Accounting Schools in Nebraska

Known for its strong agricultural base and low cost of living, Nebraska also offers surprising opportunities for aspiring accountants. Whether you aim to work as an accountant, financial manager, or analyst, Fortune 500 companies like Union Pacific and Mutual of Omaha are waiting to hire new graduates to provide financial expertise.

The Nebraska Society of CPAs counts over 2,600 active members, reflecting a strong professional presence across the state. Explore accountant salaries in Nebraska alongside tuition costs, financial aid, career pathways, and the outlook for graduates.

Going to college for accounting in Nebraska allows you to study in a state with a strong educational network and meaningful career connections. Statewide, approximately 135,000 students are currently enrolled in higher education, with four-year public universities reporting graduation rates near 60%.

Nebraska is home to several respected programs, including the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s School of Accountancy. The state has a long history of championing accounting education, becoming the first state to require continuing professional education for licensed accountants. Current reforms aim to make certified public accountant (CPA) pathways more accessible, including proposals that allow exam eligibility at 120 credits rather than 150.

Financial support is also available, from institutional scholarships, such as those offered at the University of Nebraska Omaha’s College of Business Administration accounting scholarships to statewide initiatives such as the Access College Early Scholarship for early college access.

With strong academic programs, accessible scholarships, and supportive professional networks, you can gain the knowledge and community needed to begin a rewarding career in the field.

As a student in Nebraska, you’ll benefit from quality instruction alongside networking opportunities within the state’s business community, which includes agriculture, manufacturing, finance, and government.

Given that much of Nebraska is rural, it’s no surprise that a larger-than-average percentage of students attend via distance education. The state also has a higher-than-average amount of appropriations for full-time students, meaning tuition costs less than in some other states.

Impressively, Nebraska has more adults over 25 with a bachelor’s degree than the national average, although slightly fewer have graduate degrees.

Accreditation ensures the education you receive meets established quality standards, which is critical for transferring credits, qualifying for federal aid, and pursuing professional licensure.

While institutional accreditation evaluates the entire college or university, programmatic accreditation applies to specific programs, like accounting. In Nebraska, you should look for schools accredited by agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or Council for Higher Education Accreditation. The state’s regional accreditor is the Higher Learning Commission.

Regional accreditation isn’t more credible than national, but knowing the agency name helps verify a school’s legitimacy.

Choosing the right accounting program involves balancing personal, professional, and financial factors. In this section, we review data that can help you determine whether Nebraska is the right state to start your search for accounting programs. You can explore details about campus-based, online, and hybrid programs, providing a better sense of how learners typically study in the state.

Although Nebraska may not have as many colleges and universities as more populated states, you can still benefit from excellent accounting programs and student support. Understanding each delivery format can help you identify which pathway best fits your goals.

More than 40% of students in Nebraska still study fully in person, making this a great option if you want the traditional college experience. Attending in-person classes allows you to interact face-to-face with your peers and professor, grab a coffee with students between classes, enjoy study sessions in the library, and take advantage of campus-based resources.

Online programs offer the same coursework and degree as an on-campus program, as long as you earn it from an accredited school. These are great options for students juggling personal, professional, and academic responsibilities as they provide more flexibility. They are also helpful in Nebraska, given that the state is quite rural and there may not be a college or university near you.

Hybrid programs offer a blend of campus-based and online learning, allowing you to learn from home and interact in person with classmates and teachers. This offers a great option if you want parts of a traditional college experience but need some flexibility.

Nebraska offers lower average tuition and fees than the national average across public and private two and four-year programs for resident and non-resident learners.

When it comes to financing your account degree in Nebraska, you can apply for merit- or need-based scholarships and grants as well as federal loans. You should fill out a FAFSA each year of enrollment to determine your eligibility for federal grants, loans, work-study, and other awards.

If you live in Nebraska and meet residency rules, you can pay much lower in-state tuition. Out-of-state learners often pay higher rates. That said, Nebraska participates in the Midwest Student Exchange Program (MSEP), a regional reciprocity program. MSEP allows eligible out-of-state students from participating states to pay no more than 10% of the in-state rate at certain colleges.

The University of Nebraska Omaha also offers the Omaha Urban Rate, which allows students from specific neighboring states to pay a significantly reduced tuition rate. Residency classifications (e.g., if you qualify as a resident for tuition purposes) depends on factors such as whether you graduated from a Nebraska high school, how long you’ve lived in the state, and whether you moved for college.

In Nebraska, cost of living is lower than the U.S. average, which makes a difference when you’re budgeting for college beyond tuition and fees. According to the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center, Nebraska has a cost of living index of 92.6 with 100 being the U.S. average.

What this means in practical terms is that you’ll likely pay less for housing, utilities, groceries, and everyday things compared with other states. When deciding where to enroll, remember that the actual cost of attendance includes things like room and board, transport, supplies, and other expenses. If you decide Nebraska is the right place for you, your dollar will likely stretch further.

Accounting graduates in Nebraska step into a field with strong national and local demand. Nationally, employment for accountants is projected to grow by 5% between 2024-2034, while positions in Nebraska are projected to grow by 7% during the same period.

The state’s economy is driven by agriculture, finance, insurance, healthcare, and education, creating steady demand for accounting professionals across sectors. Major corporate headquarters in Omaha, including Berkshire Hathaway, Union Pacific, and Mutual of Omaha, also hire accountants for corporate finance, auditing and compliance roles.

Among the Big Four, KPMG maintains offices in both Omaha and Lincoln. Omaha serves as Nebraska’s primary employment hub, with Lincoln close behind. Salaries in Nebraska may be slightly lower than national averages, but the state’s cost of living helps offset this gap.

As the tables above demonstrate, careers requiring a bachelor’s or master’s degree tend to pay substantially more than those available to graduates of associate degrees. Spending two extra years in college can qualify you for higher-paying jobs, especially if you plan to work in financial management, analysis, or advice.

Of all the careers highlighted above, financial managers earn the highest salaries, followed by personal financial advisors and financial analysts. Each of these jobs is projected to grow in the coming years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, making them secure career options.

Every state sets its own rules for becoming a CPA. In Nebraska, you receive a certificate after passing the Uniform CPA Examination followed by a permit to practice after completing all experience requirements. The state requires renewal of your active permit every two calendar years alongside completion of 80 hours of continuing professional education (including four hours on ethics).

The Nebraska Board of Public Accountancy (NBPA) oversees CPA licensing in the state. It offers extensive information on examinations, licensing, and continuing professional education and allows you to search for active CPA licenses in the state.

To apply, you must submit an application with transcripts from every school attended and be a resident of Nebraska. Other requirements include: