79 Best colleges for Forensic Science in the United States

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Forensic Science. A graph of 335K citations received by 11.1K academic papers made by 79 universities in the United States was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Forensic Science

#1 in North America

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

2. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Forensic Science

#2 in North America

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

3. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Forensic Science

#3 in North America

#8 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

4. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Forensic Science

#4 in North America

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

5. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Forensic Science

#5 in North America

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

6. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Forensic Science

#6 in North America

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,361

7. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Forensic Science

#8 in North America

#19 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 65%
Average Aid: $24,591
Enrollment: 40,065

8. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Forensic Science

#9 in North America

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

9. Baylor College of Medicine

Texas | Houston

For Forensic Science

#10 in North America

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,774
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1900

10. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Forensic Science

#11 in North America

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

11. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Forensic Science

#12 in North America

#31 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 90%

12. University of North Texas

Texas | Denton

For Forensic Science

#14 in North America

#33 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Average SAT: 1105
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 90%

13. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Forensic Science

#16 in North America

#36 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1385
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

14. CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice

New York State | New York City

For Forensic Science

#18 in North America

#39 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1075
Receiving Aid: 90%
Average Aid: $9,966

15. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Forensic Science

#19 in North America

#41 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

16. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Forensic Science

#20 in North America

#44 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1214
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

17. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Forensic Science

#21 in North America

#47 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 80%

18. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Forensic Science

#22 in North America

#49 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

19. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Forensic Science

#23 in North America

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,981

20. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Forensic Science

#24 in North America

#51 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $29,608
Enrollment: 45,882

21. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Forensic Science

#26 in North America

#57 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Receiving Aid: 56%
Average Aid: $16,156
Enrollment: 56,997

22. West Virginia University

West Virginia | Morgantown

For Forensic Science

#27 in North America

#58 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1115
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 97%

23. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Forensic Science

#28 in North America

#59 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,172
Enrollment: 79,818

24. Sam Houston State University

Texas | Huntsville

For Forensic Science

#29 in North America

#61 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1025
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 85%

25. Florida International University

Florida | Miami

For Forensic Science

#30 in North America

#62 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 91%

26. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Forensic Science

#31 in North America

#66 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

27. SUNY at Albany

New York State | Albany

For Forensic Science

#32 in North America

#70 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $11,210
Enrollment: 17,560

28. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Forensic Science

#33 in North America

#73 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

29. University of North Texas Health Science Center

Texas | Fort Worth

For Forensic Science

#34 in North America

#77 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment: 2,332
Male:Female: 33:67
Founded: 1970

30. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Forensic Science

#35 in North America

#78 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

31. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Arkansas | Little Rock

For Forensic Science

#36 in North America

#81 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 3,485
Male:Female: 25:75
Founded: 1879

32. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Forensic Science

#37 in North America

#85 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 92%

33. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Forensic Science

#38 in North America

#87 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $23,110
Enrollment: 37,297

34. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Forensic Science

#39 in North America

#88 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,078

35. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Forensic Science

#40 in North America

#94 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

36. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Forensic Science

#41 in North America

#95 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $24,355
Enrollment: 26,384

37. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Forensic Science

#42 in North America

#97 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

38. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Forensic Science

#43 in North America

#98 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 57%

39. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Forensic Science

#44 in North America

#104 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

40. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Forensic Science

#45 in North America

#109 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 67%

41. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Forensic Science

#46 in North America

#113 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

42. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Forensic Science

#47 in North America

#117 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,570

43. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Forensic Science

#48 in North America

#119 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $43,412

44. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Forensic Science

#49 in North America

#122 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $46,485

45. University of Hawaii at Manoa

Hawaii | Honolulu

For Forensic Science

#50 in North America

#126 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1187
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 76%

46. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Forensic Science

#52 in North America

#134 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 69%

47. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Forensic Science

#53 in North America

#136 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $10,886
Enrollment: 25,685

48. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Forensic Science

#54 in North America

#141 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $30,325

49. Drexel University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Forensic Science

#55 in North America

#143 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $42,801

50. University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester

Massachusetts | Worcester

For Forensic Science

#56 in North America

#153 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,489
Male:Female: 31:69
Founded: 1962

51. Kansas State University

Kansas State | Manhattan

For Forensic Science

#57 in North America

#159 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1160
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 95%

52. University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Texas | Houston

For Forensic Science

#59 in North America

#174 in the World

Enrollment: 4,938
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1972

53. University of New Haven

Connecticut | West Haven

For Forensic Science

#60 in North America

#175 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1163
Net Price: $34,557
Receiving Aid: 99%

54. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Forensic Science

#62 in North America

#187 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 89%

55. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Forensic Science

#64 in North America

#205 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,525

56. South Dakota State University

South Dakota | Brookings

For Forensic Science

#65 in North America

#206 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 98%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 97%

57. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Forensic Science

#66 in North America

#207 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Receiving Aid: 66%
Average Aid: $25,757
Enrollment: 44,256

58. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Forensic Science

#67 in North America

#208 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 69%

59. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Forensic Science

#68 in North America

#210 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,007
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1864

60. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Forensic Science

#69 in North America

#215 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

61. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Forensic Science

#71 in North America

#218 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $25,627
Enrollment: 47,335

62. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Forensic Science

#72 in North America

#221 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

63. Auburn University

Alabama | Auburn

For Forensic Science

#73 in North America

#225 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 85%

64. University of Alabama

Alabama | Tuscaloosa

For Forensic Science

#74 in North America

#226 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 88%

65. Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia | Richmond

For Forensic Science

#75 in North America

#232 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1140
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 92%

66. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Forensic Science

#76 in North America

#235 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 95%

67. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Forensic Science

#77 in North America

#236 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 74%

68. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Forensic Science

#78 in North America

#240 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,520

69. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Forensic Science

#79 in North America

#257 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

70. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Forensic Science

#81 in North America

#268 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 97%

71. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Forensic Science

#83 in North America

#270 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1030
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 100%

72. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Forensic Science

#84 in North America

#277 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

73. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Forensic Science

#86 in North America

#280 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 65%

74. Towson University

Maryland | Towson

For Forensic Science

#87 in North America

#283 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1093
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 86%

75. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Forensic Science

#88 in North America

#289 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

76. Seton Hall University

New Jersey | South Orange

For Forensic Science

#89 in North America

#293 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1305
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $33,896

77. Texas State University

Texas | San Marcos

For Forensic Science

#90 in North America

#297 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1090
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 87%

78. Albany State University

Georgia | Albany

For Forensic Science

#91 in North America

#298 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Receiving Aid: 96%
Average Aid: $8,503
Enrollment: 6,768

79. Marymount University

Virginia | Arlington

For Forensic Science

#92 in North America

#299 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Net Price: $31,989
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $26,069

The best cities to study Forensic Science in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are East Lansing, Minneapolis, Knoxville, and College Station.