Best institutions to study Financial Forensics and Fraud Investigation
A program focusing on the principles and techniques of conducting investigations into financial crime, terrorist activity, and the analysis and use of accounting data as evidence.
29 U.S. institutions graduated 284 Financial Forensics and Fraud Investigation students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 43.0405, a specialization of Security Science and Technology (CIP 43.04), and leads most directly to the Financial Examiners occupation (BLS SOC 13-2061).
About Financial Forensics and Fraud Investigation programs
A program focusing on the principles and techniques of conducting investigations into financial crime, terrorist activity, and the analysis and use of accounting data as evidence. Includes instruction in the principles of accounting, investigative auditing, computer investigations, accounting system documents and software, business corruption, criminal and terrorist financial networks, international money markets and movement, net worth analysis, financial fraud, exposing concealed assets, records seizure, fraud and money laundering statutes, fraud case initiation, case management, and case presentation.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Financial Forensics and Fraud Investigation program, part of the Security Science and Technology field, focuses on the investigation of financial crimes, including fraud and terrorist activities. This program is designed for students interested in pursuing careers in law enforcement, financial examination, and forensic accounting, equipping them with essential skills to combat economic crime.
Students will gain knowledge in accounting principles, investigative auditing, and the analysis of financial data. Coursework includes topics such as financial fraud, money laundering statutes, and case management, providing a comprehensive understanding of the financial forensics field.
Credentials awarded
What Financial Forensics and Fraud Investigation graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Master's degree131 graduates / yr · 10 institutions46%
- Bachelor's degree81 graduates / yr · 5 institutions29%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year46 graduates / yr · 7 institutions16%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate16 graduates / yr · 7 institutions5.6%
- Award of less than 12 weeks7 graduates / yr · 1 institution2.5%
- Associate's degree2 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.7%
- Post-master's certificate1 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.4%
Graduates over time
Financial Forensics and Fraud Investigation completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 360 |
| 2021 | 417 |
| 2022 | 340 |
| 2023 | 323 |
| 2024 | 323 |
| 2025 | 284 |
Top 29 institutions for Financial Forensics and Fraud Investigation, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice New York, NYPublicBachelor'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearPost-degree cert. | 60 | 56% | — | $44,092 |
| 2 | West Virginia University Morgantown, WVPublicMaster's | 30 | 65% | — | $44,255 |
| 3 | Utica University Utica, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 21 | 56% | $20,237 | $53,951 |
| 4 | Salisbury University Salisbury, MDPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 18 | 68% | — | — |
| 5 | Inter American University of Puerto Rico - Metro San Juan, PRPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 18 | 39% | $10,446 | — |
| 6 | North Seattle College Seattle, WAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 14 | 33% | — | — |
| 7 | Embry - Riddle Aeronautical University - Prescott Prescott, AZPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 13 | 68% | $38,461 | $55,259 |
| 8 | Tiffin University Tiffin, OHPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 13 | 40% | $24,126 | $38,994 |
| 9 | Stevenson University Owings Mills, MDPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 12 | 68% | $26,556 | — |
| 10 | Carlow University Pittsburgh, PAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 11 | 60% | $19,953 | — |
| 11 | University of Scranton Scranton, PAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 10 | 80% | $25,834 | — |
| 12 | Waynesburg University Waynesburg, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 8 | 66% | $24,453 | — |
| 13 | Athens State University Athens, ALPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 7 | — | — | — |
| 14 | Siena University Loudonville, NYPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 7 | 75% | $30,138 | — |
| 15 | SUNY Old Westbury Old Westbury, NYPublicMaster's | 7 | 45% | — | — |
| 16 | University of New Haven West Haven, CTPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 6 | 63% | $32,614 | $40,889 |
| 17 | Illinois State University Normal, ILPublicPost-degree cert. | 4 | 65% | — | — |
| 18 | Neumann University Aston, PAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 4 | 54% | $28,753 | — |
| 19 | Champlain College Burlington, VTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 4 | 65% | $32,531 | $70,586 |
| 20 | Rowan University Glassboro, NJPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 3 | 67% | — | — |
| 21 | University of Northwestern Ohio Lima, OHPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 54% | $19,592 | — |
| 22 | University of Maine at Augusta Augusta, MEPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 2 | 27% | — | — |
| 23 | Stark State College North Canton, OHPublicAssociate's | 2 | 23% | — | — |
| 24 | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Slippery Rock, PAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 2 | 66% | — | — |
| 25 | Michigan Technological University Houghton, MIPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | 68% | — | — |
| 26 | Bemidji State University Bemidji, MNPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 48% | — | — |
| 27 | Missouri State University - Springfield Springfield, MOPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | 58% | — | — |
| 28 | SUNY Polytechnic Institute Utica, NYPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | 55% | — | — |
| 29 | Gannon University Erie, PAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 1 | 66% | $21,409 | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Security Science and Technology field (CIP 43.04) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 17 states & territories
Where Financial Forensics and Fraud Investigation graduates come from. Each state links to all Security Science and Technology programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 5 | 96 | CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice60 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 6 | 36 | Carlow University11 / yr |
| Maryland | 2 | 30 | Salisbury University18 / yr |
| West Virginia | 1 | 30 | West Virginia University30 / yr |
| Ohio | 3 | 18 | Tiffin University13 / yr |
| Puerto Rico | 1 | 18 | Inter American University of Puerto Rico - Metro18 / yr |
| Washington | 1 | 14 | North Seattle College14 / yr |
| Arizona | 1 | 13 | Embry - Riddle Aeronautical University - Prescott13 / yr |
| Alabama | 1 | 7 | Athens State University7 / yr |
| Connecticut | 1 | 6 | University of New Haven6 / yr |
| Illinois | 1 | 4 | Illinois State University4 / yr |
| Vermont | 1 | 4 | Champlain College4 / yr |
| New Jersey | 1 | 3 | Rowan University3 / yr |
| Maine | 1 | 2 | University of Maine at Augusta2 / yr |
| Michigan | 1 | 1 | Michigan Technological University1 / yr |
| Minnesota | 1 | 1 | Bemidji State University1 / yr |
| Missouri | 1 | 1 | Missouri State University - Springfield1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 13-2061, Financial Examiners, and its national outlook.
