Forensic Science Colleges in Nebraska

Numerous clues, from dental records to the contents of maggots’ bellies and even hair that still remains attached to a victim, can lead to a body’s identification at a crime scene. These clues are then sent to a forensic science lab, where technicians start the process of close analysis to help provide an idea about what may have happened at a crime or who may have been involved in its commission.

For many types of people, a forensic science career sounds exciting but it is hardly a monolithic career. Rather, there are many different disciplines where students can develop their expertise, including anthropology, entomology, and even toxicology. However, These specific fields require very high-level degrees, so those interested should be willing to make an academic commitment. Most forensic science technicians have an undergraduate degree in the natural sciences, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS 2024).

Forensic science combines biological knowledge and laboratory techniques to prevent, deal with, and solve breaches in law enforcement, criminal justice, homeland security, and other areas. Careers available to graduates with bachelor’s degrees in forensic science include positions in state or federal crime labs, medical examiner offices, private investigations firms, and homeland security agencies. Graduates with a BS in forensic sciences are prepared for graduate work in biology, chemistry, medicine, or other scientific areas.

Both online and campus-based programs are available in Nebraska. 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).

Those who do not want to work in a lab may want to consider a career in crime scene investigation (CSI) instead. Most often, a bachelor’s degree or work as a law enforcement officer is needed to obtain CSI skills, but knowing how to secure a scene and collect and preserve evidence is of utter importance when it comes to solving crimes. There are several different educational options available in Nebraska (NE) when it comes to training for a forensic science career.

So what can students expect from a forensics college in Nebraska? 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.

Read on to discover how and where to learn these crime-solving skills in Nebraska, and find out more about the state’s employment outlook, the types of accredited forensics programs available, and professional certification for forensics professionals.

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Becoming a CSI in the Cornhusker State

CSI is another field of forensic science that takes place largely out of the lab, in the field at the scene of a crime. Knowing how to collect and preserve evidence is important, but so is the ability to sketch a crime scene, take photos or videos of evidence, and keep fibers and fluids from being contaminated by outside sources. Some of the more common training options in CSI are:

• 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. A certificate takes about a year to complete, and an associate degree about two, but both can lay the groundwork for many fundamentals in CSI. Because the BLS indicates that a four-year degree is typically needed to enter the field, this undergraduate training may best be used to complete a bachelor’s degree or to try and obtain a job and then work toward completing that four-year education.
• Option 2: Finish a bachelor’s degree (four years). Another alternative is simply to complete a bachelor’s degree in forensic science. The BLS shows that this four-year degree is typically necessary for a civilian, i.e., a non-uniformed officer to enter the CSI field. Often, these bachelor’s degrees are available in the field of criminal justice with the specific CSI skills coming through a specialization offered as part of the criminal justice degree.
• 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. They may then find special opportunities to train or work in CSI or become involved in collecting and preserving evidence at crime scenes.

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.

Occupational Demand and Salary Data in Nebraska

There is excellent news for aspiring forensics professionals in Nebraska: 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 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 quite impressive for residents of NE as well. Projections Central (2024) found that demand for forensic science technicians in Nebraska specifically is expected to grow 9.1 percent between 2022 and 2032.

In addition to the 17,520 forensic science technicians currently working nationwide—120 of whom are in Nebraska (BLS May 2023)—there are expected opportunities in related occupations such as medical examining, anthropology, handwriting analysis, latent evidence processing, toxicology, odontology, engineering sciences, psychiatry, DNA analysis, forensic nursing, questioned documents, computer crimes (i.e., digital evidence), forensic accounting, and more.

Omaha and Lincoln are the two largest cities in Nebraska, together being home to almost 800,000 people. Both could be good places to look for a job simply because there may be more governmental, academic, or private entities there, but also because more crime could be committed there as well. However, many additional opportunities could be found in the state either through city or county law enforcement agencies.

The Nebraska State Patrol Crime Lab, in Grand Island could be one entity hiring graduates of forensic science programs. It conducts analysis of evidence in criminal cases for federal, military, state, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies within Nebraska. Its services are performed free of charge in areas like drugs, DNA/serology, questioned documents, and toxicology. Other agencies having job opportunities could include the following:

• Forensic Services Division of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office
• Nebraska Institute of Forensic Sciences, Inc.
• Platte County Sheriff’s Office

Forensic science technicians typically work in laboratories, police departments, international organizations, medical examiner offices, insurance companies, law firms, hospitals, morgues, universities, and independent forensic science groups. According to BLS (2024), 86 percent of forensic science technicians are employed by the government. While some work regular business hours, forensics experts may be called upon to work weekends, evenings, and holidays due to the 24-hour nature of crime scene processing.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS May 2023) reported that there were 120 forensic science technicians in the state.

