2026 Best Value Forensic Psychology Bachelor’s Degree Schools

[Forensic Psychology](/majors/psychology/clinical-counseling-applied-psychology/forensic-psychology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 71 schools to find the best return on investment for forensic psychology students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Forensic Psychology Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in forensic psychology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Forensic Psychology Schools
Leading the list is Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice, our #1 best value for forensic psychology in the United States. Set in the city of New York, Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,470 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,420. Forensic Psychology graduates carry a median of $13,421 in student loans. Forensic Psychology graduates of Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice earn a median of $35,656 early in their careers. Set against $13,421 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice admits about 57% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in forensic psychology will find it at California State University Fresno, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,341, while out-of-state students pay about $19,941. Typical student debt for forensic psychology graduates is $15,598. Early-career forensic psychology graduates make about $49,502. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in forensic psychology will find it at University Of Puerto Rico Ponce, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Ponce, University Of Puerto Rico Ponce is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,324 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for forensic psychology graduates is $5,000. Forensic Psychology graduates of University Of Puerto Rico Ponce earn a median of $12,349 early in their careers. Set against $5,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Puerto Rico Ponce admits about 52% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in forensic psychology will find it at Bay Path College, which ranked #4. Set in the suburb of Longmeadow, Bay Path College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $38,302 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $29,811 to complete the forensic psychology program here. Early-career forensic psychology graduates make about $65,008. Set against $29,811 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
University Of Puerto Rico Carolina came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value forensic psychology schools. University Of Puerto Rico Carolina is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Carolina. In-state tuition and fees average $7,986. Graduates go on to earn a median of $30,626 ten years after entry. The acceptance rate is 54%.
Capella University landed the #6 spot for forensic psychology value this year. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Capella University is a very large private for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,400. Typical student debt for forensic psychology graduates is $35,998. Soon after graduation, forensic psychology degree recipients from Capella University generally make around $72,053. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Thomas College placed #7 among the best values for forensic psychology. Located in the town of Waterville, Thomas College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $31,824 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the forensic psychology program here. Soon after graduation, forensic psychology degree recipients from Thomas College generally make around $35,065. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Ambrose University came in at #8 for value in forensic psychology this year. Located in the city of Davenport, Saint Ambrose University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $36,658. Students borrow a median of $27,528 to complete the forensic psychology program here. Forensic Psychology graduates of Saint Ambrose University earn a median of $57,252 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,528 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Faulkner University earned the #9 position for value in forensic psychology this year. Located in the city of Montgomery, Faulkner University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $23,920. Forensic Psychology graduates carry a median of $27,691 in student loans. Early-career forensic psychology graduates make about $26,988. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Faulkner University admits about 73% of applicants.
Tiffin University landed the #10 spot for forensic psychology value this year. Set in the town of Tiffin, Tiffin University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,790. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the forensic psychology program here. Forensic Psychology graduates of Tiffin University earn a median of $38,989 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Oklahoma Baptist University came in at #11 for value in forensic psychology this year. Set in the town of Shawnee, Oklahoma Baptist University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $35,570 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,147 to complete the forensic psychology program here. Soon after graduation, forensic psychology degree recipients from Oklahoma Baptist University generally make around $29,879. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 49% of applicants are accepted.
Corban University came in at #12 for value in forensic psychology this year. Corban University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Salem. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,963. Forensic Psychology graduates carry a median of $24,318 in student loans. Soon after graduation, forensic psychology degree recipients from Corban University generally make around $41,194. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Corban University admits about 94% of applicants.
Maryville University Of Saint Louis came in at #13 for value in forensic psychology this year. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $27,166 in tuition and fees. Forensic Psychology graduates carry a median of $24,499 in student loans. Soon after graduation, forensic psychology degree recipients from Maryville University Of Saint Louis generally make around $67,909. Set against $24,499 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
New England College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value forensic psychology schools. Located in the rural area of Henniker, New England College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,474. Forensic Psychology graduates carry a median of $43,585 in student loans. Early-career forensic psychology graduates make about $68,950. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Florida Institute Of Technology ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value forensic psychology schools. Florida Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Melbourne. In-state tuition and fees average $45,900. Typical student debt for forensic psychology graduates is $32,000. Forensic Psychology graduates of Florida Institute Of Technology earn a median of $34,506 early in their careers. Set against $32,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value forensic psychology schools. Set in the city of Prescott, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $43,974 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,620 to complete the forensic psychology program here. Early-career forensic psychology graduates make about $41,456. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott admits about 77% of applicants.
Other Forensic Psychology Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Forensic Psychology rankings across degree levels:
View All Forensic Psychology Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 71 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.