees in Utah

Bachelor’s programs built around forensic science coursework typically run about 120 total credits nationally, split between general education and major-specific coursework, though the exact breakdown varies by school. If you’re comparing Utah Valley University’s and Weber State University’s programs, confirm the current credit structure and course sequencing directly with each school.

Coursework Forensic Science Programs May Include

Course titles and depth vary by school, but a forensic science curriculum commonly covers topics like these:

Criminalistics: This course looks at the evidence left behind after the commission of a crime. You may learn about the procedures used to test evidence, the types of evidence you look for at a crime scene, and the techniques used to process it appropriately.
Laws of Evidence: Evidence must be handled in very specific ways to be legally admissible in court. In this class, learn about the laws surrounding the collection, analysis, storage, and legal use of evidence.
Footwear Impression Evidence: This course covers how to document footwear impressions at a crime scene and compare them to a specific shoe, though how conclusive that comparison can be depends on the quality of the print and other characteristics of the evidence.
Forensic Trace Analysis: In some crimes, there is minimal evidence available. Students who take this class learn how to make the most of these situations and test trace amounts of evidence left at the scene of a crime.
Tire Imprint Evidence: Tire impressions can reveal class characteristics, like tread pattern and size, and in some circumstances individualizing features. Matching an impression to one specific vehicle isn’t as simple as it looks on TV, and this course covers how that analysis actually works.
Fingerprint Examination: Whether you collect fingerprints from items, from victims, or from the scene of a crime, it’s important to know how to process them accurately. After taking this class, you should be able to process both latent and direct fingerprints.

Many forensic science programs include laboratory coursework, and some students pursue an internship at a crime lab or investigative agency during or after their degree. How much hands-on lab time a specific program requires varies, so ask about it directly when you’re comparing options.

Where to Study Forensic Science in Utah

Two Utah institutions report a bachelor’s program in the Security Science and Technology CIP family, the federal classification that includes forensic science, per U.S. Department of Education data. Neither institution is flagged as distance-only, though that reflects the school’s overall status, not necessarily this specific program’s delivery format.

Institution	City	Credential Reported in CIP Family	Institution Distance-Only?
Utah Valley University	Orem	Bachelor’s	No
Weber State University	Ogden	Bachelor’s	No

Federal data reports what each school told the Department of Education as of last year’s filing, not necessarily this year’s catalog, and the CIP family classification doesn’t guarantee a specific forensic science concentration or course list. Confirm current admission requirements, course sequencing, program format, and whether a forensic-science-specific track is active directly with the 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.

Working as a Forensic Scientist in Utah

A degree in the Security Science and Technology CIP family can point toward a few different careers. Two common destinations in Utah are forensic science technician work in a crime lab and criminal investigator roles in law enforcement, though the two are distinct occupations with separate hiring, training, and certification paths.

Forensic science technicians in Utah earn a median $66,780 a year (BLS, 2025). Utah-specific projections show employment rising from about 220 to 280 positions, roughly 27%, through 2034 (ProjectionsCentral, 2024-34).

Criminal investigators, the detectives who take evidence from the lab and build a case around it, earn more. The median in Utah is $78,920 a year (BLS, 2025), with employment projected to grow about 11.9% through 2034 (ProjectionsCentral, 2024-34). Hiring requirements for this role vary by agency, so check the specific department’s prerequisites, training academy, and certification requirements rather than assuming a single path applies statewide.

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 Utah?

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that forensic science technicians typically need at least a bachelor’s degree, often in a physical science, biology, or forensic science. In Utah, Utah Valley University and Weber State University both report bachelor’s programs in the Security Science and Technology CIP family, the federal classification that includes forensic science, per Department of Education data. Confirm the specific coursework and concentration with each school.

How much does a forensic science technician make in Utah?

The median is $66,780 a year, according to May 2025 BLS wage data. Actual pay varies by agency, experience, and location within the state.

Is forensic science a good career path in Utah?

Utah-specific data projects employment for forensic science technicians to grow about 27% through 2034 (ProjectionsCentral, 2024-34 cycle). Growth is a positive signal, but it doesn’t tell you how many positions open up in any given year, so it’s worth asking a specific lab directly about its hiring pace.

Do I need an internship to get hired?

Not necessarily. Internships can provide relevant hands-on experience, and some programs build lab hours into the curriculum, but whether an internship is required or just preferred depends on the employer. Ask any program or lab you’re considering directly.

Key Takeaways

Two schools, one CIP family – Utah Valley University and Weber State University both report bachelor’s programs in the Security Science and Technology CIP family, the federal classification that includes forensic science (per Department of Education data).
Pay reflects the role – Forensic science technicians earn a median $66,780 a year in Utah, and criminal investigators earn more at $78,920 (BLS, May 2025).
Growth is employment growth, not open-position counts – Technician employment is projected to grow about 27% through 2034, and investigator employment about 11.9% (ProjectionsCentral, 2024-34 cycle).
Technician and investigator are different jobs – each has its own hiring, training, and certification path. Research the specific requirements for whichever one you’re aiming at, rather than treating a forensic science degree as a single track.

Whether you’re aiming for a crime lab or a law enforcement investigator role, the hiring process looks different for each, and requirements vary by agency and employer. Research the specific path you want first: lab science credentials for one job, academy training and certification for the other, so you’re not caught between two different applications later.

Looking for a Forensic Science Program in Another State?

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