How will your forensic psychology education stack up?

Take a few moments to compare how the forensic psychology education in your home state compares with that of other states in the nation. The US has 25 brick and mortar forensic psychology schools.

Top Schools

The top institutions in the US in 2010 that had forensic psychology programs were:

1. University of Denver - located in Denver, Colorado
2. Roger Williams University - located in Bristol, Rhode Island
3. California Baptist University - located in Riverside, California

Student Demographics

In 2010, 964 students earned degrees in forensic psychology in the US. Of these students, 6 received certifications in forensic psychology, 428 received an undergraduate degree in forensic psychology, and 530 received a graduate-level degree in forensic psychology.

Academics

Students can pursue education in forensic psychology at the following levels:

The skills and/or knowledge that forensic psychology students can expect to gain during the course of their forensic psychology education are:

• Interviewing
• Social Perceptiveness
• Critical Thinking and Analysis
• Ethics
• Trauma and Crisis Intervention

Cost

In 2010, forensic psychology schools around the nation charged an average tuition of $21,148 per year. The forensic psychology schools charging the highest tuition were:

1. University of Denver - located in Denver, Colorado, students paid $35,481
2. Florida Institute of Technology - located in Melbourne, Florida, students paid $31,520
3. Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus - located in Teaneck, New Jersey, students paid $28,976

The following forensic psychology schools had the lowest tuition rates:

1. CUNY Graduate School and University Center - located in New York, New York, students paid $4,830
2. CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice - located in New York, New York, students paid $4,929
3. Missouri State University - located in Springfield, Missouri, students paid $6,276

How will your forensic psychology job compare?

A large number of forensic psychology majors become forensic psychologists. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that in 2010, 10,690 forensic psychologists were working in the US. The following states have the largest number of forensic psychologists:

1. California - 1,240 Forensic Psychologists
2. Florida - 1,000 Forensic Psychologists
3. New York - 680 Forensic Psychologists

Projected Growth

The number of forensic psychologists is expected to grow the fastest in the following states:

1. Indiana - 20%
2. Florida - 19%
3. Texas - 17%

Salary

Forensic psychologists in the US can make an average of $83,235 per year. However, factors such as work conditions, your boss, or shift differentials can cause the salary for a forensic psychologist to vary greatly. A forensic psychologist in the US can earn anywhere from less than $22,890 per year to more than $161,780 per year. Forensic psychologists in the following states make the highest salaries on average:

1. Arizona - $102,310 per year
2. New Hampshire - $97,710 per year
3. Maryland - $97,560 per year

Forensic psychologists in the following states make the lowest salaries on average:

1. Nebraska - $57,480 per year
2. Rhode Island - $65,820 per year
3. Colorado - $67,640 per year