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Career Colleges    » Nebraska

Nebraska Career Colleges and Universities

Career and Technical Training in Nebraska

Locate Nebraska career colleges, universities, and technical schools, and job-related training degree programs in Nebraska Each program from a Nebraska Career College, a post-secondary for-profit institution, offers an education with an in-demand career field. The programs are designed to get you work-ready, equipped with the practical knowledge, and the competence needed to obtain a competitive career in Nebraska.

At career colleges in Nebraska, you typically don't take general education classes in core subjects such as English and math. Instead, you focus on career-related courses.

Nebraska Career-Focused Degree Programs

Learn what makes attending one of the Nebraska schools and colleges a worthwhile future investment. Includes notable education and career trends.

Nebraska universities and career schools: Notable trends

Nebraska universities and colleges are among some of the most affordable in the country. This cost effectiveness coupled with the improved financial prospects college graduates tend to enjoy make Nebraska education an impressive bargain. It is no surprise, then, that Nebraskans boast higher-than-average educational attainment, both in terms of undergraduate and advanced degrees. Unfortunately, Nebraska still needs even more college graduates as demand for college-educated workers continues to grow quickly.

Spotlight: Nebraska education

Any true college football fan knows the Cornhuskers offer serious competition on the field, but wow-worthy highlight reels are just one of the many impressive things Nebraska colleges produce each year. The University of Nebraska -- comprised of four campuses -- remains the largest college in the state. This system, along with a number of additional public and private institutions, serves thousands of students pursuing a wide breadth of disciplines each year. Nebraska schools are also cost-effective: According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the average cost to attend Nebraska state colleges in 2009-10 was $13,265, about $1,700 less than the national average. When you consider these benefits, it makes sense that educational attainment rates in Nebraska top the national average, though they may not be enough.

The U.S. Census Bureau reports that 40.5 percent of Nebraska workers age 25 and over held degrees in 2008, higher than the 27.9 percent national average. According to the Lumina Foundation, however, Nebraska universities are not keeping pace with projected demand for educated workers. If the state's current attainment rate holds, 50 percent of Nebraskans will have college degrees in 2025. This is an impressive figure, but still significantly short of the 66 percent of employers that Georgetown University's center on Education and the Workforce projects will require this type of training by 2018. The bottom line: Nebraska needs more college graduates to bolster its ever-changing economy.

Nebraska's economy: notable trends

As an agricultural powerhouse, Nebraska has earned its nickname as the Cornhusker State; not bad for a region once dubbed the ""Great American Desert."" Still, there is far more to the Nebraska economy than farming. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the state's largest employers in 2011 -- First Data, Nebraska Medical Center and Tyson Fresh Meats -- represented a variety of industries. The Nebraska economy will likely continue to grow and diversify, too.

The Nebraska Department of Labor projects that Nebraska's jobscape will grow by 10.15 percent, 2008-2018. The following industries are expected to grow the fastest:

• Professional Scientific and Technical Services
• Health care
• Construction

Meanwhile, demand for the following occupations is projected to grow the most during the same period:

• Biomedical engineers
• Financial examiners
• Personal and home care aides

While earning a degree in any industry can pay off, pursuing higher education in high-demand fields like these can bolster your job security down the line. Higher education can improve your bottom line, too; it's a bit of a bonus but Nebraska workers tend to earn more than the average American. According to the Department of Labor, Nebraskan ranked 15th among all states in terms of occupational wages in 2010; workers earned $52,700 on average. This trend coupled with the tendency for earnings to improve with ongoing education just underscores the benefits of attending Nebraska colleges.

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