Forensic Science Degree Programs in Nebraska

Updated October 1, 2026

Nebraska has three in-state institutions reporting a security-science-and-technology program, the federal CIP family that includes forensic science, per U.S. Department of Education data. That covers bachelor’s-level offerings at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Bellevue University, plus a master’s-level program at Nebraska Wesleyan. Forensic science technicians in the state earned a median $65,920 in May 2025.

A body turns up outside a Nebraska city with no ID and no clothing, and the only way anyone learns who he was is by reading what the evidence says. That’s the actual job: age, ancestry, time since death, worked out from bone and tissue rather than a hunch. If you’re weighing a forensic science degree in Nebraska, here’s where the in-state programs are, what they typically teach, and what the state actually pays.

Take this opportunity to learn how to become a forensic scientist.

Reach out to Nebraska criminal justice schools to learn more about different degrees and how to get started.

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What Forensic Science Work Actually Looks Like in Nebraska

A few years back, a Nebraska forensic team worked an unidentified-remains case outside a major city in the state, using lab analysis to narrow down the man’s age and background before investigators could move the case forward (Journal Star). It’s a slow process built on lab work, not a single dramatic discovery, and most days in the field look nothing like that one case.

Day to day, forensic science technicians process physical evidence from crime scenes. Labs commonly divide the work by discipline, so one tech might focus on DNA and biological evidence while another handles trace chemistry, firearms, or pattern evidence, and not every technician works across all of them. Whatever the specialty, you’re expected to document your findings carefully, because a mishandled or contaminated sample can be hard or impossible to recollect.

What Forensic Science Programs in Nebraska Typically Cover

Nebraska’s federal data shows bachelor’s- and master’s-level programs in the CIP family that includes forensic science, security science, and technology. The lists below describe coursework that’s typical of programs in this field generally, not a confirmed syllabus from any one Nebraska school. Confirm the actual course list and program title directly with the school before you apply.

Bachelor’s-Level Coursework

Current Issues in Forensic Science: Course content that tracks recent developments in the field, often updated each semester.
Crime Scene Investigation: Photography, evidence collection, and chain-of-custody procedures at an active scene.
Forensic DNA Analysis: Techniques for analyzing DNA samples and matching them against existing records.
Forensic Entomology: How insect activity on human remains helps narrow down time of death.
Human Remains in Forensic Science: Protocols for handling remains without cross-contaminating evidence.
Advanced Forensic Photography: Documenting scenes and evidence to a standard that holds up in court.

Master’s-Level Coursework

Admission requirements for a forensic-science-family master’s vary by program. Some want a science-heavy undergraduate background specifically, not just a criminal justice degree, so check prerequisites with the school directly before applying.

Forensic Hair Analysis: Identifying victims and placing suspects at a scene through hair evidence.
Forensic Anthropology: Working with skeletal remains, especially useful on unidentified-victim cases.
Forensic Genetic Data Analysis: Gene analysis methods applied to active investigations.

Where to Study Forensic Science in Nebraska

Three Nebraska institutions report a security-science-and-technology program, the broader federal CIP family that includes forensic science, per U.S. Department of Education data. That’s the family, not confirmation that each school’s program is titled or marketed specifically as forensic science, so verify the exact program name with the school directly.

School	City	Control	Credential Reported in CIP Family
University of Nebraska-Lincoln	Lincoln	Public	Bachelor’s
Bellevue University	Bellevue	Private nonprofit	Bachelor’s
Nebraska Wesleyan University	Lincoln	Private nonprofit	Master’s

Confirm current enrollment, course format, and admission requirements directly with each school before you apply. Federal data lags a school’s current catalog.

School and program data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, institution file May 2025 and field-of-study file April 2025. Data accessed October 2026.

What Forensic Science Technicians and Investigators Earn in Nebraska

Forensic science technicians in Nebraska typically need at least a bachelor’s degree, and they earned a median of $65,920 as of May 2025 across roughly 150 jobs statewide. The occupation is projected to grow 12.8% between 2024 and 2034, with about 20 average annual openings per year.

Detectives and criminal investigators, who rely on forensic evidence to build cases, earned a median of $100,530 in the same period. Projected growth through 2034 is 0.7%, with around 20 average annual openings, reported here as separate measures rather than one explaining the other.

BLS does not publish a separate Nebraska wage estimate specifically for coroners, so there’s no statewide figure to give you for that role. If that’s the specific path you’re considering, you’ll want to research individual Nebraska county offices directly rather than relying on a statewide number.

Occupation	Nebraska Median Wage (May 2025)	Nebraska Job Growth (2024-34)
Forensic Science Technicians	$65,920	+12.8%
Detectives and Criminal Investigators	$100,530	+0.7%

May 2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures for Forensic Science Technicians and Detectives and Criminal Investigators. Long-term (2024-34) job growth projections from the US Department of Labor-sponsored resource, ProjectionsCentral. Figures reflect state-level data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed October 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a four-year degree to work in forensic science in Nebraska?

Forensic science technicians typically need at least a bachelor’s degree, per BLS. Exact education requirements vary by employer and by forensic specialty, so check the specific posting or agency rather than assuming one standard.

How long does a forensic science degree take in Nebraska?

A bachelor’s typically runs around four years full-time, and a master’s typically adds one to two years beyond that. Actual length depends heavily on the institution, your enrollment status, and any prerequisite coursework, so confirm the timeline directly with the school.

What’s the difference between a forensic science technician and a crime scene investigator?

The titles aren’t universally interchangeable. Some agencies use them for the same role, others split evidence collection at the scene from lab analysis into two distinct jobs, and whether CSI personnel are civilian staff or sworn officers varies by agency. Check how a specific department structures the role before assuming either title tells you the whole job.

Is forensic science a growing field in Nebraska?

Forensic science technician jobs in Nebraska are projected to grow 12.8% between 2024 and 2034, faster than many criminal justice roles in the state, though the field remains small in absolute numbers.

Key Takeaways

Three Nebraska institutions report CIP-family programs – University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Bellevue University at the bachelor’s level, Nebraska Wesleyan at the master’s level- per federal education data, not confirmed as forensic-science-titled programs specifically.
Median pay is $65,920 – That’s the May 2025 figure for forensic science technicians statewide, compared with a $100,530 median for detectives and investigators who depend on their lab work.
Growth is real but small – A projected 12.8% growth rate through 2034 comes with about 20 average annual openings a year in a state this size.
Coroner data isn’t published at the state level – If that’s the specific role you want, research individual Nebraska county offices directly rather than relying on a statewide figure.

Thinking about how you’ll pay for any of this? Our financial aid guide breaks down grants, loans, and scholarships open to criminal justice and forensic science students before you commit to a program.

Compare Forensic Science Programs in Other States

Want the bigger picture? Read the full guide to Compare Forensic Scientist Schools & Training Programs.