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Crime laboratory technician education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a crime laboratory technician. Crime laboratory technicians usually study criminal justice, biology, or business. 80% of crime laboratory technicians hold a bachelor's degree, and 11% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 49 real crime laboratory technician resumes to see exactly what crime laboratory technician education sections show.

The most common colleges for crime laboratory technicians are the Florida State University and the Florida State University.

There are also many online crime laboratory technician courses to help get the education required to be a crime laboratory technician.

What education do you need to become a crime laboratory technician?

What degree do you need to be a crime laboratory technician?

The most common degree for crime laboratory technicians is bachelor's degree, with 80% of crime laboratory technicians earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 11% and master's degree degree at 6%.
  • Bachelor's, 80%
  • Master's, 11%
  • Associate, 6%
  • High School Diploma, 3%

What should I major in to become a crime laboratory technician?

You should major in criminal justice to become a crime laboratory technician. 32% of crime laboratory technicians major in criminal justice. Other common majors for a crime laboratory technician include biology and business.

Most common colleges for crime laboratory technicians

Crime laboratory technicians often get their degrees at Florida State University, University of South Florida, and Towson University. Here are the most common colleges for crime laboratory technicians in the US based on their resumes.
Crime laboratory technician common collegePercentages
Florida State University17.86%
University of South Florida7.14%
Towson University7.14%
University of Central Florida7.14%
Duquesne University7.14%

Best majors for crime laboratory technicians

RankMajorPercentages
1Criminal Justice32.4%
2Biology20.6%
3Business8.8%
4Botany2.9%
5Sociology2.9%

Best colleges for crime laboratory technicians

The best colleges for crime laboratory technicians are Northwestern University, Boston University, and New York University.

A crime laboratory technician with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for crime laboratory technicians. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become crime laboratory technicians.

1. Howard University

Washington, DC • Private

In-state tuition

$26,756

Enrollment

6,166

2. Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$18,454

Enrollment

40,108

3. SUNY College of Technology at Alfred

Alfred, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,570

Enrollment

3,721

4. Sacred Heart University

Fairfield, CT • Private

In-state tuition

$41,420

Enrollment

5,907

5. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Enrollment

9,394

6. University of Maryland - College Park

College Park, MD • Private

In-state tuition

$10,595

Enrollment

30,184

7. Saint Joseph's College, New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$27,830

Enrollment

937

8. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$53,948

Enrollment

17,238

9. University of Alaska Southeast

Juneau, AK • Private

In-state tuition

$7,092

Enrollment

1,216

10. New York University

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$51,828

Enrollment

26,339

20 best online courses for crime laboratory technicians

Advertising disclosure

1. International Law In Action: Investigating and Prosecuting International Crimes

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‘Investigating and Prosecuting International Crimes’ is the second course in Leiden University’s new series on International Law in Action. The first course covered international courts and tribunals in The Hague in general. This second course provides an insider perspective into the work of international criminal courts and tribunals. You will learn about the investigation and prosecution of international crimes in The Hague. Atrocities produce unspeakable forms of violence. We will explore...

2. Introduction to International Criminal Law

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-- About the Course -- From the Nuremberg trial to the case against Saddam Hussein, from the prosecution of Al-Qaeda terrorists to the trial of Somali pirates – no area of law is as important to world peace and security as international criminal law. Taught by one of the world’s leading experts in the field, this course will educate students about the fundamentals of international criminal law and policy. We will explore the contours of international crimes such as genocide, war crimes,...

3. Cyber Crime Analyst Part 1

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4
(250)

Types of Cyber Crime...

4. Cryptocurrency Financial Crime Compliance Bootcamp

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4.4
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Blockchain/Crypto Financial Crime Money Laundering Terrorist Financing AML & CTF Regulation Compliance Tools...

5. Evidence-based Toxicology

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Welcome to the Evidence-based Toxicology (EBT) course. In medicine and healthcare, evidence-based medicine has revolutionized the way that information is evaluated transparently and objectively. Over the past ten years, a movement in North America and Europe has attempted to translate this revolution to the field of toxicology. The Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT) within the department of Environmental Health and Engineering at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health...

6. Pharmacy Technician Fundamentals

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In this foundational Pharmacy Technician Career Training Specialization, students will take four courses to master the fundamentals of a career in pharmacy. The first two courses teach how to communicate and engage professionally in any healthcare setting and the necessary knowledge of human anatomy and physiology required for any medical role. Next, students dive into two pharmacy-related courses - Pharmacy Technician Essentials and Pharmacy Dosages & Prescriptions Essentials - to round out...

7. Introduction to Criminology: Explaining Crime

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4.5
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Learn to Speak About Criminal Psychology and the Sociology of Crime Like an Expert...

