Find your perfect college degree
Graduate degrees in Forensic Psychology open up various opportunities for lucrative and rewarding careers. However, grad schools can be costly. Fortunately, many universities today offer a pathway for a more affordable graduate degree experience.
Our list of the most affordable Master’s in Forensic Psychology programs is well-matched for students interested in pursuing a career in Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement. These options enable you to earn your desired degree and career without incurring too much debt.
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GradSchoolCenter.com writers provide an informed guide to help you make an informed decision as you seek graduate studies in Forensic Psychology! We’ve ensured that, on top of its affordability, the following affordable MAFP programs stand out with these characteristics:
- Outstanding courses and curricula focusing on the latest theories and applications pertaining to the evolving and modernized practices in Forensic Psychology,
- Excellent panel of Forensic Psychology instructors with a reputation for competence in the numerous facets of the discipline,
- Offer an extensive range of financial assistance and discount programs,
- Highlight experiential learning through internships and exposure to a network of who’s who in Forensic Psychology,
- Well-regarded in numerous academic listings, with positive reviews from students and academic communities,
- Earned proper accreditation.
Here’s a quick look at the affordable MAFP programs. This list features programs that are offered on-campus and may or may not be offered online and in accelerated formats, depending on the graduate schools.
| California Baptist University | MA in Forensic Psychology |
| Oklahoma State University | MS in Forensic Sciences – Forensic Psychology Concentration |
| University of Denver | MA in Forensic Psychology |
| California State University – Los Angeles | MA in Forensic Psychology |
| Kean University | MA in Forensic Psychology |
| National University | Master of Forensic Sciences – Specializations in Investigation and Criminalistics |
| University of California, Irvine | Master of Legal and Forensic Psychology |
| Prairie View A&M University | MS in Juvenile Forensic Psychology |
| Russell Sage College | MS in Forensic Mental Health – Health Services Administration Concentration |
| University of North Dakota | MS/MA in Forensic Psychology |
| Tiffin University | MS in Criminal Justice – Forensic Psychology |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University | MA in Forensic Psychology |
| Florida National University | MS in Forensic Psychology |
| Montclair State University | MA in Clinical Psychology – Forensic Psychology Concentration |
| University of Houston-Victoria | MA in Forensic Psychology |
| Grand Canyon University | MS in Forensic Psychology |
| University of New Haven | MS in Forensic Science |
| Roger Williams University | MA in Forensic Mental Health Counseling |
| Marymount University | MA in Forensic & Legal Psychology |
Most Affordable Master’s in Forensic Psychology
California Baptist University
Riverside, California
MA in Forensic Psychology
Tuition: $827 per credit hour
Credits Required: 57
Duration: 2 years
Format: On-campus
Financial Aid: Yes
CBU is a private university that offers one affordable Forensic Psychology program and various financial aid opportunities. Its MAFP degree guarantees that students will be equipped with advanced abilities to offer critical psychological expertise and services within the criminal justice setting.
Sample Courses:
- Legal Research and Reasoning
- Biological Bases of Behavior
- Human Growth and Development
- Criminal Investigation
- Advanced Psychopathology and Criminality
Oklahoma State University
Tulsa, Oklahoma
MS in Forensic Sciences – Forensic Psychology Concentration
Tuition:
- On-campus: $233.80 per credit hour (Resident) | $879.75 per credit hour (Non-Resident)
- Online: $364.00 per credit hour
Credits Required: 39
Duration: 2 years
Format: On-campus/Online
Financial Aid: Yes
OSU’s Forensic Psychology graduate concentration offers a full-time and part-time learning format. The average completion time is two years. However, part-time students have up to seven years to graduate. As part of the culminating experience, students will either submit research or pass a capstone examination.
University of Denver
Denver, Colorado
MA in Forensic Psychology
Tuition: $1,310 per credit unit
Credits Required: 36
Duration: 2 years
Format: On-campus
Financial Aid: Yes
DU’s MAFP is an affordable traditional program emphasizing three major areas of competency: consultation in criminal justice and legal fields, group and individual counseling across the different lifespan, and assessment of a diverse range of the population. Students get the chance to work at Denver FIRST, a leading regional hub and go-to facility for everything related to forensic mental health.
