Forensic Science Degree in Los Angeles, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Forensic Science degree analysis for Los Angeles, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$71K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$96K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6 yrs
in Los Angeles
Cost of Living
141
index (100 = avg)
Forensic Science in Los Angeles, CA Overview
Los Angeles is one of California's top college towns, with 69 institutions and a student population of 322,771. Public tuition averages $13,804/year here — near the national average for public universities. Forensic Science enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in DNA Analysis and Toxicology. The adjusted starting salary in Los Angeles is approximately $70,500.
Category
Social Sciences
Local Colleges
69
Public Tuition
$13,804/yr
Private Tuition
$59,151/yr
Room & Board
$17,998/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,255/yr
Unemployment
3.4%
Graduation Rate
47%
Forensic Science Salary in Los Angeles (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Los Angeles's cost of living index of 141 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Forensic Science salary: $50,000 starting, $68,000 mid-career, $82,000 senior level.Los Angeles adjustment factor: 1.41x based on the local cost of living index.
Forensic Science ROI Calculator for Los Angeles
Estimate your return on investment for a Forensic Science degree using local Los Angeles tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $13,804 | Private avg: $59,151
Los Angeles avg aid: $8,255/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$127,208
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$21,150
vs HS diploma in Los Angeles
ROI Payback Period
6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Los Angeles
$436,792
Lifetime earnings premium ($564,000) minus total education cost ($127,208)
Student Loan Payoff for Forensic Science in Los Angeles
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Los Angeles for Forensic Science
UCLA
public
$13,804/yr
$55,216 total
USC
private
$63,468/yr
$253,872 total
Loyola Marymount University
private
$54,834/yr
$219,336 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Los Angeles City College
$1,540/yr
Santa Monica College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Forensic Science in Los Angeles
Los Angeles offers opportunities in Government agencies, Non-profits, Research institutes for Forensic Science graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Los Angeles Hiring Sectors for Social Sciences
Government agencies
Non-profits
Research institutes
Social services
Consulting
Common Forensic Science Job Titles
Forensic Science in Nearby California Cities
San Diego, CA
$70K starting · COL 140
68 colleges
San Jose, CA
$65K starting · COL 129
95 colleges
San Francisco, CA
$57K starting · COL 114
22 colleges
Fresno, CA
$59K starting · COL 118
37 colleges
Sacramento, CA
$56K starting · COL 112
38 colleges
Long Beach, CA
$58K starting · COL 116
14 colleges
Oakland, CA
$66K starting · COL 132
13 colleges
Bakersfield, CA
$67K starting · COL 134
18 colleges
Other Social Sciences Majors in Los Angeles
International Relations
$71K starting · 5 yr ROI
Political Science
$68K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Urban Planning
$71K starting · 5 yr ROI
Geography
$71K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Sustainability Studies
$71K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Psychology
$62K starting · 6 yr ROI
Criminal Justice
$71K starting · 5 yr ROI
Sociology
$62K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Forensic Science Degree in Los Angeles — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Forensic Science ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Los Angeles.