by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Forensic Psychology covers Forensic Psychology. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Clinical, Counseling, School, And Neuropsychology Skills To The Provision Of Psychological Services Within The Criminal Justice And Civil Legal Systems, Including Consultation, Assessment, And Interventions. Includes Instruction In The Epidemiology Of Mental/behavioral Disorders, Risk Factors For Violence And Criminality, Profiling And Patterning, Psychological Testing, Prediction And Intervention Measurement, Forensic Assessment, Criminal And Civil Law And Procedures, Secure Environments, Forensic Treatment And Intervention Skills, And Professional Standards And Ethics. Read on to learn the key facts every forensic psychology major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering forensic psychology programs.
In the U.S., forensic psychology is a popular field of study, with 2,667 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Forensic Psychology Schools ranking analyzes these 62 schools to determine the best overall colleges for forensic psychology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of forensic psychology programs later in this article.
Programs in Forensic Psychology build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations forensic psychology graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a forensic psychology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a forensic psychology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several forensic psychology degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 885 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,730 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 52 |
People currently working in careers related to forensic psychology tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 33.1% |
| Post-doctoral training | 25.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 17.5% |
| Master’s degree | 8.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.4% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 4.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.6% |
| Some college courses | 2.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.3% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in forensic psychology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in forensic psychology opens doors to numerous career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to forensic psychology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to forensic psychology.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | 513,614 | -3.0% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
| Loss Prevention Managers | 265,210 | 2.2% |
| Clinical Neuropsychologists | 216,013 | 8.9% |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | 206,415 | 9.9% |
| Neuropsychologists | 186,493 | 6.5% |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | 128,884 | 5.2% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of forensic psychology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $54,756 |
| 4 years | $59,892 |
| 5 years | $67,036 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for forensic psychology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers forensic psychology grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | $99,321 |
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,479 |
| Managers, All Other | $95,684 |
| Neuropsychologists | $83,690 |
With 62 different forensic psychology programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased forensic psychology school rankings to help you.
Students interested in forensic psychology, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Counseling Psychology | 11,691 |
| Applied Behavior Analysis | 6,914 |
| Clinical Psychology | 6,059 |
| School Psychology | 3,685 |
| Applied Psychology | 2,998 |
| Industrial and Organizational Psychology | 2,898 |
| Educational Psychology | 1,979 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology, Other | 577 |
| Community Psychology | 520 |
| Health/Medical Psychology | 447 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
