Forensics Colleges in New Mexico

For those who live in New Mexico (NM) already or are eyeing a move to the Land of Enchantment, there are plenty of opportunities for forensic science education as well as ways to pursue a career as a professional in forensics or crime scene investigation (CSI). Forensic science technicians and crime scene investigators have hands-on involvement in solving crimes from start to finish, from collecting and evaluating evidence to testifying to their findings in court.

In order to achieve success on this career path, it is necessary to start with the right credentials. This can begin as early as high school with the decision to take and excel in science and mathematics to be granted admission later to undergraduate and perhaps graduate programs.

Both online and campus-based programs are available in NM. While students typically start by pursuing a bachelor’s degree in the field, many professionals actually have an undergraduate degree in the natural sciences, and then pursue a master’s degree in forensic sciences, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS 2024).

Interested students may also be able to find degrees that take less time to complete, such as a certificate in CSI, or an associate degree in forensic science. An education in CSI typically prepares students for field work, while an education in the forensic sciences usually prepares them for work in a lab, or at the upper level, even the chance to be involved in research.

So what can students expect from a forensics college in New Mexico? O*NET (2024)—a data group sponsored by the US Department of Labor—reports that these professionals must be trained in several skills including liaising with law enforcement, medical, and other professionals; testifying as expert witnesses in court; collecting, analyzing, and carefully documenting evidence from crime scenes; and performing laboratory tests on various types of evidence. Notably, several forensics specialties are available, such as criminalistics, toxicology, forensic accounting, cybercrime, DNA analyses, document examination, arson investigations, ballistics, and other subfields.

Keep reading to learn more about forensic science degree programs, certification, and career opportunities in New Mexico.

How to Become a Forensic Scientist in New Mexico

There are a few different pathways to becoming a forensic scientist in New Mexico and not every person can or should follow a traditional path. Following are some of the most common steps people take toward becoming forensic science technicians in New Mexico.

Step 1: Graduate High School (Duration: Four Years)

Forensic scientists must have a high school diploma or GED. According to Career One Stop, a site that sources its data from the U.S. Department of Labor, just 4 percent of forensic science technicians have less than a high school degree.

If possible, high school students should focus on science courses that will help them in their further education, including chemistry and biology, as well as math courses. Having a good GPA will also help when applying to forensic science colleges in New Mexico.

Step 2: Pursue an Undergraduate Degree (Duration: Two to Four Years)

While a bachelor’s degree is not strictly required for all forensic science careers, Career One Stop indicates that more than 35 percent of forensic science technicians have a bachelor’s degree, with an additional 14 percent having associate’s degrees.

Some universities, including Eastern New Mexico University, offer undergraduate degrees in forensic sciences. However, it is also possible to pursue the career by studying more broadly at the undergraduate level and choosing a program in biology, chemistry, or another scientific pursuit.

On average, an undergraduate degree will take 4 years to complete, although it may be possible to finish faster with advanced high school courses, and it may take longer for those students who start at a community college level.

Step 3: Consider Professional Certification (Duration: Varies)

There is no federal or state requirement for forensic scientists to become registered or certified, but there are options for peer certification that may assist in finding employment as a forensic scientist. The Forensic Specialties Accreditation Board (FSAB) has approved nine different organizations to issue professional certifications. Some of the certifications offered include forensic document examination, forensic engineering, and forensic odontology.

Step 4: Assess Graduate Study Options (Duration: Varies)

14 percent of forensic scientists have an advanced degree, at either the master’s or doctorate level. Online forensic science programs can be ideal for graduate studies so that forensic professionals can continue to work while earning another degree to further their careers.

Step 5: Specialization

Although organizations like the BLS tend to group all forensic scientists together as “Forensic Science Technicians” the reality of the work is that of specialization. Forensic scientists may choose to specialize in anything from blood spatter analysis to DNA research. These specializations may be pursued at the graduate level or as a post-graduate certification after gaining some hands-on experience in a laboratory or in the field. The American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS), which offers a student membership, recognizes the following specialties in the forensic field:

Anthropology
Criminalistics
Digital & Multimedia Sciences
Engineering Sciences
General
Jurisprudence
Forensic Nursing Science
Odontology
Pathology/Biology
Psychiatry & Behavioral Science
Questioned Documents
Toxicology

Following these steps, aspiring forensic science techs in New Mexico may seek jobs in various contexts, such as psychiatric hospitals, police crime labs, and government at all levels, to name a few.