Graduates of this program can pursue careers as Financial Examiners, with a job outlook that is much faster than average, projecting an 18.5% growth and 5,700 annual openings. The median wage for this occupation is approximately $90,400, typically requiring a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 43.0405
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Financial Examinersprimary SOC 13-2061 | $94,160 | +18.5% Much faster than average | ~5,700 | Bachelor's degree |
Accountants and Auditors SOC 13-2011 | $83,680 | +4.6% About as fast as average | ~124,200 | Bachelor's degree |
Detectives and Criminal Investigators SOC 33-3021 | $93,790 | -0.7% Little or no change | ~7,800 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Private Detectives and Investigators SOC 33-9021 | $51,220 | +6.0% Faster than average | ~3,900 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1111 | $76,590 | +2.0% About as fast as average | ~1,200 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Financial Forensics and Fraud Investigation programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Direct and participate in formal and informal meetings with bank directors, trustees, senior management, counsels, outside accountants, and consultants to gather information and discuss findings.
- Recommend actions to ensure compliance with laws and regulations, or to protect solvency of institutions.
- Prepare reports, exhibits, and other supporting schedules that detail an institution's safety and soundness, compliance with laws and regulations, and recommended solutions to questionable financial conditions.
- Resolve problems concerning the overall financial integrity of banking institutions including loan investment portfolios, capital, earnings, and specific or large troubled accounts.
- Investigate activities of institutions to enforce laws and regulations and to ensure legality of transactions and operations or financial solvency.
- Review balance sheets, operating income and expense accounts, and loan documentation to confirm institution assets and liabilities.
Tools and technology used
Other Security Science and Technology specializations
The 8 other 6-digit CIP codes under Security Science and Technology (CIP 43.04).
- Forensic Science and TechnologyCIP 43.04065,008 graduates / yr239 institutions
- Cyber/CIP 43.0403
Computer Forensics and Counterterrorism 2,457 graduates / yr126 institutions - Cybersecurity Defense Strategy/CIP 43.0404
Policy 1,710 graduates / yr66 institutions - Criminalistics and Criminal ScienceCIP 43.0402622 graduates / yr31 institutions
- Law Enforcement Intelligence AnalysisCIP 43.0408223 graduates / yr15 institutions
- Security Science and TechnologyCIP 43.0401partial data60 graduates / yr6 institutions
- Geospatial IntelligenceCIP 43.0407partial data19 graduates / yr6 institutions
- Security Science and TechnologyCIP 43.0499limited data1 graduates / yr1 institutions
Common questions
What is Financial Forensics and Fraud Investigation?+
It is a program that focuses on investigating financial crimes and analyzing accounting data as evidence.
What skills will I learn in this program?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, active listening, writing, and mathematics.
What careers can I pursue with this degree?+
You can work as a Financial Examiner, Accountant, or Detective, among other roles.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is much faster than average, with an anticipated growth of 18.5% and 5,700 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Financial Forensics and Fraud Investigation?+
Financial Forensics and Fraud Investigation is CIP 43.0405 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Security Science and Technology (CIP 43.04). NCES defines it as: A program focusing on the principles and techniques of conducting investigations into financial crime, terrorist activity, and the analysis and use of accounting data as evidence. Includes instruction in the principles of accounting, investigative auditing, computer investigations, accounting system documents and software, business corruption, criminal and terrorist financial networks, international money markets and movement, net worth analysis, financial fraud, exposing concealed assets, records seizure, fraud and money laundering statutes, fraud case initiation, case management, and case presentation.
How many institutions offer Financial Forensics and Fraud Investigation programs?+
29 U.S. institutions reported Financial Forensics and Fraud Investigation graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 17 states & territories, awarding 284 credentials in the year. That is 2.7% of all Security Science and Technology graduates.
How much do Financial Forensics and Fraud Investigation graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Financial Examiners occupation, which Financial Forensics and Fraud Investigation most directly leads to, pays a median of $94,160 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Security Science and Technology field report median earnings of $44,255 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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