Top Forensic Science Graduate Schools
Review some important considerations for choosing a school with a good graduate forensic science program. Read about three top-ranked schools with programs related to forensic science, and explore some of the degree options they offer in this field.
What Should I Look for in a Top Forensic Science Graduate School?
The American Academy of Forensic Sciences' (AAFS) Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC) accredits schools that meet its academic standards of quality. You may also want to check out forensic science graduate degree programs offered by highly-rated criminology or pharmacy departments. Also consider access to forensics laboratories and internship opportunities. Some programs have relationships with federal and state agencies that allow you to gain practical experience and research skills while working with forensic science experts.
Do you have a specialty in mind? You may want to seek out programs that allow you to specialize in your area of interest. If you're interested in multidisciplinary approaches to the field, you might consider a program that allows you to take courses from other departments, such as chemistry, biology or anthropology.
What Are Three Top Forensic Science Graduate Schools?
Michigan State University in East Lansing
Michigan State University (MSU) offers a FEPAC-accredited graduate program in forensic science through the School of Criminal Justice. U.S. News & World Report ranked MSU tenth among graduate schools of criminology in 2018, and tied for 85th among national public universities in 2019 (www.usnews.com).
Master of Science in Forensic Science concentrations are available in forensic chemistry, forensic biology and forensic anthropology. Facilities include laboratories for chemical, DNA and skeletal analysis. Students also have access to research and internship opportunities at the nearby Michigan State Police Forensic Science Division laboratory. Depending on your objectives, joint doctoral programs can be arranged in disciplines such as analytical chemistry, biochemistry, genetics and anthropology.
- Master of Science in Forensic Science
University of Florida in Gainesville
The University of Florida's (UF) College of Pharmacy, which offers the forensic science, drug chemistry and serology concentrations, tied for the ninth spot in the 2016 U.S. News & World Report for pharmacy schools; the graduate veterinary medicine program was ranked ninth in 2019 and offers the forensic toxicology concentration.
UF hosts the Maples Center for Forensic Medicine, which oversees the C.A. Pound Human Identification Laboratory, the Diagnostic Referral Laboratory and the Forensic Toxicology Laboratory. The Maples Center, in partnership with the College of Veterinary Medicine, offers a master's degree in veterinary medical science. Graduate degree options include the following:
- Master of Science in Pharmacy (MSPharm) - Forensic Science
- MSPharm - Forensic Drug Chemistry
- MSPharm - Forensic DNA and Serology
- M.S. in Veterinary Medical Sciences - Forensic Toxicology
- M.S. in Veterinary Medical Sciences - Veterinary Forensic Science
University of Illinois at Chicago
The University of Illinois at Chicago's (UIC) forensic science program is offered by the College of Pharmacy. U.S. News & World Report ranked UIC's pharmacy school sixth in 2016. The M.S. in Forensic Science program is FEPAC-accredited. Students can choose electives that match their research interests, such as forensic biology or drug chemistry and toxicology. The Illinois State Police Forensic Science Command, the Drug Enforcement Agency, the IRS Forensic Chemistry Center, the Cook County medical examiner's office and the McCrone Research Institute all offer research opportunities to UIC's forensic science students.
- Master of Science in Forensic Science
Other Schools with Forensic Science Graduate Programs
| College/University | Institution Type | Location | Estimated Graduate In-State Tuition* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arcadia University | 4-year, Private | Glenside, PA | $30,000 |
| Pace University | 4-year, Private | New York, NY | $31,500 |
| Boston University | 4-year, Private | Boston, MA | $53,000 |
| University of New Haven | 4-year, Private | West Haven, CT | $17,000 |
| Stevenson University | 4-year, Private | Stevenson, MD | $8,000 |
| Sam Houston State University | 4-year, Public | Huntsville, TX | $8,000 |
| George Mason University | 4-year, Public | Fairfax, VA | $15,000 |
| Southern Utah University | 4-year, Public | Cedar City, UT | $8,000 |
| University of Southern Mississippi | 4-year, Public | Hattiesburg, MS | $9,000 |
| Alabama State University | 4-year, Public | Montgomery, AL | $13,000 |
*Source: NCES, U.S. Department of Education