The AAFS also lists a variety of characteristics that are important to becoming a forensic scientist. These include:

Having curiosity, integrity, and the ability to be unbiased
Having solid speaking skills, as well as note-taking and observation skills
Possessing writing skills to be able to write scientific reports

In all, it could take four or more years in New Mexico to be able to work as a forensic scientist. However, it is up to the individual to decide if they want to pursue forensic science beyond four years and complete either a master’s degree or even a PhD, which could add multiple years to their education.

How to Become a Crime Scene Investigator in New Mexico

While working as a forensic science technician can certainly be a fulfilling career, there are those who are more interested in working in the field as a crime scene investigator.

Becoming a crime scene investigator could be an alternative to completing a full forensic science degree and take less time in terms of academic investment, even as little as one year if completing a CSI certificate. In fact, a college education may not even be required to become a CSI when training is offered on the job. As a result, the steps needed to enter the CSI field can vary based on an individual’s goals, but some of these steps could include:

Option 1: Complete an education program at a postsecondary college (one to two years). CSI programs can lead to a certificate or an associate degree or, in some cases, be offered as a concentration area or specialization of a bachelor’s degree. These programs may include coursework such as an introduction to criminal justice, fingerprint identification, crime scene photography, and more. In some cases, students who complete a certificate program may be able to transfer their credits toward completing an undergraduate degree.
Option 2: Finish a bachelor’s degree (four years). Another alternative is simply to complete a bachelor’s degree in forensic science, as this is the recommendation of the BLS, particularly when an individual hopes to become a non-uniformed worker, i.e., not employed through a police force.
Option 3: Receive training on the job (timeline varies). Many CSI workers are actually police officers who have completed training through an academy. In this case, they may receive training by working closely with fellow officers already working as CSIs or by completing internal educational programs.

The BLS reports that a college education may not even be necessary for rural areas, where someone already has on-the-job training and has learned the necessary CSI skills by working closely with others.

Finally, certification (different from a certificate) is available to individuals working in CSI who want proof and validation of their skills. Certification is available from organizations like the International Association for Identification (IAI), and the International Crime Scene Investigators Association (ICSIA).

Occupational Demand and Salary Data in New Mexico for Forensic Science Specialists

There is excellent news for aspiring forensics professionals in NM: forensic science is a field on the rise. As proof of point, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024) projects that openings for forensic science technicians nationwide will increase 13 percent between 2022 and 2032, much faster than the growth rate expected for all occupations during that time period (3 percent). This expected addition of 2,300 positions nationally is only one career possibility for people trained in forensic science.

The outlook is even brighter for residents of NM. Projections Central (2024) found that demand for forensic science technicians in New Mexico specifically is expected to grow 16.7 percent between 2022 and 2032.

The highest concentration of jobs for forensic scientists tends to be in more densely populated areas. New Mexico consists of large swaths of rural land that is not densely populated (the state is ranked 46th in the U.S. for population density), therefore most of the forensic science jobs are likely to be concentrated in cities like Albuquerque and Las Cruces, which are the two most populous cities.

Forensic scientist technicians can work in morgues and coroners’ offices as well as for crime labs and police departments. Forensic professionals may additionally spend substantial time outside of the office, traveling to crime scenes, or working with other specialists.

In terms of salary, New Mexico comes in somewhat lower than the U.S. overall. According to the Bureau for Labor Statistics (May 2023), the 17,520 forensic science technicians across the nation earned an average annual salary of $71,540. The 180 forensic science technicians working in NM earned $59,040 per year.

In more detailed terms, here is a breakdown of the salary percentiles among all forensic science technicians in the country compared with those in NM (BLS May 2023):

	United States	New Mexico
Number of Forensic Science Technicians Employed	17,520	180
Annual Mean Wage	$71,540	$59,040
10th percentile	$41,410	$40,040
25th percentile	$50,480	$49,060
50th percentile	$64,940	$55,560
75th percentile	$84,720	$67,750
90th percentile	$107,490	$80,640

The national figures were slightly different according to another source of data, PayScale (October 2024), which relies on self-reported salaries. Among the forensic science techs reporting their annual salaries, Payscale found these percentiles for the US:

10th percentile: $30,000
50th percentile (median): $55,654
90th percentile: $73,000

When reviewing any state or local salary data, it is important to consider the cost of living in that area. For instance, according to the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC 2024), New Mexico ranked 20th in affordability, making it more affordable than the majority of states.