Furthermore, in terms of salary, Nebraska is somewhat lower than the U.S. overall. As proof of point, the United States employs 17,520 forensic science technicians with an average annual salary (mean annual wage) of $71,540. In NE, the average salary in this field is $61,150.

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

The national figures were slightly different according to another source of data, PayScale (September 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

While the figures for Nebraska are somewhat lower than the national salary ranges found by the BLS (May 2023), it’s important to note that the cost of living is also substantially lower than in many other US states. For illustration, the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC 2024) found that NE ranked 18th among all American states with respect to affordability.

Featured Forensic Science Colleges in Nebraska

Students can find several on-campus forensic science training programs available in Nebraska. As of 2024, none of the programs available in Nebraska have been accredited by the Forensic Science Education Program Accreditation Commission (FEPAC).

However, because FEPAC has accredited very few programs, this is not indicative of the level of education students who enroll in the following programs will get. Rather, applicants should look towards institutional accreditation in these cases. The programs below begin to build at the associate degree level and can be pursued all the way up to the graduate degree. Some of the NE choices include:

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

The University of Nebraska, at Lincoln, offers a bachelor’s degree in forensic science with three different track options: either forensic biology, forensic chemistry, or crime scene investigation. Internship opportunities as well as the option to work on a capstone project during their senior year may also be available. A pre-law option allows students to receive their bachelor’s in forensic science and their juris doctorate in six years rather than a combined total of seven. A forensic science club is also available at the school.

The 120-credit program includes courses such as a survey of criminal justice, an introduction to forensic science, an overview of forensic comparative analysis, current issues in forensic science, insect identification, crime scene management, forensic DNA for crime scene investigators, latent print analysis, bloodstains as evidence, and forensic chemistry.

• Location: Lincoln, NE
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
• Expected Time to Completion: Four years

Southeast Community College

Southeast Community College, in Lincoln, offers an associate of arts (AA) or associate of applied science (AS) degree in criminal justice. The program’s hands-on curriculum focuses on providing students with practitioner-oriented instruction and equipping them with the necessary skills for becoming entry-level professionals. Graduates of this program will be able to take up roles such as community service officers, corrections officers, public safety dispatchers, criminal justice advocates, and patrol officers, among many other roles.

This 61- to 62-credit program includes courses such as an introduction to criminal justice, courts and the judicial process, criminal procedures, criminal investigation, report writing in criminal justice, police and society, introduction to threat assessment, and effective communications in criminal justice.

• Location: Lincoln, NE
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
• Expected Time to Completion: Two years

Chadron State College

Chadron State College, in Chadron, offers a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with five different focus areas, including one in forensic studies. Other focus area options include corrections, juvenile justice, law enforcement, and law.

The chosen focus area requires that six of the overall 57 credits in criminal justice be completed in that specific area. For the forensic studies focus this includes options such as fundamentals of criminal investigation; forensic studies; criminal profiling; and topics in forensic studies.

The program’s core courses include introduction to criminal justice; introduction to law enforcement; introduction to corrections; criminology; multicultural issues in criminal justice; introduction to law; and comparative criminal justice.

• Location: Chadron, NE
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
• Expected Time to Completion: Two years

Wayne State College

Students at Wayne State College’s forensic science program combine the disciplines of criminal justice and chemistry. The college also has a new crime scene investigation lab and nationally-ranked chemistry programs. The school offers bachelor of arts and bachelor of science programs in criminal justice or chemistry, as well as a double major in the disciplines. Depending on the program, students can learn about criminology, chemical experiments and design, criminal law and constitutional rights, and security and loss prevention, among other areas.

Through the study of forensic science at Wayne State College, graduates will combine different aspects of science to prepare for a career related to crime scenes and investigation. Students will graduate with both criminal justice and chemistry degrees and will be ready to dive into the world of scientific analysis.

Graduates will be ready for positions such as forensic chemists, crime lab technicians, crime scene investigators, and criminal investigators.

• Location: Wayne, NE
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
• Expected Time to Completion: Four years

Concordia University, Nebraska

Concordia University, Nebraska offers a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice where students will be able to learn to use scientific methodologies and perspectives to examine society’s response to crime in local communities and around the world. The program allows students to focus on a specialized field of study or concentration such as computer forensics, criminal psychology, counterterrorism, and emergency management.

