By pursuing a degree at an online college in Nebraska, you can start or advance your career in one of the state's officially targeted industries, such as health and medical services, IT, renewable energy, or more general business services. An online degree program can also give you the flexibility to study whenever and wherever — during your lunch hour at work or at home while your children are doing their own homework, for example.
Here's a closer look at what's available in terms of online colleges in Nebraska.
The state of Nebraska, as a way to support more residents' pursuit of higher education, offers the Nebraska Opportunity Grant to eligible students — including those in online degree programs. During the 2016-17 school year, almost $17 million in grants were awarded. Further down on this page we've outlined additional scholarship and grant opportunities available through Nebraska's Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education, which can help make your online college experience more cost-effective.
To find the best online colleges in Nebraska, read on. You'll also see a listing of Nebraska's most affordable online colleges.
Students in the Cornhusker State can find a wealth of higher education opportunities to choose from. Sorting through those options to find the right school can be tough; that's where rankings come in. All colleges displayed in our rankings are accredited by at least one officially recognized agency. Many schools in Nebraska are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), and some may be accredited by national agencies, such as the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC). Accreditation is extremely important; students should always look for accredited schools when they can. Learn about why it matters on our "What is College Accreditation?" page, or learn more about accreditation in the state of Nebraska from the Nebraska State Board of Education.
To create our rankings, we took a look at the factors that make a difference in the lives of online students. A few of those points include a school's retention and graduation rates, the average amount of financial aid awarded, and academic and career services available. We used those data points (and several others!) in order to rank the best online colleges in Nebraska. Curious about why we chose these factors? Check out the "What Makes a Good Online College?" section of our "About Us" page to learn more.
With so many online degree programs available in Nebraska, it's important to consider the state's schools carefully before choosing one to attend. To help with the process, we used data provided by the National Center for Education Statistics to rank Nebraska's online colleges on various factors, from net price to number of online programs offered. The methodology we used to create this ranking can be found at the bottom of this page. If you're considering online universities in the Cornhusker State, make sure to explore this list of the 10 best online schools in Nebraska.
Bellevue University offers students dozens of fully online undergraduate and graduate programs in a wide variety of fields: business, health care management, computer information systems, psychology and more. The university has open enrollment, and most of their programs have multiple start dates throughout the year. This makes it convenient for working professionals, military members and the like to earn the education they need whenever is most convenient for them. Students who have already earned at least 60 credits can enter the accelerated cohort program, which allows students to complete their bachelor's degree program through a series of six-week courses.
Accreditation:
Location:
1000 Galvin Rd S, Bellevue,The University of Nebraska at Omaha's reputation extends to its online degree programs and courses, which are taught by the same faculty as its on-campus programs. The university's online offerings encompass a wide range of bachelor's and master's degree programs, as well as graduate and undergraduate certificates and endorsements programs, in fields such as library science, sociology and criminal justice.
For those who are uncertain of what they would like to major in, or who are looking for more flexibility than the usual degree program, UN-Omaha's Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies program might fit the bill. Specifically designed for adult, transfer and military students, this program offers dozens of areas of study, as well as multiple methods of credit transfer and even a policy of academic amnesty.
Creighton University's degree programs were created for the working student, with the goal of helping them to boost their career skills and knowledge. This Jesuit, Catholic university offers ample support for its online students, featuring online advising, financial services, an online personal support center, writing support and online library access.
Online programs are available at Creighton on the bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree levels, plus a selection of graduate certificate programs. Some of the school's programs -- such as negotiation and conflict resolution, nursing or post-professional occupational therapy — are conveyed through online courses, but have on-campus residency requirements that students should be aware of before applying.
Founded in 1903 as the Nebraska State Normal School at Kearney, the University of Nebraska-Kearney grew into its current name by 1991. It has grown in other ways too, including the offering of dozens of online programs and hundreds of online courses. UNK's online courses are semester-based and asynchronous, with regular deadlines. Numerous minors, endorsements and professional development courses are also available online.
The university features a particular emphasis on education-based programs: programs in curriculum and instruction, instructional technology and Montessori education are some of the school's options for online students.
Accreditation:
Location:
905 W 25th St, Kearney,Nebraska's first college, Peru State College, was established as a teaching school in 1867. Over 150 years later, Peru State College is educating students both on- and off-campus in many other subjects as well as teaching — for example, in the subjects of business administration, criminal justice and organizational management.
Transfer students may be particularly intrigued by Peru State. The college maintains articulation agreements with several institutions across the U.S., and accepts up to 90 approved transfer credits from other schools, as well as credit for life experience. Interested students can obtain an unofficial transcript evaluation for their transfer credit, and are even able to test-drive an online course to see if it's the right format for them.
