In 2010, Penn State was ranked as one of the "Best Northeastern Colleges" by the Princeton Review. The Eberly College of Science at Pennsylvania State University offers an undergraduate degree and a master's degree in forensic science. The undergraduate degree program in forensic science teaches students how forensic scientists process evidence in the criminal justice system. It also provides students with a strong foundation in biological and physical sciences, forensic chemistry, forensic anthropology, and social sciences. The master's program offers students hands-on training and advanced education in crime laboratory methodologies and criminal investigation techniques. The coursework for the master's program includes forensic biology, forensic chemistry, criminalistics, anthropology, criminal justice, etymology, geology, and meteorology. The tuition fee for resident students is $649 per credit for undergraduate students and $682 per credit for graduate students. For non-residents, the undergraduate program tuition fee rate is $1,151 per credit and $1,193 per credit for graduate students (as of 2011.)
According to the Education Portal, the University of California at Davis is considered one of the top forensic schools and was listed as a 2010 "Best Value Public College" by the Princeton Review. The school offers a graduate program in forensic science. This program aims to teach students DNA identification analysis and includes courses on fire and arson investigation, alcohol impairment, accident reconstruction, chemistry, DNA analysis, failure analysis, firearms and tool mark identification, forensic statistics, identification of materials, impression identification, micro analytical methods, stable isotope techniques, scene investigation, toxicology, and trace analysis. The tuition fee for this program is $514 per unit (as of 2011.)
The University of Central Florida in Orlando has 50,121 students. The school offers two forensic programs under the college of sciences: the Bachelor of Science in forensic science for biochemistry tracking and the Bachelor of Science in forensic science for analysis tracking. They are both four-year programs that include courses on calculus, forensic science, physics, statistics, composition, genetics, immunology, microscopy, biochemistry, trace evidence, and forensic analysis of controlled substances. Students must achieve at least a minimum of overall of 2.5 GPA in all courses. The tuition fee for these programs is $95.67 per credit hour. The school also charges an equipment fee of $45 for part-time students and $90 for full-time students (as of 2011.)
Several other U.S. schools offer forensic science courses. These courses can be taken independently or as part of an associate, bachelor's or master's degree program. These schools include Michigan State University, Florida International University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Boston University, West Virginia University, George Washington University, University of Nebraska- Lincoln, Oklahoma State University, Drexel University, Ohio University, and Syracuse University.