Featured Forensic Science Schools in New Mexico

Both graduate and undergraduate studies in forensic science are available in New Mexico. Upon successfully completing high school, as well as any general education prerequisites, students can apply to any of the following programs in the state:

Students looking to attend one of the forensics colleges in New Mexico will find that they have a limited number of options. In fact, there are currently no programs in New Mexico that have been accredited by the Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC), although that accreditation does apply specifically to forensic science programs (as opposed to related ones), and relatively few schools nationally are FEPAC-accredited. In short, there are quality programs available that need to be FEPAC-accredited, as evidenced below.

Eastern New Mexico University

Eastern New Mexico University offers a bachelor of science program in forensic science with specialization options in forensic anthropology, forensic biology, and forensic chemistry. Although not FEPAC-accredited, the program’s core forensic science curriculum is based on the core requirements of the Forensic Education Program Accreditation Commission (FEPAC) of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

The core curriculum of this 120-credit program includes courses such as survey of forensic science, introduction to criminal justice, criminal investigations, introduction to forensic anthropology, organic chemistry, and introduction to statistics.

The forensic anthropology concentration includes courses such as introduction to archaeology; human osteology; advanced skeletal analysis; forensic science senior seminar; and stratigraphy and sedimentation.

The forensic biology concentration includes courses such as cellular & molecular biology; genetics; general microbiology; molecular biology; forensic science senior seminar; and biochemistry.

The forensic chemistry concentration includes courses in quantitative analysis, inorganic chemistry, biochemical methods, forensic chemistry, investigative problems, and biochemistry.

Location: Portales, NM
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
Expected Time to Completion: Four years

University of New Mexico

University of New Mexico’s Sociology Department offers a bachelor of arts program in criminology designed to give program graduates a comprehensive introduction to the field. Courses in this program focus on the causes and characteristics of crime and deviance, and on the nature, consequences, and origins of societal reactions to crime and deviance, giving particular attention to the criminal justice system. Basic instruction in sociological theory and research methods is also given.

This 120-credit program includes courses such as introduction to criminal justice systems; sociology of deviance; causes of crime and delinquency; sociology of corrections; selected topics in criminology; crime through the life course; drugs, crime and social control; forensic anthropology; and abnormal behavior, among others.

Location: Albuquerque, NM
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
Expected Time to Completion: Four years

University of New Mexico – Gallup

University of New Mexico – Gallup offers an associate of arts degree in criminal justice, solidly positioning graduates to either transfer for a bachelor’s degree or move right into the criminal justice field. Students in this fast-paced and energetic program will learn about criminal procedures, law and the legal system, crime scene investigations, public policy, and procedures and tactics.

Students pursuing this program may choose either the law enforcement or corrections option, depending on their career preference. The program, which is made up of 63 to 65 credits, includes courses such as introduction to criminal justice, criminal law, introduction to criminology, law, police and safety, criminal investigations, police and patrol procedures, traffic, and field experience in criminal justice.

Location: Gallup, NM
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
Expected Time to Completion: Two years

University of the Southwest

The University of the Southwest offers a master of science program in biology with a focus on forensics. This program is designed for students who wish to strengthen their knowledge base in the forensic science field.

The program’s curriculum utilizes convenient core coursework that will expose students to a cross-disciplinary view of criminal justice and prepare them to understand the science, statistics, communication, and ethics needed for successful careers in the criminal justice field.

The 30-credit program includes courses in forensic science, forensic anthropology, molecular genetics, advanced biochemistry, toxicology, statistics in forensic science, ethics and professional issues in forensic science, technical communications in forensic science, and forensic DNA analysis.

Obtaining this degree will prepare graduates for work as forensic analysts, scientists, or lab technicians. It meets the educational requirements required by the FBI and the State of New Mexico.

Location: Hobbs, NM
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
Expected Time to Completion: Two years

For more information on forensics schools and specializations, please visit the forensic programs page.

Hybrid & Online Forensics Programs in New Mexico

There are many reasons why a forensic science student may prefer or require online coursework. There are schools around the country that can accommodate these determined learners, including programs based in New Mexico.

New Mexico State University

New Mexico State University (NMSU) offers both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in criminal justice, which would be appropriate for those pursuing crime scene investigation as a career. The program is one of the oldest in the U.S., first having started in 1962, and is currently the largest program in the school’s College of Arts and Sciences. Both the undergraduate and postgraduate degrees are offered with an online learning component. An undergraduate must have completed enough coursework to be considered a sophomore before enrolling in online learning.

