75 Best colleges for Forensic Science in the United States

Updated: February 29, 2024

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 229K citations received by 9.29K academic papers made by 75 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

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

2. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Forensic Science

#2 in North America

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

3. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Forensic Science

#3 in North America

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 91%

4. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Forensic Science

#4 in North America

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1220
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

5. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Forensic Science

#5 in North America

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

6. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Forensic Science

#6 in North America

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $20,548
Enrollment: 39,679

7. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Forensic Science

#7 in North America

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,060

8. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Forensic Science

#8 in North America

#19 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

9. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Forensic Science

#10 in North America

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

10. Baylor College of Medicine

Texas | Houston

For Forensic Science

#11 in North America

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,610
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1900

11. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Forensic Science

#13 in North America

#34 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

12. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Forensic Science

#14 in North America

#35 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

13. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Forensic Science

#17 in North America

#38 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 95%

14. CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice

New York State | New York City

For Forensic Science

#18 in North America

#40 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $9,043
Enrollment: 13,921

15. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Arkansas | Little Rock

For Forensic Science

#19 in North America

#43 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 3,240
Male:Female: 28:72
Founded: 1879

16. University of North Texas

Texas | Denton

For Forensic Science

#20 in North America

#44 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1120
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 95%

17. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Forensic Science

#21 in North America

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 80%

18. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Forensic Science

#22 in North America

#48 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,694

19. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Forensic Science

#23 in North America

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,647

20. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Forensic Science

#24 in North America

#56 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

21. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Forensic Science

#25 in North America

#57 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 58%

22. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Forensic Science

#27 in North America

#63 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,432

23. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Forensic Science

#28 in North America

#64 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $21,669
Enrollment: 45,307

24. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Forensic Science

#29 in North America

#68 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $14,731
Enrollment: 52,319

25. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Forensic Science

#30 in North America

#69 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 81%

26. University of North Texas Health Science Center

Texas | Fort Worth

For Forensic Science

#31 in North America

#71 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment: 2,337
Male:Female: 34:66
Founded: 1970

27. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Forensic Science

#32 in North America

#73 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 96%

28. West Virginia University

West Virginia | Morgantown

For Forensic Science

#33 in North America

#74 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1110
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 97%

29. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Forensic Science

#34 in North America

#75 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 54%

30. SUNY at Albany

New York State | Albany

For Forensic Science

#35 in North America

#81 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1220
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 97%

31. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Forensic Science

#36 in North America

#84 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

32. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Forensic Science

#37 in North America

#86 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,279

33. Sam Houston State University

Texas | Huntsville

For Forensic Science

#38 in North America

#87 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1050
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 87%

34. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Forensic Science

#39 in North America

#88 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

35. Florida International University

Florida | Miami

For Forensic Science

#40 in North America

#89 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1155
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 91%

36. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Forensic Science

#41 in North America

#90 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 71%

37. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Forensic Science

#42 in North America

#93 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $17,411
Enrollment: 35,937

38. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Forensic Science

#43 in North America

#95 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,381
Enrollment: 80,065

39. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Forensic Science

#44 in North America

#104 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $22,042
Enrollment: 26,809

40. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Forensic Science

#45 in North America

#110 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 88%
Average Aid: $10,689
Enrollment: 27,539

41. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Forensic Science

#46 in North America

#115 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $36,808

42. University of Hawaii at Manoa

Hawaii | Honolulu

For Forensic Science

#47 in North America

#116 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 80%

43. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Forensic Science

#49 in North America

#134 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,499

44. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Forensic Science

#50 in North America

#138 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,123

45. Kansas State University

Kansas State | Manhattan

For Forensic Science

#51 in North America

#141 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $8,537
Enrollment: 19,722

46. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Forensic Science

#52 in North America

#145 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $24,034

47. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Forensic Science

#54 in North America

#152 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1410
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $42,723

48. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Forensic Science

#55 in North America

#162 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 63%

49. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Forensic Science

#57 in North America

#168 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1305
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 96%

50. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Forensic Science

#58 in North America

#174 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 70%

51. University of New Haven

Connecticut | West Haven

For Forensic Science

#59 in North America

#175 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1180
Net Price: $33,135
Receiving Aid: 100%

52. University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler

Texas | Tyler

For Forensic Science

#60 in North America

#178 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1947

53. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Forensic Science

#61 in North America

#186 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 90%

54. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Forensic Science

#62 in North America

#189 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

55. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Forensic Science

#64 in North America

#199 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 91%

56. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Forensic Science

#65 in North America

#200 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 91%

57. South Dakota State University

South Dakota | Brookings

For Forensic Science

#66 in North America

#202 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1133
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 100%

58. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Forensic Science

#67 in North America

#203 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $9,280

59. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Forensic Science

#68 in North America

#207 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

60. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Forensic Science

#69 in North America

#211 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 89%

61. Johnson University

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Forensic Science

#70 in North America

#213 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1088
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $21,012

62. Drexel University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Forensic Science

#71 in North America

#214 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $39,267

63. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Forensic Science

#72 in North America

#215 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 74%

64. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Forensic Science

#73 in North America

#216 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 86%

65. Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia | Richmond

For Forensic Science

#74 in North America

#222 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1160
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

66. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Forensic Science

#75 in North America

#223 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 91%

67. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Forensic Science

#76 in North America

#225 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $20,782
Enrollment: 42,006

68. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Forensic Science

#77 in North America

#227 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,491

69. Auburn University

Alabama | Auburn

For Forensic Science

#78 in North America

#228 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 79%

70. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Forensic Science

#80 in North America

#234 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

71. University of Alabama

Alabama | Tuscaloosa

For Forensic Science

#82 in North America

#243 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 87%

72. University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester

Massachusetts | Worcester

For Forensic Science

#83 in North America

#244 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,352
Male:Female: 34:66
Founded: 1962

73. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Forensic Science

#84 in North America

#245 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1320
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 94%

74. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Forensic Science

#85 in North America

#247 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,058

75. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Forensic Science

#86 in North America

#248 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 57%
Average Aid: $21,766
Enrollment: 46,430

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 Ames.