Accreditation:
Location:
600 Hoyt St, Peru,Founded in 1869, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln was one of the first schools west of the Mississippi River to award doctoral degrees. Approximately 150 years later, UNL undergraduate students have the freedom to choose from an array of unique online study options — from a degree completion program for early childhood education in a mobile society, to a certificate in meat culinology. Meanwhile, the university's graduate offerings include an online master's degree program in world language teaching, an online graduate certificate program in food safety and defense, or a hybrid program in textile history with an emphasis in quilt studies.
Chadron State College offers an online learning format in which students can take courses in an eight-week accelerated format. This allows students the opportunity to complete their program requirements on a quicker timeline, something that appeals to many busy professionals.
CSC's online programs fall into a number of career-oriented fields, including business administration, counseling, family & consumer sciences, education and mathematics. There are undergraduate and graduate options, as well as fully online and hybrid options. Whichever program students are enrolled in, they have access to 24/7 student support and technical services, giving them plenty of avenues for assistance in case they need it.
Concordia University is a private university that was founded in 1894 by the Lutheran Missouri Synod. It offers a bounty of online degree programs in several fields, each with a distinct Christ-centered focus. Through the online learning platform Blackboard, Concordia distributes online master's degree programs and endorsement programs in fields such as marketing, gerontology, special education and health information technology.
Of particular note is the university's Lutheran School Ministry program. This program does not lead to a degree or certificate; it consists of four online eight-week-long modules, designed to help teach a non-Lutheran educator how to integrate "the Lutheran educational ethos" into the classroom.
Those interested in a career in health services might find their way at Clarkson College, where students can pursue a wide variety of health care programs, both on campus and online. Some programs, such as the doctorate in health care education and leadership, are offered entirely online; other programs are available instead in a hybrid format. A hybrid format is particularly helpful for programs such as those in nursing — programs that require hands-on training for completion.
Accreditation:
Location:
101 S 42nd St, Omaha,Wayne State College's eCampus delivers Sakai Online Education-based degree programs and courses for educators and other working professionals. Program options include a Master of Business Administration (MBA), a Master of Science in Education (MSE) and a Master of Science in Organizational Management (MSOM).
The school's online portal, WildcatsOnline, helps students register for classes, view their grades, access advising information and more. Online resources like this are a regular part of student life at WSC. In fact, as of August 2018, every WSC academic building boasts one or more "smart classrooms" that have incorporated networking, digital and/or audio-visual technology so they can be used in face-to-face or distance learning lessons.
The following list names 10 Nebraska post-secondary schools that offer online degree programs at affordable tuition costs.
Nebraska does not currently offer any state-based student loans, preferring to focus instead on several grants and scholarships provided by Nebraska's Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education (CCPE). Keep in mind that scholarship and grant monies do not need to be paid back, so you should always seek out all available options for those awards before relying on loans. If you find that you are still in need of financial assistance, however, you may apply for federal or private loans to meet the rest of your tuition and related costs. You will need to fill out the FAFSA and supply information about your family's financial situation in order to apply for federal aid.
Get the lowdown on student loans in the Ultimate Guide to Student Loans.
The Cornhusker State is part of the Midwest Student Exchange Program (MSEP), a well-designed multi-state reciprocity system that includes 10 member states: Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio and Wisconsin. Under the program, students from Nebraska may attend university in any of the other states while never paying more than 150 percent of the resident tuition rate, which can amount to steep discounts. The program even includes private institutions, which offer a 10 percent discount on their tuition rates.
The University of Nebraska attracts quite a few out-of-state students. In the fall of 2018, there were 5,493 non-resident students and 13,973 full-time resident undergraduate students. The university also offers a handy calculator that will allow you to determine if you qualify as a resident for tuition purposes and if you are not from a MSEP member state. In addition, Nebraska's flagship university maintains a list of scholarships that include those open to out-of-state residents.
Be sure to talk to your adviser for more insight into attending college in Nebraska.
Many students enter college with a blank slate — they are free to take their education in any direction they choose. However, for some students, so much choice can make it difficult to decide on a path.
The data show here includes projected job growth, statewide employment and average salaries for many of the most needed jobs in Nebraska. Students can use this data to learn about the high demand careers in Nebraska, which can help them determine what to major in when enrolling in one of Nebraska's top online colleges.
| Employment | Employment Growth | Median High School Salary | Median Bachelor's Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,125,140 | 8.9% | $30,846 | $48,881 |
*Industry rankings determined by annual mean wage, employment, projected growth and location quotient. Data sourced from the BLS, 2019 dataset.
| Top Industries | Employment | Projected Growth | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ambulatory healthcare services | 717,120 | 11% | $59,514 |
| Monetary authorities-central bank | 203,540 | 11% | $68,549 |
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | 774,030 | 11% | $58,145 |
| Pipeline transportation | 286,970 | 10% | $67,788 |
| Lessors of nonfinancial intangible assets (except copyrighted works) | 268,750 | 10% | $65,606 |
| Oil and gas extraction | 403,320 | 10% | $62,861 |
| Postal service | 285,890 | 9% | $61,860 |
| Funds, trusts, and other financial vehicles | 171,160 | 9% | $64,526 |
| Utilities | 524,230 | 10% | $58,631 |
| Data processing, hosting, and related services | 375,140 | 9% | $62,103 |
Nebraska is part of a seven-state region known as the "Breadbasket of America" due to the large amount of corn, wheat, cattle and other agricultural staples grown and raised there. Nebraska farms produced a record 1.79 billion bushels of corn in 2018, the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service reports. However, the economy of the "Cornhusker State" is powered by many industries outside of corn production.