The bachelor of criminal justice program at NMSU balances theoretical inquiry with applied knowledge, so graduates can prepare for a career in forensics, corrections, law enforcement, non- and not-for-profit organizations, victim services, and more. This 120-credit program includes courses such as introduction to criminal justice; criminal law; crime, justice, and society; issues in ethics, law, and criminal justice; introduction to criminal justice research; and introduction to criminological theory, among others.

Ranked #53 nationally by the U.S. News & World Report among the Best Online Master’s in Criminal Justice Programs, this fully online master’s degree in criminal justice at NMSU provides students with an in-depth study of data analysis, criminological theory, and the tension between ethics and punishment, all while considering complex factors such as gender, race, and juvenility.

The thesis option in the master’s degree requires 33 credits, while the focused coursework option comprises 36 credits. Courses include research methods in criminal justice; statistics in criminal justice; nature of crime; advanced race, crime, and justice; seminar in criminal justice policy analysis and planning; and issues in ethics, law, and criminal justice.

Location: Las Cruces, NM
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
Expected Time to Completion: Two to four years

Eastern New Mexico University

In addition to the on-campus program in forensic science, Eastern New Mexico University also offers an online bachelor’s degree in criminal justice providing students with a solid theoretical foundation to advance the study of how societies respond to crime. Real-world experience in this program is evaluated through an internship.

This 120-credit program includes courses such as introduction to criminal justice; criminal law and the courts; criminology; deviant behavior; sociology of law; social research methods; and report writing.

Moreover, Eastern New Mexico University also has a bachelor of applied arts and sciences program with a concentration in criminal justice/sociology that can be completed entirely online.

Location: Portales, NM
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
Expected Time to Completion: Four years

It should certainly be noted that even online programs may require hands-on laboratory experience prior to graduation. While distance learning can be extremely effective in many ways, some career prerequisites require a student’s physical presence.

For more information on distance-based education at all levels and specialties, please visit the online forensic science degrees page.

Program Accreditation and Professional Certification

Before enrolling in any program, students should verify its accreditation. Although the process differs between agencies, most accrediting agencies require a thorough self-study and a site visit that confirms facilities, faculty, and curricula before offering accreditation.

Students choosing a forensic science program should consider both institutional and programmatic accreditation. Institutional accreditation means that the schools as a whole have been evaluated for their standards and efficacy. FEPAC is the main accrediting body for forensic science programs. Unfortunately, none of the New Mexico schools have earned FEPAC accreditation at this juncture, but students should look for NM programs to expand in the coming years and demand increases.

It is also important to note that FEPAC accreditation status is not necessary for earning a reputable degree. Indeed, FEPAC only accredits forensic science programs that are heavily focused on sciences such as biology and chemistry, making many criminal justice and CSI programs ineligible for accreditation. Additionally, the Higher Learning Commission awards institutional accreditation to schools using a holistic view of the facilities, faculties, and programs.

Professional certification is not always necessary to secure employment in forensics, but it may be advisable for several reasons. First, certification can indicate a job applicant’s knowledge in a particular area and improve one’s resume. Second, it can enhance a person’s earning potential, opportunities for advancement, and leadership responsibilities. Lastly, a national certification can be transferable to other states nationwide.

Requirements for common professional certifications in forensics vary, but they generally include having at least a bachelor’s degree in forensics, biology, chemistry, or another relevant field; having several years of verifiable experience; sending professional references; and passing an exam. There are currently nine professional certifications recognized by the Forensic Specialties Accreditation Board (FSAB), including:

American Board of Forensic Anthropology (ABFA)
American Board of Forensic Document Examiners (ABFDE)
American Board of Forensic Odontology (ABFO)
American Board of Forensic Toxicology (ABFT)
American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI)
Board of Forensic Document Examiners (BFDE)
International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI)
International Association of Computer Investigative Specialists (IACIS)
International Board of Forensic Engineering Sciences (IBFES)

Those who wish to have detailed information on credentialing within each subfield of forensics can visit our programs or careers page.

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Writer

Farheen Gani

Farheen Gani writes about forensics schools across the United States, and has covered topics such as forensic chemistry and forensic science and biochemistry since 2018. She writes about healthcare, technology, education, and marketing. Her work has appeared on websites such as Tech in Asia and Foundr, as well as top SaaS blogs such as Zapier and InVision. You can connect with her on LinkedIn and Twitter (@FarheenGani).