Nebraska Online Colleges & Universities: Top Schools for 2017-2018

Accredited by Higher Learning Commission the University of Nebraska at Omaha offers more than 200 degrees. The four-year institution located in the heart of Omaha is a metropolitan university where students can earn bachelor, graduate and doctoral degrees. They service 15,000 students each year and boast an average class size of 17 students to one teacher. UNO is one of only 94 universities in the country to provide military veterans with a VA Vet Success on Campus program and a business school geared toward vets. Students have the option to earn degrees in more than 20 programs offered completely online, including six graduate degrees.

Online options include several undergraduate degree-completion programs, as well as a selection of full graduate degrees. Many courses are available in an accelerated, eight-week format, and all courses are asynchronous, meaning they don't follow a set schedule or require students to be online at a specific time. Some classes require physical textbooks, which students can order over the phone without visiting the on-campus bookstore. Students will also engage through the MyCSC web portal, and will be able to seek tech help and support all day, every day. Online classes start in the spring, summer and fall. The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Undergraduate students can pursue bachelor's degrees across eight different fields of study completely online, with a degree-completion program available to distance learners who already earned an associate degree. There are also online options at the graduate level. All programs are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. With both eight-week and 16-week options available, students can work toward their degrees at their own pace. Incoming students can transfer up to 90 credits from an accredited college or university, and up to 66 credits from a community college or vocational school. The school also awards prior learning/life credits for non-academic endeavors.

Distance learners can choose from two different degree completion programs, both of which result in bachelor of science degrees, with either a management and ethics major or a major in leadership and ministries. There are also two certificates available for students who either already have a bachelor's degree, or who are pursuing education solely for self-improvement. Incoming distance learners can apply as many as 36 credit hours toward a BA or BS degree, 18 semester hours toward an associate degree, or 10 credits toward a certificate program. Only credits earned from online programs delivered by accredited institutions are eligible for transfer.

More than 400 individual online courses and more than 40 full degree programs are offered to distance learners through the Kearney campus of the University of Nebraska, which is a public, university that is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. More than 30 of the online programs result in graduate degrees. Prospective eCampus students are invited to participate in an online orientation, which introduces them to the resources available to distance learners, including the online writing center, web-based library services and online advising.

Clarkson College boasts an online delivery uptime of 99.99 percent and student-to-teacher ratios of roughly 25:1. Professors often respond to online student questions the same day, and always within 48 hours. Students can communicate with faculty and peers through a range of media, including their assigned school email accounts. The online campus offers a new student orientation tutorial, and distance learners can get all required books and materials through the online bookstore. The college IT desk is available to help students with technical issues. Program directors assign advisors to each online learner during the student's first semester.

Undergraduate students can pursue a BBA degree or two different BS degrees completely online. There is also an MA graduate degree and a variety of general education courses available to distance learners. The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and maintains membership in the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. According to the school's Christian mission, all curriculum incorporates biblical teachings and spirituality. Coursework is delivered through Moodle, which is York College's online learning management system, but distance learners will also use the PantherNET system, as well as the Levitt Library.

There are two bachelor's degrees and two minor degrees available to distance learners through the Lincoln campus of the University of Nebraska. The University of Nebraska Online Worldwide, however, offers more than 100 programs through four different institutions. Coursework is delivered through the Blackboard learning management system, as well as through the Internet, email, CD-ROM and videoconferencing. Classes are asynchronous, and do not require students to be online at any specific time, but instead allow students to log on whenever they want, as long as they complete assignments by deadline. The school has been accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools since 1913.

Online education at Bellevue University is delivered through the accelerated cohort format, which pairs students with a team of peers who share their academic and career goals, and who have chosen the same degree track. The programs are open to students who have earned an associate degree or 60 credits of coursework, which will be applied toward the 127 credits needed for completion. All cohort programs are delivered over the course of 72 weeks, and consist of three parts: foundations for professional success, major coursework requirements and Kirkpatrick signature series. The cohort format allows students to focus on just one class at a time.

The University of Nebraska Medical Center is the only public health sciences center in the state of Nebraska and the state's first medical college. Currently, almost half of all the medical professionals in the state graduated from one of UNMC's campuses. UNMC is made up of six colleges and two institutes across the state and enrolls nearly 4,000 students. They offer more than 40 different academic departments in various medical fields. Students have the opportunity to earn certificates, bachelor degrees, master degrees and doctoral degrees including PhD and MD. Many classes are offered online through Blackboard, an online learning tool.

Online courses provide flexibility to students who find it difficult to attend classes on campus. Western Nebraska Community College offers online courses through its Blackboard Learning Management System. Programs include courses such as introduction to business, personal finance, microcomputer applications, project management principles, mathematics, environment science, sociology, introduction to psychology, american history and public speaking. Some programs are offered entirely online while some require a combination of online and on-site classes. Students who take online classes are required to take the introduction to online learning, an eight-week course that prepares students for the e-learning environment.

Taking classes online is a flexible way for students to complete their education. At Northeast Community College, the school offers different online general education as well as program courses. It offers a few online associate degree programs that allow students to begin careers in their chosen industries. These programs include business, academic transfer, accounting, behavioral science, criminal justice, social science, education elementary and general studies. The school also offers online diploma programs in business and online certificate programs in food service and dietary management. The classes are available 24/7 so that the students can complete the course at their own pace.

Metropolitan Community College embraces modern education methods. The school delivers relevant education to its students through its online education initiative. The online programs offered include associate’s degrees in business management, computer technology, criminal justice, general information technology, healthcare information management systems, information technology and liberal arts. For working professionals who want to improve their career opportunities, the school also offers online certificate programs like bookkeeping, general information technology, business management, information technology, medical office, technology and microcomputer office technology. Individual online courses are also available for traditional degrees. Classes begin at regular starting dates–September, December, March and June.

At Mid-Plains Community College, students can earn a degree through the distance education initiative. Catering to working students, the online programs are designed to be flexible and accessible so students can learn at their own pace. The school offers online associate degrees in fields like criminal justice, library technical assistance and business administration. All courses allow the students to attain entry-level careers in their respective fields. Students also have the opportunity to transfer to a four-year university and pursue higher education. With the online interface, students have access to online libraries, one-on-one tutoring and get advice from a personal education advisor.

With its aim to provide excellent, flexible learning experiences, Nebraska Indian Community College offers online classes to students. Students can take online courses simultaneously with on-campus classes to achieve their degrees on a faster track. Some of the online classes offered by the school include accounting, microeconomics, business communications, introduction to computers, Native American literature, early childhood education, English, biochemistry, statistics and math. Admitted students can log in to the distance learning education portal to complete different requirements of the courses, and may do so at their own pace. Some courses may have in-person requirements, such as proctored tests or meetings with the teacher.

Rather than working on a semester basis, Southeast Community College offers online courses to students through quarterly calendar schedules–July, October, January and March. The online programs provide complete academic experience and environment to the students. Associate degree programs that are offered online by the school includes business administration, computer information technology, dental assisting, early childhood education, geographic information systems technician, human services, radiologic technology, respiratory care and surgical technology. The school also offers a food service certificate program through its online delivery system. Some of the programs require supervised practicum, during which students will go to an affiliated training institution and receive on-the-job training.