8. Become a Microbiology Laboratory Technician

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Microbiology...

9. Hot Topics in Criminal Justice

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The American criminal justice system is in need of reform. We incarcerate too many people. We pay insufficient attention to scientific advances that can help separate out the most and least culpable and dangerous. We grant the police far too much power to use force and technological surveillance. As a way of thinking about dealing with these problems, this course examines two over-arching issues: What should we do with people who have committed crime, and how should we identify who they are? On...

10. Become a Pharmacy Technician

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A Video Study Guide for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam...

11. Digital Forensics and Cyber-Crime Investigation

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4.2
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Computer Forensics...

12. Financial Crime: Processes & Technology - Masterclass

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4.6
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Develop practitioner level skills in AML, CTF, KYC, PEP, Identity, Sanctions and Fraud processes and technology...

13. Cyber Crime Analyst Part 2

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4.5
(331)

Cyber Forensics Investigator...

14. Certificate Program In Management Information Systems

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4.1
(261)

Learn about the exciting world of Management Information Systems and its impact on the way organisations now function...

15. Digital Forensics and Electronic Evidence

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4.4
(2,017)

An introduction for legal professionals and other individuals with an interest in computer forensics...

16. Computer Forensics Fundamentals

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4.4
(15,133)

An introduction to Computer Forensics, to demonstrate the process of going from the crime scene to the court room...

17. Management Consulting Presentations

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A practical guide on how to create a killer presentation efficiently...

18. ISO 14001:2015 Environmental management system

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Understand the requirements for an environmental management system according to ISO 14001:2015...

19. IT/Desktop Computer Support- Troubleshooting for Technicians

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Learn how to troubleshoot desktop computer issues as an IT Support Technician on real-world organisational networks...

20. Present like a management consultant

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Unlock the secrets to creating amazing presentations like the one from top 3 consulting firms Mc Kinsey, Bain, and BCG...

Top 10 most affordable universities for crime laboratory technicians

The most affordable schools for crime laboratory technicians are SUNY Farmingdale, california state university - bakersfield, and california state university - dominguez hills.

If the best universities for crime laboratory technicians are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for crime laboratory technicians.

1. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

2. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

3. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

4. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

5. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

6. Minot State University

Minot, ND • Private

In-state tuition

$7,064

Cost of attendance

15,576

7. USF Sarasota-Manatee

Sarasota, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,587

Cost of attendance

13,043

8. Louisiana State University at Alexandria

Alexandria, LA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,668

Cost of attendance

14,488

9. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

10. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,992

Cost of attendance

22,430

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for crime laboratory technicians

The hardest universities for crime laboratory technicians to get into are Northwestern University, Boston University, and New York University.

Some great schools for crime laboratory technicians are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for crime laboratory technicians based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

2. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

3. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

4. George Washington University, The

Washington, DC • Private

Admissions rate

42%

SAT average

1,380

5. University of Maryland - College Park

College Park, MD • Private

Admissions rate

47%

SAT average

1,390

6. SUNY at Binghamton

Vestal, NY • Private

Admissions rate

40%

SAT average

1,376

7. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

8. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

Admissions rate

23%

SAT average

1,398

9. Syracuse University

Syracuse, NY • Private

Admissions rate

50%

SAT average

1,284

10. University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

59%

SAT average

1,367

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for crime laboratory technicians

The easiest schools for crime laboratory technicians to get into are Gwynedd Mercy University, presentation college, and manor college.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a crime laboratory technician without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for crime laboratory technicians.

1. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,031

2. Presentation College

Aberdeen, SD • Private

Admissions rate

97%

SAT average

1,050

3. Manor College

Jenkintown, PA • Private

Admissions rate

94%

SAT average

898

4. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

994

5. University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,044

6. Kean University

Union, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

86%

SAT average

991

7. Holy Family University

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

72%

SAT average

1,017

8. Thomas More University

Crestview Hills, KY • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

1,099

9. Midwestern State University

Wichita Falls, TX • Private

Admissions rate

71%

SAT average

1,033

10. Pennsylvania State University - Shenango

Sharon, PA • Private

Admissions rate

75%

SAT average

989

Average crime laboratory technician salary by education level

Crime laboratory technicians with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $37,668 annually. With a Associate degree, crime laboratory technicians earn a median annual income of $34,272 compared to $32,610 for crime laboratory technicians with an Bachelor's degree.
Crime laboratory technician education levelCrime laboratory technician salary
Master's Degree$37,668
High School Diploma or Less$31,282
Bachelor's Degree$32,610
Some College/ Associate Degree$34,272

Crime laboratory technician education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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