Best Forensic Science Schools

If you’re planning to become a forensic scientist, have you thought about how will you pay for your college education? One of the best ways to pay for your schooling is through scholarships. Although scholarships may demand essays or other criteria for entering a competition for funds, you never need to repay scholarship money once you meet the requirements for that scholarship.

You can find many scholarship offerings through college scholarship Web sites such as FastWeb, but – fortunately – a person who wants to study forensic sciences also can find funds earmarked just for this field. Many of these scholarships can be discovered through sites such as the Bronx High School of Science, which lists a number of available forensics scholarships on their site.

During your search for scholarships, you might check with the financial aid office at the college of your choice. If you plan to attend a forensics program at that college, they may offer scholarships to entering freshmen or to juniors or seniors for that program. Your college also may offer scholarships based upon merit (good grade average) or financial need. You may need to write an essay or fulfill some other criteria to obtain that scholarship, but the effort may be minor compared to the financial help you may receive.

You also can look for scholarships based upon your choice for specialization while in college. For instance, the IIE Passport site offers about 140 results for funding in forensic anthropology if you want to spend some time studying abroad. Other opportunities await you in the form of scholarships offered by various organizations and institutions focused on forensic sciences.

For instance, the Association of Firearm and Tool Mark Examiners (AFTE) Scholarship provides funding for students pursuing a degree in Forensic Science. Annual student scholarships are available from the American Society of Crime Lab Directors. Students must be at least in their junior year of college and must provide a letter of recommendation from faculty in their forensics program. Applicants are also required to write an essay on their career goals and career choice.

Each year the Northeastern Association of Forensic Scientists awards scholarships to regional students enrolled in a forensic science program. Applicants may be undergraduate or graduate students and a student member of this organization. The Chesapeake Bay Division of the International Association for Identification funds the George Robinson Memorial Scholarship. Students or professionals in the field are welcome to apply for the awards. Qualified applicants must be members of the organization and possess superior GPAs.

Finally, you can look for scholarships outside your realm of studies. If you are a member of the military, or a child of military veterans, you may be eligible for scholarships. You can find scholarships based upon religious affiliation, a disability, gender or ethnic association as well. No matter where you find scholarship funds, the point is to go after them – after all, if you don’t try for the money, someone else may receive the funds you deserved.

Top Online Forensic Tech Degree Programs

Forensic science, or forensics, is a rapidly growing field of criminal investigation whereby forensic technicians employ their technical skills in the field. To become a forensic scientist, students must obtain at least an associate's degree in fields such as criminal investigation, forensic psychology, criminal justice, and more.

BS in Forensic Psychology BS in Crime Scene Investigation Crime Scene Tech Certificate	Kaplan University — At Kaplan University, students can get a forensic science degree in three different concentrations: forensic psychology, crime scene investigation, and crime scene tech. No matter which program you choose, Kaplan will quickly prepare you for a career in forensic science.
BS in Justice & Forensic Science	American InterContinental University — AICU's justice and forensic science program is designed to be a fast-track course that will help anyone segue into a job as a crime scene forensic science analyst after only one year of schooling.
BS in Crime Scene Investigation	South University — South University offers a bachelor's degree in crime scene investigation that allows students to study at their own pace as they work their way toward becoming a criminologist or forensic scientist.
AS in Crime Scene Evidence	Rasmussen College — Rasmussen offers an associate's degree in crime scene evidence that will teach its students investigative skills such as fingerprint analysis, technology used at crime scenes to solve crimes, and more.
MS in Forensic Psychology	Walden University — Walden University offers their master's in forensic psychology degree program fully online. Students of this program will gain insights into how forensic psychologists work with the legal system on reducing criminal behavior within a community. A graduate of this program is well-equipped to become a psychologist in a correctional institution, mental health center, psychiatric facility, child welfare agency, and more.
MA in Forensic Psychology	Argosy University — For those looking for a quick and affordable way to further a career in forensics, the master's degree in forensic psychology offered by Argosy University is worth looking into. With flexible class hours over an online platform, Argosy is suited for ambitious professionals.
AS in Criminal Investigations	Everest University Online — The criminal investigations degree from Everest University is offered online for busy adults who may already have other commitments that keep them out of class during normal hours. The flexible program will give students the skills they need to begin a criminal investigative career after graduation.
AA in Criminal Justice	University of Phoenix — The nation's top online university now offers an associate's degree in criminal justice, providing an affordable option to students seeking quality education in the field of forensic science.
BS in Forensic Investigation	Ellis University Online — The bachelor's degree in forensic investigation from Ellis University will empower students with the skills they need to be able to reconstruct crime scenes using special investigating technology and techniques.
BA in Social Science/Criminal Justice	Ashford University — The social and criminal justice bachelor's degree program at Ashford University is designed to enhance a student's understanding of the criminal justice system and is worth looking into for anyone interested in advancing a career in law enforcement, criminal justice, or forensics.
BSPS in Forensic Science	Duquesne University — Duquesne's forensic science degree program is entirely online, allowing flexibility for students who may not be available for class during normal hours. Despite being wholly online, graduates of this program will still be just as prepared for a career in criminology or forensic science.
See more forensic science degrees...