California State University – Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
MA in Forensic Psychology
Tuition: $5,919 per 0-6 units
Credits Required: 33 to 34
Duration: 2 years
Format: On-campus
Financial Aid: Yes
CSULA’s MAFP focuses on research and theory while providing hands-on experience and training. Graduates have personalized mentoring sessions with a faculty member. It includes a 9-month practicum where students immerse themselves in practical experience and supervision related to their field of interest.
Kean University
Union, Jersey
MA in Forensic Psychology
Tuition: $8,396.50 per semester (Full-Time In-State) | $11,041 per semester (Full-Time Out-Of-State)
Credits Required: 36
Duration: 2 years
Format: On-campus
Financial Aid: Yes
This traditional MAFP program accepts applicants with and without a law enforcement background. Its coursework is mainly designed for those interested in pursuing doctoral training in the future. It offers various research opportunities, internships, and other experiential learning opportunities to help set the stage for continued success.
National University
La Jolla, California
Master of Forensic Sciences with Specializations in Investigation and Criminalistics
Tuition: $442 per credit hour
Credits Required: 54
Duration: 1.5-2 years
Format: On-campus/Online
Financial Aid: Yes
If you’re looking to pursue Forensic Psychology knowledge from a much broader viewpoint, perhaps NU’s Master of Forensic Science in Investigation and Criminalistics is for you. The program offers integrated practical and theoretical applications that will equip you with abilities necessary for Forensic Psychology careers.
University of California, Irvine
Irvine, California
Master of Legal and Forensic Psychology
Tuition: $340.67 per unit
Credits Required: 52
Duration: 2 years
Format: Online
Financial Aid: Yes
UC Irvine’s graduate degree in Forensic Psychology offers flexible online courses with a mandatory introductory course in person. Students must complete coursework and a capstone requirement, which involves writing an independent term paper on a relevant topic in Forensic Psychology and Law.
Prairie View A&M University
Prairie View, Texas
MS in Juvenile Forensic Psychology
Tuition: $345.98 per credit hour
Credits Required: 36
Duration: 2 years
Format: On-campus
Financial Aid: Yes
This program is among the most unique Forensic Psychology graduate degrees focused on children in the Texas Juvenile Crime Prevention Center. It emphasizes abilities in assessing the behavior, misbehavior, and deviance of juveniles.
Russell Sage College
Troy, New York
MS in Forensic Mental Health – Health Services Administration Concentration
Tuition: $685 per credit hour
Credits Required: 39-45
Duration: 2 years
Format: Hybrid
Financial Aid: Yes
This program will give you opportunities to work in various sectors, including criminal justice and substance abuse. There are two tracks in the program: Generalist and Health Services Administration. Both offer non-clinical and clinical coursework in the following topics:
- Victimology
- Substance Abuse
- Criminal Justice
- Psychology
- Law
- Social Science
University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, North Dakota
MS/MA in Forensic Psychology
Tuition: $589 Per Credit Hour
Credits Required: 30
Duration: 2 years
Format: On-campus MS/Online MA
Financial Aid: Yes
UND’s Forensic Psychology master’s program allows you to choose between an on-campus MS and an online MA degree. Regardless of which program you pursue, you will receive a tremendous amount of support and opportunities to enjoy a full tuition waiver for both core and elective courses.
Tiffin University
Tiffin, Ohio
MS in Criminal Justice – Forensic Psychology
Tuition: $750 per credit hour
Credits Required: 42
Duration: 18 months
Format: On-campus
Financial Aid: Yes
Tiffin offers a broader Forensic Psychology master’s degree that is primarily research-based. A unique feature of this program is the university’s collaboration with Terra State Community College to include the costs associated with attending the Ohio Police Officer Training Academy.
Fairleigh Dickinson University
Teaneck, New Jersey
MA in Forensic Psychology
Tuition: $647 per credit hour
Credits Required: 36
Duration: 1.5 years
Format: Online
Financial Aid: Yes
The MAFP at FDU can be completed fully online with a few on-campus visits for practical experiences. Forensic Psychology majors will complete a set of coursework that discusses different components of Forensic Psychology. During their last semester, they are required to accomplish 300 hours of clinical placement or externship.
Florida National University
Hialeah, Florida
MS in Forensic Psychology
Tuition: $900 per credit hour
Credits Required: 36
Duration: 2 years
Format: On-campus
Financial Aid: Yes
FNU’s Health Services Administration offers an affordable Forensic Psychology degree with a capstone project that will serve as the program’s culminating requirement. The diverse variety of financial aid options ensures that every student has the opportunity to finish their programs at a reduced cost. Some students have met a set of criteria and status and qualify for tuition incentives and waivers.