Due to its huge corn production, Nebraska is the second-largest producer of ethanol in the U.S., which has created demand for workers in pipeline transportation, as well as and oil and gas extraction. Industries such as manufacturing and renewable energy are key to the state's economy, the Nebraska Department of Economic Development reports. Utilities workers are another of the hot jobs in Nebraska that tie into the state's energy sector.
Business services are also a major employment vector for Nebraska. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were more than 49,000 people employed in various skilled and semi-skilled business and finance-related professions in 2017. The sector needs trained workers with experience establishing funds, trusts and related financial vehicles, as well as banking and finance. Students who earn degrees in finance and related subjects may be in a good position to find one of these top jobs in Nebraska.
The state also is actively targeting IT and information services to grow its data and IT services sector, which could lead to a whole new spate of high paying jobs in Nebraska in data processing, data hosting and related IT services.
The section below takes a closer look at some of the best jobs to have in Nebraska's major cities.
As the population of the Omaha, NE and Council Bluffs, IA region continues to grow, it creates employment opportunities across a range of industries, including healthcare. In the coming years, the region is expected to need additional family and general practitioners, physician assistants and medical and health services managers to care for all its new citizens.
Omaha-Council Bluffs is also experiencing a technology boom, creating need for skilled software and systems developers, as well as computer network architects. In early 2019, Google announced plans to build a data center to the Omaha area, which could create additional demand for IT professionals in the state.
The area is also home to hospital facilities like St. Dominic Hospital, Baptist Medical Center and UMMC Cancer Institute, all of which have need of nurse practitioners on a regular basis. And of course, health specialties teachers are needed to train the next generation of nurse practitioners and combat Mississippi's increasing healthcare shortage.
| Best Careers | Minimum Education | Average Salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family Medicine Physicians | Doctoral or professional degree | $223,820 | N/A |
| Computer Network Architects | Bachelor's degree | $112,700 | 760 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | Bachelor's degree | $124,250 | 1,450 |
| Physician Assistants | Master's degree | $108,500 | 510 |
| Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | Bachelor's degree | $93,030 | 5,460 |
*Career rankings determined by annual mean wage, employment, projected growth and location quotient. Data sourced from the BLS, 2019 dataset.
Since the Great Recession of 2008, Nebraska has been working to complement its previously-agricultural-based economy with an expanded manufacturing sector. However, lack of skilled workers has caused industrial growth to be slow in many areas of the rural state. Lincoln, as the home to the University of Nebraska (UNL) and several other colleges, has been able to train workers in ways that other cities have not, and as such its technological and manufacturing fields have flourished. As construction managers organize the building of new neighborhoods in the area, compliance officers and loan officers help business graduates from UNL to start their entrepreneurial pursuits and inject life into Nebraska's growing economy.
| Best Careers | Minimum Education | Average Salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physician Assistants | Master's degree | $116,200 | 250 |
| Construction Managers | Bachelor's degree | $86,070 | 540 |
| Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | Bachelor's degree | $83,840 | 1,650 |
| Compliance Officers | Bachelor's degree | $67,510 | 1,430 |
| Loan Officers | Bachelor's degree | $83,190 | 700 |
*Career rankings determined by annual mean wage, employment, projected growth and location quotient. Data sourced from the BLS, 2019 dataset.
Similarly to Lincoln, Grand Island's strong agricultural presence has been transforming into a growing manufacturing presence in recent years. As Grand Island residents start new manufacturing businesses, they need assistance from loan officers to get started and experienced general/ operations managers to establish good management practices. The area is also home to large established companies such as JBS, Hornady Manufacturing, Chief Industries and McCain Foods, who also need trained managers to keep production running smoothly.
Grand Island has also been taking steps to combat the nation-wide teacher shortage. The Grand Island Public Schools System is making teaching positions more appealing with benefits such as a retention bonus after three years of teaching, an IRS Flex Plan for medical and babysitting expenses, and Outstanding Professional Development with national education experts.
| Best Careers | Minimum Education | Average Salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physician Assistants | Master's degree | $117,920 | 60 |
| Loan Officers | Bachelor's degree | $81,720 | 150 |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | Bachelor's degree | $72,040 | 600 |
| General and Operations Managers | Bachelor's degree | $77,520 | 600 |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | Master's degree | $109,270 | 120 |
*Career rankings determined by annual mean wage, employment, projected growth and location quotient. Data sourced from the BLS, 2019 dataset.