A College Town Too

by Rayna Collins, Photography by Tom Tidball

Lincoln is a college town—from the University of Nebraska’s flagship school to quality smaller private and public institutions, Lincoln provides advanced learning opportunities to expand knowledge, skills and career opportunities. 

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) is the largest university in Nebraska. It began as a land-grant college 150 years ago and now boasts a 24,431 student enrollment. A national leader in academics as well as athletics, UNL is a part of the Big Ten Conference and is recognized by the Carnegie Foundation as a Doctoral/Highest Research Activity university.

UNL is also nationally known for the University of Nebraska Press, the Sheldon Museum of Art—a major collection of American art—and the Prairie Schooner literary magazine.

The University has three campuses in Lincoln. The main campus is located in the heart of downtown Lincoln, and the beautiful East Campus as well as the new Innovation Campus are only a few minutes away. They all support Lincoln’s youthful energy with well over 150 majors and 100 graduate programs for students to choose from. In fact, UNL was one of the first institutions west of the Mississippi to award doctoral degrees. The first was granted in physics in 1896. 

A place of high ambition, the university boasts a number of notable alumni, including investor, philanthropist and Nebraska resident, Warren Buffet; former television talk show host, Johnny Carson; and Jeff Raikes, former CEO of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. 

The Undergraduate Creative Activities and Research Experiences Program (UCARE) is a unique, independent study program at UNL, and the Jeffrey S. Raikes School of Computer Science and Management is one of the reasons Lincoln’s ‘silicon prairie’ is flourishing.

Starting with a $20 million grant from the Johnny Carson Foundation, the Johnny Carson Center for Emerging Media Arts teaches innovative technology to solve human problems, to entertain, and to tell stories that inspire. 

UNL is also an important source of Lincoln’s cultural enrichment and entertainment including concerts, films, museums, theatre productions and other events. The University also benefits the state’s 93 counties with research-based information through the cooperative extension service and continuing studies program, as well as campuses in Omaha and Kearney. U.S. News and World Report ranked UNL as one of the Top 150 liberal arts colleges in the country. You can find more information at unl.edu. 

Union College

Founded and operated by the Seventh Day Adventist Church, the picturesque, 50-acre campus of Union College is located in Lincoln’s historic College View neighborhood. Almost 700 students of diverse faith backgrounds attend the college, hailing from around the world and coming together in Christian values.

Offering more than 50 majors, the college has particularly strong programs in nursing, teaching, science and business. They also offer a unique bachelor’s degree in International Rescue and Relief. Union College consistently places in the top 40 in its regional category in the U.S. News and World Report. Visit www.ucollege.edu to learn more. 

Nebraska Wesleyan University

Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln is home to nearly 2,000 traditional undergraduates and hundreds of adult and graduate students from across the country and around the world. NWU students thrive on a close-knit, supportive campus within one of the Midwest’s most vibrant college cities. At NWU, one hundred percent of students engage in internships, research, service learning or study abroad. And the Nebraska Wesleyan experience transforms each student to lead a life of learning, service, leadership and success in a global society. 

NWU features more than 130 majors, minors and preprofessional programs as well as master’s degrees in athletic training, business administration, nursing and social work. Nebraska Wesleyan is once again U.S. News & World Report’s top-ranked Midwestern regional university in Nebraska. Learn more at nebrwesleyan.edu. 

Southeast Community College

The Southeast Community College (SCC) Lincoln Campus serves more than 9,000 students seeking transfer courses and career/technical education. SCC also has campuses in Beatrice and Milford. SCC now operates on a semester academic calendar, which means better alignment with Nebraska high schools and four-year colleges and universities to which SCC students transfer.

A major focus for SCC is producing more graduates to fill employers’ needs. The expansion of the college’s facilities and programs will put more students into the workforce as qualified technicians in a variety of areas, including agriculture, business, computers, culinary, community services, public safety, health care, construction, manufacturing, and transportation.

The largest campus is on the east edge of Lincoln where the college recently embarked on a $24 million renovation and expansion. And there is another campus in downtown Lincoln. SCC also serves 15 counties located in southeast Nebraska. SCC operates learning centers in Falls City, Hebron, Nebraska City, Plattsmouth, Wahoo, and York. Classes at those sites are both credit and non-credit. The Continuing Education Division offers classes and workshops related to business, careers and professional development, trades and industrial technology, health care, computers and technology, adult education, personal interest, and traffic safety and licensing. SCC also offers customized training to businesses and industries, both large and small, throughout the 15-county area. Additionally, many of SCC’s associate degree-level credit programs are transferable to major universities, providing a more flexible and affordable education.

Ninety-three percent of recent SCC graduates found work or continued their education, and of those who are employed, 89 percent are working in Nebraska. Get more information at www.southeast.edu.

Bryan College of Health Sciences

Known for outstanding healthcare education, the Bryan College of Health Sciences takes pride in providing clinically based programs in nursing and allied health as an affiliate of Bryan Medical Center. The college offers undergraduate degrees in nursing and health professions, graduate degrees in nurse anesthesia, and a number of certificate options. Visit www.bryanhealthcollege.edu for details.

Doane University

Only 25 miles away, Crete, Nebraska is home to
Doane University, the oldest, private, four-year liberal arts institution in the state. U.S. News and World Report recently ranked Doane as one of the top 200 liberal arts colleges in the country. 

Around 1,200 undergraduate students study traditional courses on the main campus in Crete. Bachelor’s degrees in business, public administration, information systems management, organizational communications, commercial arts and other career-oriented majors are also offered at the Lincoln satellite campus for working adults. Learn more at www.doane.edu.