Montclair State University
Montclair, New Jersey
MA in Clinical Psychology – Forensic Psychology Concentration
Tuition: $840.93 per credit hour
Credits Required: 36
Duration: 2 years
Format: On-campus
Financial Aid: Yes
Among the most comprehensive and affordable master’s degrees in psychology is the MA in Clinical Psychology at Montclair. It offers a unique STEM-designated Forensic Psychology concentration that prepares students to offer clinical services to legal system-involved populations in various settings.
University of Houston-Victoria
Victoria, Texas
MA in Forensic Psychology
Tuition: $15,660 per year
Credits Required: 66
Duration: 2 years
Format: On-campus
Financial Aid: Yes
UHV’s MAFP program will educate and equip students with the competencies for licensed mental health professional practice in forensic and criminal justice settings. Students will gain the foundational knowledge and clinical application of functional skills in Forensic Psychology, focusing on career development, ethics, and psychotherapy theories, as well as clinical applications through practice.
Grand Canyon University
Phoenix, Arizona
MS in Forensic Psychology
Tuition: $575 per credit hour
Credits Required: 36
Duration: 1.5-2 years
Format: Online
Financial Aid: Yes
GCU’s MS in Forensic Psychology program is best suited for working professionals with busy schedules. It offers online, evening, and weekend classes that allow students to balance their education with their other commitments. GCU’s night classes hold in-person meetings once a week, and courses run for eight weeks.
University of New Haven
West Haven, Connecticut
MS in Forensic Science
Tuition: $1,055 per credit hour
Credits Required: 42
Duration: 2 years
Format: On-campus
Financial Aid: Yes
UNH’s Forensic Science is a 4-semester rigorous graduate program that includes a thesis component. For the thesis requirement, students will write a research-based thesis which can be considered publication-quality. The preparation and submission of thesis projects must adhere to the university’s Graduate School and selected Departmental requirements.
Roger Williams University
Bristol, Rhode Island
MA in Forensic Mental Health Counseling
Tuition: $1,091 per credit unit
Credits Required: 60
Duration: 2 years
Format: On-campus
Financial Aid: Yes
RWU’s MA in Forensic Mental Health Counseling is a competitive program for aspiring forensic psychologists. However, it’s mainly designed for students who can commit to full-time learning and are thinking of pursuing a doctorate program focused on research work.
Marymount University
Arlington, Virginia
MA in Forensic & Legal Psychology
Tuition: $54,261 per year
Credits Required: 39
Duration: 18 to 24 months
Format: On-campus
Financial Aid: Yes
Although Marymount’s Forensic Psychology master’s degree seems expensive up front, most of its graduate students receive financial assistance that significantly reduces their tuition fees. The program’s curriculum offers students a multidisciplinary learning experience that integrates Psychology, Public Policy, Law, and Criminal Justice disciplines.
Frequently Asked Questions
What jobs and roles can I pursue as a Master’s in Forensic Psychology graduate?
Diverse Forensic Psychology career pathways await graduates. Some of the roles include:
- consulting with attorneys and other legal experts,
- assessing pieces of evidence from crime scenes,
- providing counseling to victims and their families,
- conducting assessments and developing treatment plans for inmates,
- consulting with law enforcement agencies and
- performing academic research.
A Forensic Psychology master’s degree produces competent professionals in these capacities! The following are the most common career tracks:
| Correctional Counselor | Crime Analyst | Forensic Social Worker |
| Forensic Social Worker | Probation Officer | Investigative Journalist |
| Researcher | Jail Supervisor | Jury Consultant |
| Law Enforcement Consultant | Professional Clinical Counselor | Expert Witness/Victim Advocate |
| Federal Government Employee |
How long can I earn a Master’s in Forensic Psychology degree?
Depending on the students’ learning format and the total number of required credits, full-time students of a master’s program in Forensic Psychology will generally complete their degrees within two years.
How different is a Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology from a Master of Science in Forensic Psychology program?
While a graduate degree in Forensic Psychology prepares students to work within the field, the master’s degree they will choose relies on the specific career pathways they want to pursue.
The Master of Science (MS) in Forensic Psychology focuses on the more scientific components of Forensic Psychology, including consulting, analysis, and research. A Master of Arts (MA) in Forensic Psychology emphasizes developing psychological profiling and counseling activities. Both tracks are linked to the principles of Forensic Science.
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