Best Online Schools and Colleges in Nebraska

Between the state’s K-12 programs, community colleges, state colleges and private colleges, Nebraska offers a wide range of online courses. During the 2013-2014 school year, over 7,500 students in Nebraska were enrolled in at least one online course. Students in K-12 use the Nebraska Online Instruction Source for supplemental courses, blended courses or video conferencing, but the state currently has no fully-online K-12 schools. Multiple public and private universities offer online degree programs and courses in a variety of subjects and degree levels at the post-secondary level.

Explore programs of your interests with the high-quality standards and flexibility you need to take your career to the next level.

During the 2016-2017 school year, 80.5% of students in Nebraska enrolled in at least one online course. Multiple public and private universities offer online degrees and courses for undergraduate and graduate students in Nebraska. This guide covers important information for students considering online schools and colleges in Nebraska, including financial aid opportunities, programs for nontraditional learners, and helpful resources for current and prospective students.

Omaha is a well-educated city. Per the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly a third of the city’s residents have earned bachelor’s degrees or higher, which beats state and national averages. Choices for higher education institutions range in size from nearly 30,000 to about 400 students. Some of the major occupations in Omaha, such as finance, health services and education, require postsecondary education to prepare industry professionals.

Several local institutions provide online education for students in Omaha. According to U.S. News & World Report, the University of Nebraska at Omaha ranks No. 20 nationally for its online bachelor’s degree programs. UNO offers a variety of master’s and certificate programs as well as individual courses. For online credits, a UNO transcript looks no different than for a student attending the school’s physical campus.

With so many options, choosing an online college or university in Nebraska can feel overwhelming. Prospective students can search the Open Education Database, which offers an annotated list of the state’s online schools, to help narrow their choices. The following resource also provides helpful information about Nebraska’s online colleges and universities.

Search All Accredited Schools in Nebraska

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average Nebraska worker earns $46,710 per year, which is higher than the national average. Nebraska’s comparatively high median wage is largely due to the state’s sizeable agribusiness, renewable energy, and financial services industries, all sectors that need an educated workforce.

Nebraska professionals can advance their careers and increase their salary potential by earning a degree. As the following table illustrates, higher levels of educational attainment typically correlate with higher salaries.

Source: BLS

Nebraska students enjoy lower-than-average tuition rates. For example, Nebraska’s average in-state tuition rate is $8,188 compared to the national average of $9,037, while Nebraska’s average out-of-state tuition rate is $20,555 compared to the national average of $25,567. Students attending online schools and colleges in Nebraska can also take advantage of financial aid opportunities to help offset the cost of their education.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics

When weighing their education costs, students should consider factors beyond tuition, such as online fees and travel expenses. The following list covers several cost considerations for online students in Nebraska.

Students can qualify for in-state tuition at Nebraska schools in one of several ways, such as living in Nebraska for 12 consecutive months. Students can also establish residency by marrying a Nebraska resident, holding refugee status, or serving as a member of the U.S. military stationed in Nebraska.

Students at online colleges and schools in Nebraska can take advantage of scholarships and grants to help pay for their education. We cover several scholarship and grant opportunities for Nebraska students below.

Accreditation indicates that a school meets high academic standards and benefits students in several ways. For example, only students at accredited schools qualify for financial aid, and many schools only accept and recognize transfer credits and degrees from regionally accredited institutions. Additionally, many employers prefer to hire graduates with an accredited degree.

Schools may hold regional or national accreditation. Regional accreditation typically applies to nonprofit, degree-granting institutions, while national accreditation applies to for-profit, technical and vocational schools. Regional accreditation is generally considered the more prestigious of the two. There are several independent regional accrediting bodies that accredit schools based on their location. The Higher Learning Commission accredits Nebraska schools.

Some programs within a school may also hold accreditation, such as nursing programs, which are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Several fields require professionals to hold a degree from an accredited program to qualify for licensure or certification.

Most schools and programs feature their accreditation status on their websites. Students can also verify a program or school’s accreditation status by searching the Council on Higher Education Administration’s directory or the Department of Education’s database.

Nebraska offers many learning opportunities for nontraditional students. We cover several adult education programs and resources in the following sections.

26,481 Nebraska students are taking all of their courses online.

Almost 39% of Nebraska’s online students do not reside in the state.

About 81% of Nebraska’s college students take at least one online course.

Source: The Distance Education State Almanac 2017

Prospective and current online students in Nebraska can take advantage of many resources to support their studies. The following resources provide information on topics like financial aid opportunities, program availability, and the state’s community colleges.