Online Degrees in Nebraska

Although Nebraska is facing a $334 million budget shortfall and may be cutting its budget for higher education in coming years, Nebraska education officials have so far resisted big tuition hikes, keeping some people from enrolling in college courses in other states.

Nebraska prides itself on keeping its tuition rates affordable, and that affordability translates into savings for students interested in enrolling in online degree programs in Nebraska. In fact, tuition rates at some online degree programs in Nebraska are some of the lowest in the nation.

Get the 411 on Nebraska Online Degrees

Colleges and universities in Nebraska have embraced online learning, or distance education, with a wide variety of courses, classes, and programs, often taught by the same faculty who teach campus-based classes. Students from as many as 46 states and four foreign countries have enrolled in online degree programs in Nebraska.

Nebraska degree programs offer both open-enrollment courses and semester-based courses. Open-enrollment classes are courses you can take whenever you want and complete in anywhere from five weeks to six months. There is no fixed class schedule, and in some cases, admission to the university is not required.

These classes can shorten the time it takes to finish your Nebraska online degree and help you get into classes that your schedule otherwise would not have accommodated.

Nebraska degree programs also have semester-based courses that run on the same schedule as campus-based programs, often using the same professors who are teaching the campus-based class.

Online Degree Programs in Nebraska: Which Degree Levels Do They Offer?

Nebraska degree programs offer not only high school classes, they also offer undergraduate courses and degrees, as well as online and hybrid graduate courses, which can lead to master's and doctoral degrees.

Courses available to you in either the semester-based or open-enrollment classes run the gamut, from plant science and genetics to packaging engineering and DNA analysis. Courses in history, business, economics, finance, horticulture and accounting are available.

Which Benefits Can Nebraska Degree Programs Offer You?

Nebraska online schools offer many of their campus-based programs in the online curriculum. This gives students earning Nebraska online degrees the opportunity to study when and where they want--at home, in the library, or even on campus.

Some of Nebraska's online degrees are from schools employing faculty experienced in online teaching, and they utilize a variety of online elements to keep their classes exciting. Many courses, for instance, offer multimedia presentations, streaming video, and supplementary CDs and DVDs to complement textbooks.

Online tutorials help show students how easy it is to navigate their online courses, and students could potentially benefit from having their credits count toward financial aid. In some cases, individuals can also qualify for campus-based discounts on computer software and hardware and services like a campus-based writing center.

Which Jobs Are Available in Nebraska Once You've Earned Your Degree?

According to the Nebraska Department of Labor, one of the fastest-growing professions in the state is network systems and data communications analysis. Due to the state's aging population, many jobs are expected to open up in the area of home health care and the medical field. There is also expected to be strong demand for public relations managers, financial planners, environmental compliance officers and accountants.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (bls.gov, 2012), nationwide employment rates for public relations managers and specialists are projected to grow 21 percent from 2010 to 2020. Bls.gov reports countrywide employment rates for computer and information systems managers are expected to grow 18 percent between 2010 and 2020. In addition, bls.gov projects general employment rates to rise 16 percent for accountants and auditors from 2010 to 2020.

Sources:
Nebraska Department of Labor
Public Relations Managers and Specialists, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2012
Computer and Information Systems Managers, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2012
Accountants and Auditors, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2012