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
World’s Largest High School Rodeo Event Returns to Lincoln
A Rodeo Unlike Any Other Brings Entertainment and Economic Impact to Nebraska Cort Jones remembers the sting he felt in defeat at his first high school finals rodeo. On a team of five cowboys, his job was to rope the steer’s back legs. Jones’ horse stumbled when he made the attempt, and he missed […]
Sandhills Open Road Challenge Brings Racers, Families, and Economic Development to Arnold
A Texas driver of a Dodge Viper ACR waits at the starting line while SORC tech director Jeff Preson directs them (photo courtesy of Jessica Tickle). When Joe Shown inches his Corvette to the starting line at the Sandhills Open Road Challenge, he pinches his wrist to be sure the race is really happening. […]
Nebraska Ed-Tech Startup Helps Students Improve as Writers, Avoid Overreliance on AI
After doing graduate studies at Stanford University in California, Adam and Alexa Sparks moved home to Nebraska to launch their startup business, Short Answer. Their educational technology (ed tech) platform helps K-12 students improve writing skills. Just three years after launching, Short Answer is used by over 80,000 educators in all 50 U.S. states and […]