Upskilling
& Higher Education
Build Skills. Find Your Calling.
Looking to start a new career or level up an existing one? Nebraska higher education makes it easy.
No matter your experience level, you’ll find strategic ways to grow here. With top-tier private and public colleges and supportive initiatives that help working parents and career switchers achieve their professional goals, The Good Life creates pathways to in-demand careers.
With more than 50 colleges, universities, and technical schools throughout the state, opportunities are as open as our bright blue skies — whether you’re looking for a four-year degree or a continuing education. Keep reading to learn why Nebraska is a trusted state for life-long learners.
LMC Upskilling Scholarship
Are you looking for in-state opportunities to grow your manufacturing skills and increase your earning potential? The Lincoln Manufacturing Council Upskilling Scholarship can help you with funding and wraparound support.
Nebraska Higher Education
Investing in Your Future
More than 50 Nebraska universities and colleges offer flexible, career-aligned degree programs for students at every stage of their journey. From Nebraska State College System schools like Wayne State College and Peru State College to hands-on technical training through Nebraska CTE, there’s an option here to match your goals:
- The University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL), the state’s flagship and a member of the Big Ten Conference, ranks among the top third of public universities. As a research-intensive institution, UNL provides valuable one-on-one faculty engagement, opening strong pathways to career success. The university also has additional campuses: the University of Nebraska at Kearney and Omaha.
- University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) offers 70 residency and fellowship programs and trains more than 600 house officers, with cutting-edge research opportunities and hands-on clinical training that prepares students to lead in today’s healthcare landscape.
- Top private colleges such as Creighton University, the College of Saint Mary, Concordia University and Nebraska Methodist College provide highly personalized learning experiences from health sciences to liberal arts, with student-to-faculty ratios as low as 10:1, ensuring close mentorship and academic support.
- For those seeking direct-to-career programs, technical schools in Omaha, Nebraska, like Mid-Plains Community College or Metropolitan Community College, deliver job-ready training in fields like agriculture and cybersecurity. MCC is Nebraska’s second-largest postsecondary institution and its largest community college. Other community colleges include Southeast Community College, Northeast Community College, Central Community College, and Western Nebraska Community College.
Upskilling Opportunities
Breaking Barriers and Opening Doors
You’ve got ambition — and we’ve got your back in Nebraska. The Good Life wants every professional to reach their highest potential, and we’re putting our money where our mouth is by providing the tools, funding, and programs that make employee upskilling more accessible than ever.
Here’s how you can get growing:
- Nebraska Career Scholarships are reducing financial barriers and helping students build in-demand skills at community colleges throughout the state.
- NEworks offers a searchable database of certified career academies, so you can find paths to degrees or certifications in almost any field.
- Ignite Nebraska offers both a 6-month paid apprenticeship in IT and software development and a no-cost, 10-week program designed to launch you into entry-level tech roles
- Nebraska Department of Education assists in everything from Adult Education and GED to workshops in various industries to help you expand your horizons.
Whether you’re just starting out or ready to pivot, your next move could be closer than you think.
The Good Life Stories
Nebraska’s Family Values and Golf Opportunities bring a Veteran Home
While serving in the U.S. Air Force, Ben Davis had not considered returning to his childhood home of Nebraska. “During the military, Nebraska was really nowhere on our radar of places we could be assigned,” he remarked. “Then out of nowhere my career path landed me here and brought us back to the area in […]
Veteran Finds Opportunity, Work-Life Balance after Coming Home to Nebraska for Civilian Career
After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, Jerome Creasy, Jr. could have taken his skills to almost any state. After considering his next step, he chose Nebraska as the place to pursue his post-military career. Jerome had first experienced Nebraska in the mid-1990s when he moved to Omaha with his father, a military veteran. “I […]
Mom Comes Back to Her Roots in Papillion, Builds a Home for the Next Generation
Finding Her Way Back Home For Kylie Scheideler, Nebraska has always been more than a place on the map, it’s been home. After nearly ten years of living in Arizona, she realized the pull to come back wasn’t fading. “While I enjoyed being in Arizona, I always called Nebraska home,” she said. “Anytime we traveled […]