Nebraska Teacher Colleges and Degrees Online Guide
Aspiring teachers in Nebraska must complete a state-approved educator preparation program to qualify for certification. This guide is designed to help you explore your options for teaching degrees and training programs at accredited Nebraska colleges and universities. Below, you’ll find a comparison table of approved schools along with curated lists of respected and affordable programs to support your search for the best path toward a teaching career in the state.
Table of Contents
- NE Teacher Preparation Program Comparison
- 9 Affordable NE Bachelor’s in Education Programs
- Top-Ranked Nebraska Education Programs
- Best Bachelor’s in Education Programs
- Schools With Associate Degrees in Education
Comparison of Nebraska Schools With Teacher Preparation Programs
The table below compares 16 Nebraska teacher preparation programs across key factors. All of the schools included are not-for-profit institutions approved by the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE). Completing a state-approved program is a key step toward licensure. While Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) accreditation is not required for licensure, we include it because CAEP is a nationally respected accreditor whose standards are recognized or accepted in many states.
Data includes enrollment, completion, and pass rates for traditional and alternative programs, based on the 2024 Title II Report (2022-2023 school year). Traditional programs are usually part of a bachelor’s degree, while alternative certification programs target career changers and may lead to a certificate or master’s degree. Many schools offer both—review our Nebraska traditional certification guide and our Nebraska alternative certification guide for more. Net price reflects the average annual cost for in-state undergraduates—tuition, books, room and board—minus grants and scholarships.
State-Approved School | CAEP Accred.?1 | Trad. Teacher Program Enrollment2 | Trad. Teacher Prep Prog. Completers2 | Trad. Licensing Exams Pass Rate2 | Alt. Teacher Program Enrollment2 | Alt. Teacher Prep Prog. Completers2 | Alt. Licensing Exams Pass Rate2 | Net Price3 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bellevue University | No | 58 | 7 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $15,629 |
Chadron State College | Yes | 317 | 73 | 78% | — | — | — | $15,156 |
College of Saint Mary | No | 86 | 28 | 100% | — | — | — | $15,128 |
Concordia University Nebraska | Yes | 199 | 55 | 93% | — | — | — | $22,201 |
Creighton University | Yes | 55 | 22 | 95% | — | — | — | $32,355 |
Doane University | Yes | 117 | 71 | 86% | — | — | — | $23,284 |
Hastings College | Yes | 58 | 26 | 96% | — | — | — | $20,804 |
Midland University | No | 134 | 37 | 78% | — | — | — | $20,992 |
Nebraska Wesleyan University | No | 106 | 24 | 93% | — | — | — | $26,576 |
Peru State College | Yes | 141 | 41 | 93% | — | — | — | $14,216 |
Union Adventist University | Yes | 28 | 8 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $22,895 |
University of Nebraska-Kearney | Yes | 676 | 213 | 92% | 222 | 63 | 88% | $16,570 |
University of Nebraska-Lincoln | Yes | 984 | 315 | 92% | — | — | — | $13,314 |
University of Nebraska-Omaha | Yes | 592 | 212 | 91% | — | — | — | $17,341 |
Wayne State College | Yes | 541 | 159 | 89% | — | — | — | $14,055 |
York University | Yes | 65 | 12 | 82% | — | — | — | $18,598 |
- — indicates none or not applicable.
- N.Av. indicates data was not available or pass rates were omitted for confidentiality.
Most Affordable Bachelor’s in Education Programs in Nebraska
Our list of the most affordable bachelor’s in education programs is based on the net price per year for undergraduate tuition. Net price is the average cost of attendance after grants and scholarships are applied. These nine most affordable schools have a net price under $20,000.
- University of Nebraska-Lincoln ($13,314)
- Wayne State College ($14,055)
- Peru State College ($14,216)
- College of Saint Mary ($15,128)
- Chadron State College ($15,156)
- Bellevue University ($15,629)
- University of Nebraska-Kearney ($16,570)
- University of Nebraska-Omaha ($17,341)
- York University ($18,598)3
Top-Ranked Schools With Education Programs in Nebraska
Best Bachelor’s in Education Programs in Nebraska
Our list of the top nine bachelor’s in education programs is based on the traditional pathway pass rate data from the 2024 Title II Reports.
- College of Saint Mary (100%)
- Hastings College (96%)
- Creighton University (95%)
- Concordia University Nebraska (93%)
- Nebraska Wesleyan University (93%)
- Peru State College (93%)
- University of Nebraska-Kearney (92%)
- University of Nebraska-Lincoln (92%)
- University of Nebraska-Omaha (91%)2
Schools With Associate Degrees in Education
While a bachelor’s degree is the minimum educational level required to qualify for state certification, an associate degree can be the first step toward a career in education. It can qualify graduates for careers in non-licensed roles in early childhood education, after-school care, and related areas. The credits earned from an accredited associate degree program can also typically be transferred toward a bachelor’s degree. The five Nebraska schools below offer associate degrees in education.3 Schools with an asterisk (*) also offer four-year teaching programs and/or alternative route to certification programs.
- College of Saint Mary*
- Little Priest Tribal College
- Nebraska Indian Community College
- Northeast Community College
- Western Nebraska Community College
References:
1. Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP): https://caepnet.org/provider-search
2. US Department of Education 2024 Title II Report: https://title2.ed.gov/Public/Home.aspx
3. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/