The program covers courses such as introduction to criminal justice, introduction to law enforcement, criminal investigations, introduction to forensic science, introduction to forensic science lab, ethics in criminal justice, corrections, and a criminal justice internship.

Graduates will be able to positions such as forensic scientists, law enforcement officers, crime scene investigators, correctional officers, and parole officers, among others.

• Location: Seward, NE
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
• Expected Time to Completion: Eight semesters

Keep in mind that students are not just limited to forensic science programs at the undergraduate degree level in Nebraska. Students may alternatively want to complete a bachelor’s degree in biology or chemistry and learn more about the forensic science field at the graduate level.

Hybrid & Online Programs

Numerous programs in forensic science can be found online for those students who are unable to participate in an on-campus program. Online education can eliminate the time spent commuting to a campus-based program and provide more flexibility to busy working adults. Some of these online options include:

The University of Nebraska at Kearney

The University of Nebraska at Kearney’s Department of Criminal Justice prepares students for exciting and challenging careers in state, federal, municipal, and county justice systems. The department offers the bachelor of science degree in criminal justice in either a CJ major or a comprehensive option which can be completed entirely online, or in a traditional physical classroom format.

Students at the University of Nebraska at Kearney will learn all the different aspects of the criminal justice system and will have the opportunity to further develop their skills through internships, student organizations, and more. The department also hosts a career fair and an annual criminal justice conference that offers hands-on opportunities to meet with a multitude of justice representatives from across the nation.

This 120-credit program’s curriculum includes courses such as introduction to criminal justice; orientation to criminal justice; correctional services and systems; the police service; theories of crime and criminal law; criminal evidence, procedure, and the courts; and criminal justice research methods.

• Location: Kearney, NE
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
• Expected Time to Completion: Four years

University of Nebraska Omaha

The University of Nebraska Omaha offers a master of science program in criminology and criminal justice that can be completed entirely through asynchronous online courses. Designed to meet the needs of professionals who are dedicated to a career in criminal justice, this 36-credit program has both full-time and part-time options.

The curriculum includes courses such as nature of crime; seminar in administration of justice; criminal justice research theory and methodology; statistical applications in criminal justice & public administration; ; risk/needs assessment; race, crime, and injustice; a seminar in women and criminal justice; and a capstone project in criminology and criminal justice.

Graduates will be ready to take up roles such as probation officers, intelligence analysts, forensic analysts, and crime reduction managers.

• Location: Omaha, NE
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
• Expected Time to Completion: Two years

Wayne State College

Wayne State College offers an online bachelor’s degree (BA or BS) program in criminal justice where students will be able to advance their careers in the exciting fields of corrections, law enforcement, court services, probation and parole, corporate and private security, juvenile justice, and asset protection. Students in this program will develop skills in Forensics, criminology; corrections, criminal procedures, and investigation and interviewing.

This 120-credit program includes courses such as introduction to criminal justice; criminal law; criminal procedure; criminology; introduction to forensic crime scene investigations; criminal investigation; cybercrime; violent crime and victimology; and gangs and organized crime, among others.

• Location: Wayne, NE
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
• Expected Time to Completion: Four years

In addition to these, several online colleges are offering forensic science and crime scene investigation programs, in most cases nationally.

Students can also turn to the AAFS to find a full listing of undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs that are available online. Many of these provide a general education in criminal justice or a tighter focus, such as in cyber security or forensic psychology.

Program Accreditation & Certification

The Forensic Science Education Program Accreditation Commission (FEPAC) is the gold standard for programmatic accreditation. As of August 2024, no schools in Nebraska offer FEPAC-accredited programs. Program applicants should note that several reputable forensic sciences, criminal justice, and crime scene investigation programs do not have FEPAC accreditation. In this case, the institutional accreditation of a particular school should carry more weight in the decision process.

Further, FEPAC only offers accreditation to forensic science programs that focus on natural sciences such as biology and chemistry, meaning that CSI and criminal justice programs would not be eligible.

For institutional accreditation, six regional agencies are recognized by the US Department of Labor. The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) is the main accreditation body in Nebraska.

Finally, professional certification can also prove that a potential employee has quality-level skills. Students or graduates of a forensic science program may also choose to join a professional organization.

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.

Graduates might also consider joining the AAFS, which offers several levels of membership, including potential promotion to Fellow. An application process is required, and new members must be voted on for acceptance by the AAFS Board of Directors during its annual meeting.