Types of Colleges in Nebraska

Community Colleges

1. Public institutions that offer certificates, diplomas, and associate degrees.
2. Offer academic, technical, and continuing education programs and courses.
• Academic programs often are similar to the first two years of a general academic program at a four-year college or university. The credits can transfer to the four-year school and count towards a bachelor's degree.
• Technical programs prepare you for immediate entry in the job market.
• Continuing education courses are designed to help you keep your licenses up-to-date. For example, real estate agents, nurses, child care providers, and insurance agents have to complete a number of continuing education units (CEUs) or courses each year to keep their licenses for employment.
3. Community colleges in Nebraska .
• Central Community College
• Mid-Plains Community College
• Northeast Community College
• Southeast Community College
• Western Nebraska Community College

Trade Schools

1. Private, for-profit schools that offer certificates, diplomas, and/or associate degrees.
2. Focus on technical programs and train for specific occupations such cosmetologists or truck drivers.
3. Sometimes called proprietary schools or private career schools.
4. May include barber and cosmetology, health service, and computer training schools and short-term training programs.
5. There are 45 trade schools in Nebraska .

Four-Year Colleges and Universities

1. Public or private institutions that offer bachelor's degrees and graduate degrees such as master's degrees and doctorates.
• Public colleges are operated by the state and rely on tax dollars.
• Private colleges are operated by organizations such as religious groups and do not rely on tax dollars.
• Religious-affiliated colleges are private colleges that are operated by a specific religious group. For example, Creighton University is affiliated with the Catholic Church.
2. Some four-year colleges are also classified as liberal arts colleges . Liberal arts colleges offer a broad base of courses in the humanities, social sciences, and sciences. Many are private colleges and focus on awarding bachelors degrees. In Nebraska , Concordia University , Doane College , and Nebraska Wesleyan University are examples of liberal arts colleges.
3. Another group of four-year colleges are single-sex . The only single-sex college in Nebraska is the College of Saint Mary that enrolls only females.

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