Schools · Top 10

Top 10 Universities for Forensic Science in 2027

By Kory White · Updated Oct 2026 · 4 min read

Direct answer

Penn State is the best university for forensic science, with a FEPAC-accredited Bachelor’s in Forensic Science (accredited Mar 2025 to Mar 2030). The University of New Haven and West Virginia University follow, each with both a FEPAC-accredited bachelor’s and master’s.

At a glance

#	Pick	FEPAC-accredited program	Best for
1	Pennsylvania State University	Bachelor’s in Forensic Science (accredited Mar 2025 to Mar 2030)	A FEPAC-accredited forensic science bachelor’s at a big research university
2	University of New Haven	Bachelor’s and Master’s in Forensic Science (both accredited Jan 2024 to Jan 2029)	Both an accredited bachelor’s and master’s at one school
3	West Virginia University	Bachelor’s and Master’s in Forensic and Investigative Sciences (both accredited Mar 2025 to Mar 2030)	A public flagship with an accredited bachelor’s and master’s
4	Towson University	Bachelor’s in Forensic Chemistry and Master’s in Forensic Science (both accredited Jan 2022 to Jan 2027)	Forensic chemistry in Maryland
5	Loyola University Chicago	Bachelor’s in Forensic Science (accredited Jan 2022 to Jan 2027)	An accredited forensic bachelor’s in a major city
6	University of Central Florida	Bachelor’s in Forensic Science (accredited Mar 2025 to Mar 2030)	An accredited forensic bachelor’s at a large Florida public university
7	Syracuse University	Master’s in Forensic Science (accredited Mar 2025 to Mar 2030)	An accredited forensic master’s at a private research university
8	Michigan State University	Master’s in Forensic Science, Forensic Chemistry Track (accredited Mar 2025 to Mar 2030)	A forensic chemistry master’s at a big Midwest university
9	Arcadia University	Master’s in Forensic Science (accredited Jan 2023 to Jan 2028)	A small private school for a forensic master’s
10	Sam Houston State University	Master’s in Forensic Science (accredited Mar 2025 to Mar 2030)	An accredited forensic master’s in Texas

Pick by what you want

Best overall

Pennsylvania State University

Best forensic specialist

University of New Haven

Best for forensic chemistry

Towson University

Best in Florida

University of Central Florida

Best for a master’s

Syracuse University

The ranking

Pennsylvania State University

Photo: George Chriss / CC BY 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons

Answrs VerdictThe research-university pick for a forensic bachelor’s.

FEPAC-accredited program: Bachelor’s in Forensic Science (accredited Mar 2025 to Mar 2030)Location: University Park, PennsylvaniaFounded: 1855Type: Public state-related land-grant research university

Penn State, the public land-grant research university founded in 1855 with its main campus at University Park, Pennsylvania, holds FEPAC accreditation for its Bachelor’s in Forensic Science through Mar 2030.

Go ifA FEPAC-accredited forensic science bachelor’s at a big research university

Skip ifYou want a small private campus

Why #1 over #2: A FEPAC-accredited forensic bachelor’s backed by a large research university.

University of New Haven

Photo: Zrosen88 / CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikipedia

Answrs VerdictThe forensic-specialist private school.

FEPAC-accredited program: Bachelor’s and Master’s in Forensic Science (both accredited Jan 2024 to Jan 2029)Location: West Haven, ConnecticutFounded: 1920Type: Private university

The University of New Haven, a private university in West Haven, Connecticut, founded in 1920, has FEPAC-accredited bachelor’s and master’s programs in forensic science, both accredited through Jan 2029.

Go ifBoth an accredited bachelor’s and master’s at one school

Skip ifYou want a large public university

Why #2 over #3: Both degree levels accredited, through Jan 2029.

West Virginia University

Photo: Carol M. Highsmith / Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

Answrs VerdictThe public school with both degree levels accredited.

FEPAC-accredited program: Bachelor’s and Master’s in Forensic and Investigative Sciences (both accredited Mar 2025 to Mar 2030)Location: Morgantown, West VirginiaFounded: 1867Type: Public land-grant research university

West Virginia University in Morgantown, founded in 1867, has FEPAC-accredited bachelor’s and master’s programs in Forensic and Investigative Sciences through Mar 2030.

Go ifA public flagship with an accredited bachelor’s and master’s

Skip ifYou want a big-city campus

Why #3 over #4: Its accreditation runs to Mar 2030, later than Towson’s Jan 2027.

Towson University

Photo: Katie Simmons-Barth Photography from Baltimore, USA / CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Answrs VerdictThe forensic chemistry pick.

FEPAC-accredited program: Bachelor’s in Forensic Chemistry and Master’s in Forensic Science (both accredited Jan 2022 to Jan 2027)Location: Towson, MarylandFounded: 1866Type: Public university in the University System of Maryland

Towson University, a public university in Towson, Maryland, founded in 1866, has a FEPAC-accredited Bachelor’s in Forensic Chemistry and Master’s in Forensic Science, both accredited Jan 2022 to Jan 2027.

Go ifForensic chemistry in Maryland

Skip ifYou want a biology-focused forensic bachelor’s

Why #4 over #5: It adds an accredited master’s, which Loyola does not have on the FEPAC list.

