Higher Education in Nebraska
Nebraska’s system of state-funded higher education consists of three systems: the University of Nebraska system, the state college system, and the community college system.
The University of Nebraska system has four campuses.
- The University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) is located in Nebraska’s capital city and enrolls the largest number of students, about 22,000. UNL offers a wide range of programs including the state’s only doctoral programs in agriculture, architecture, and engineering. In the town of Curtis in the western part of the state, UNL offers two year agriculture degrees at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture.
- The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) enrolls about 15,000 students. Located in the state’s largest city—a metropolitan area of almost 700,000 people—UNO focuses on the needs of a major city. It offers the state’s only doctoral programs in criminal justice, social work, and public administration.
- Also in Omaha is the University of Nebraska Medical Center, renowned for its transplant facilities and cancer research.
- The University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK) is located in a city of 25,000 people and enrolls about 6,500 students. UNK offers a variety of undergraduate programs and several master’s programs.
The state college system consists of three colleges that offer undergraduate programs as well as master’s degrees in education and in organizational management. All three are located in smaller cities in diverse parts of the state.
- Wayne State College, in northeastern Nebraska, is the largest of the state colleges, enrolling almost 3,500 students.
- Chadron State College is in the northwestern corner of the state and enrolls about 2,500 students. Both also offer a master of business administration degree.
- Peru State College in the southeastern part of Nebraska enrolls about 1,500 students.
The six community colleges are assigned to cover their local area so that every part of the state has a community college providing it with service. All six offer certificates, diplomas, and associate degrees in occupational and technical fields as well as academic programs for transfer to a four-year institution. The six colleges and their primary campuses are:
- Central Community College—Grand Island, Hastings, Columbus
- Mid-Plains Community College—North Platte, McCook
- Metropolitan Community College—Omaha
- Northeast Community College—Norfolk
- Southeast Community College—Lincoln, Beatrice, Milford
- Western Nebraska Community College—Scottsbluff
All six colleges have additional locations that help to better serve their students. They range in size from 2,300 students at Western Nebraska to over 13,000 at Metropolitan.
Nebraska has 19 non-profit, private institutions, including several institutions affiliated with religious denominations. Most are liberal arts institutions offering baccalaureate degrees, although some offer master’s degrees and one, Creighton University, has professional programs in law and medicine. There are approximately 50 private, for-profit institutions, ranging from colleges that offer bachelor’s degrees to those that train students for careers in cosmetology and massage therapy.
Virtually all of Nebraska’s four-year institutions, and many of the community colleges, have international students enrolled. Most also have clubs or organizations that offer activities and support for their international students.
Dispelling the Nebraska Myth
Many people think that Nebraska is a flat prairie with little diversity. In fact, the state has steep bluffs along the Missouri River, rolling hills in the center of the state, the largest sand dune area in the U.S.—the Sandhills in central Nebraska—and an almost mountainous area, the Pine Ridge, in the northwest corner. The climate is diverse as well. Summers range from warm to hot and winters are generally cold and snowy. The western part of the state is semi-arid while the east is more humid.
Tourism is one of Nebraska’s largest industries. The Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha is a world class facility that draws well over a million visitors each year. Omaha is also home to the College World Series, Joslyn Art Museum, and Holland Performing Arts Center. The Lied Center for the Performing Arts, the University of Nebraska Museum, and the State Museum of History are located in Lincoln. Hundreds of other attractions can be found in Omaha, Lincoln, and the smaller cities and towns of the state. Nebraska has several national monuments, forests, and scenic rivers, including the Niobrara River, an ecosystem that is truly unique in this country.
International students have found Nebraska to be an interesting, friendly place to study and live. Give it a try!
For more information, visit the Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education’s Web site (www.ccpe.state.ne.us), the Web sites of any of the individual colleges, or the state of Nebraska’s Web site (www.nebraska.gov).