Loyola University Chicago

Photo: Amerique / CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Answrs VerdictThe big-city private pick.

FEPAC-accredited program: Bachelor’s in Forensic Science (accredited Jan 2022 to Jan 2027)Location: Chicago, IllinoisFounded: 1870Type: Private Jesuit research university

Loyola University Chicago, a private Jesuit research university founded in 1870, holds FEPAC accreditation for its Bachelor’s in Forensic Science from Jan 2022 to Jan 2027.

Go ifAn accredited forensic bachelor’s in a major city

Skip ifYou want a public university

Why #5 over #6: An accredited forensic bachelor’s in a major city.

University of Central Florida

Answrs VerdictThe Florida public pick.

FEPAC-accredited program: Bachelor’s in Forensic Science (accredited Mar 2025 to Mar 2030)Location: Near Orlando, FloridaFounded: 1963Type: Public research university in the State University System of Florida

The University of Central Florida, a public research university near Orlando founded in 1963, has a FEPAC-accredited Bachelor’s in Forensic Science through Mar 2030.

Go ifAn accredited forensic bachelor’s at a large Florida public university

Skip ifYou want a small campus

Why #6 over #7: An accredited bachelor’s, which Syracuse does not have on the FEPAC list.

Syracuse University

Answrs VerdictThe private-research master’s pick.

FEPAC-accredited program: Master’s in Forensic Science (accredited Mar 2025 to Mar 2030)Location: Syracuse, New YorkFounded: 1870Type: Private research university

Syracuse University, a private research university in Syracuse, New York, founded in 1870, has a FEPAC-accredited Master’s in Forensic Science through Mar 2030.

Go ifAn accredited forensic master’s at a private research university

Skip ifYou need an accredited bachelor’s (only the master’s is on the FEPAC list)

Why #7 over #8: An accredited forensic master’s at a private research university.

Michigan State University

Photo: The original uploader was Jeffness at English Wikipedia. / CC BY-SA 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons

Answrs VerdictThe Midwest master’s pick.

FEPAC-accredited program: Master’s in Forensic Science, Forensic Chemistry Track (accredited Mar 2025 to Mar 2030)Location: East Lansing, MichiganFounded: 1855Type: Public land-grant research university

Michigan State University in East Lansing, founded in 1855, has a FEPAC-accredited Master’s in Forensic Science with a Forensic Chemistry Track through Mar 2030.

Go ifA forensic chemistry master’s at a big Midwest university

Skip ifYou need an accredited bachelor’s (only the master’s is on the FEPAC list)

Why #8 over #9: Its accreditation runs to Mar 2030, later than Arcadia’s Jan 2028.

Arcadia University

Photo: BaldL / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Answrs VerdictThe small-school master’s pick.

FEPAC-accredited program: Master’s in Forensic Science (accredited Jan 2023 to Jan 2028)Location: Glenside, Pennsylvania (Cheltenham Township)Founded: 1853Type: Private university

Arcadia University, a private university in Glenside, Pennsylvania, founded in 1853, has a FEPAC-accredited Master’s in Forensic Science from Jan 2023 to Jan 2028.

Go ifA small private school for a forensic master’s

Skip ifYou need an accredited bachelor’s (only the master’s is on the FEPAC list)

Why #9 over #10: A small private school for an accredited forensic master’s.

Sam Houston State University

Photo: Larry D. Moore / CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Answrs VerdictThe Texas master’s pick.

FEPAC-accredited program: Master’s in Forensic Science (accredited Mar 2025 to Mar 2030)Location: Huntsville, TexasFounded: 1879Type: Public research university

Sam Houston State University, a public research university in Huntsville, Texas, founded in 1879, has a FEPAC-accredited Master’s in Forensic Science through Mar 2030.

Go ifAn accredited forensic master’s in Texas

Skip ifYou need an accredited bachelor’s (only the master’s is on the FEPAC list)

How we ranked these

We checked every school against the American Academy of Forensic Sciences list of FEPAC-accredited programs. Schools with an accredited bachelor’s rank ahead of schools whose only accredited program is a master’s. Facts are taken from each maker's own published information; check the official site before you buy.

Questions people ask

What is FEPAC?

FEPAC is the Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission. The American Academy of Forensic Sciences encourages students seeking a forensic science career to explore FEPAC-accredited programs.

Is Penn State’s forensic science degree accredited?

Yes. Penn State’s Bachelor’s in Forensic Science is FEPAC-accredited from Mar 2025 to Mar 2030.

Which schools on this list have both an accredited bachelor’s and master’s?

The University of New Haven, West Virginia University and Towson University each have a FEPAC-accredited bachelor’s and master’s program.

Is Syracuse University’s forensic science program accredited?

Syracuse’s Master’s in Forensic Science is FEPAC-accredited from Mar 2025 to Mar 2030.

Year the university was founded at a glance

Arcadia University1,853 year

Pennsylvania State University1,855 year

Michigan State University1,855 year

Towson University1,866 year

West Virginia University1,867 year

Loyola University Chicago1,870 year

Syracuse University1,870 year

Sam Houston State University1,879 year

University of New Haven1,920 year

University of Central Florida1,963 year

Year the university was founded, as published by each maker. Picks without a published figure are left off.

Official sites

Sources

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