Vocational Trade Schools in Nebraska

One of the largest trade schools in Nebraska, CCC operates three campuses in Grand Island, Columbus, and Hastings. The college serves a 25-county area, offering degree and technical programs both on campus and online. CCC students can choose from multiple program offerings, including hospitality management and culinary arts, energy technology, heavy equipment operator technician, and dental hygiene.

CCC offers a comprehensive electrical technology program that includes professional internship opportunities. Candidates can study the field at all levels, with diplomas, certificates, and an associate of applied science degree available. Students who enroll in these programs can complete a concurrent electrical technology apprenticeship, which prepares graduates to become journeyman electricians. Program graduates go on to careers as industrial electricians, construction electricians, and electric motor service persons.

A comprehensive two-year college based out of Omaha, MCC serves residents of Dodge, Douglas, Sarpy and Washington counties. The school offers several technical and vocational programs, including ones in accounting, front end web development, and medical office management.

MCC offers two apprenticeships in electrical and plumbing, along with a pre-apprenticeship in plumbing. Apprentices can earn up to 56 credits toward an associate degree while working full time, with courses offered in the evenings at MCC's Construction Education Center. Both apprenticeship programs last four years and prepare students for journeyman licensure exams.

The plumbing pre-apprenticeship prepares students to enter the apprenticeship program while gaining basic skills and certification. Students can earn either a certificate of achievement in pre-apprenticeship plumbing or a career certificate in plumbing fundamentals. These credentials prepare students to either continue their professional education or find a career in plumbing.

Based in North Platte and McCook, MPCC also operates several satellite campuses, and a distance education program. Serving an 18-county region, the school enrolls more than 16,000 students in credit and non-credit programs. MPCC offers an assortment of technical and occupational programs, including both associate degrees and professional certificates. Students can choose from career-focused programs such as event management, fire science technology, logistics and material management, medical lab technology, and dental assisting.

MPCC students benefit from a comprehensive selection of academic resources, including extensive library facilities, advising, counseling, career services, and tutoring. The college's Student Success Centers provide tutoring, career counseling, proctored exams, study assistance, and free computer access. The Career Services office also offers vocational evaluations, career planning, specialized testing, and resume assistance.

A major community college system, SCC ranks among the top trade schools in the state. The college serves students throughout southeast Nebraska, with main campuses in Beatrice, Lincoln, and Milford. SCC also operates satellite learning centers in Falls City, Hebron, Nebraska City, Plattsmouth, Wahoo and York. Students can choose from dozens of degree and certificate programs, including dental assisting, diesel technology, land surveying, livestock management and production, and long term care administration.

As one of the largest Nebraska technical colleges, SCC offers broad advising and support services for students. The school's student affairs office provides assistance from enrollment through graduation, with services in admissions counseling, academic advising, transfer counseling, and scholarship advising. Advisors help students adjust to college life and develop key skills in time management, goal setting, and study habits. Advisors also connect students to other campus services.

A nationally ranked community college, NCC is one of the top trade schools in Nebraska. This Lincoln-based, two-year college serves around 13,000 students annually, divided evenly between credit and non-credit programs.

NCC offers dozens of trade and vocational programs. While most programs offer associate degrees, students can also choose from several diploma and certificate programs. The school's program options include agronomy, animal science, athletic training, precision agriculture, and wind energy. Students can also pursue more traditional programs such as automotive technology, culinary arts, medical assisting, and radiologic technology.

NCC offers a variety of career resources, including assessment and planning services, job boards, and connections to local employers. The school boasts strong career and academic outcomes, with 99% of recent graduates report either being currently employed or pursuing further education.

Serving more than a dozen counties in the Nebraska panhandle, WNCC operates campuses in Alliance, Scottsbluff, and Sidney. The school's large selection of associate degrees and certificates includes options in exercise science, aviation maintenance, welding technology, surgical technology, and dietetics.

WNCC also offers several pre-professional programs in fields such as chiropractic medicine, dental hygiene, dentistry, veterinary and comparative medicine, and radiologic technology. These enable students to earn a two-year associate degree before transferring to a four-year college.

As one of the top vocational schools in Nebraska, WNCC provides varied support services for students through its Career Pathways and Advising office. Advisors and counselors support students through all stages of their education, including admissions counseling and transfer advising. The school's career services office also offers a wide selection of resources, including job shadowing opportunities, career fairs, job postings, resume assistance, and interview training.

A two-year college located in Curtis, NCTA ranks among the top technical schools in Nebraska. The college also boasts a national reputation, winning praise from both Forbes and Business Week as one of the best trade schools in the country. Unlike many community colleges, NCTA offers the same tuition rate to Nebraska residents and non-residents, making the school an affordable choice regardless of residency.

NCTA offers a varied selection of associate degrees and certificate programs, primarily focused on agriculture. Students can choose from unique programs including agricultural equipment management, livestock industry management, animal husbandry, veterinary assistant, and equine health.

The college also offers several associate transfer programs that prepare students to pursue bachelor's degrees, including animal science, agronomy, mechanized systems management, and agricultural education. The school maintains an active relationship with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and its College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.

Founded in 1888 as a nursing school, Clarkson College retains its focus on technical and professional education in the health sciences. As one of the top trade schools in Nebraska for healthcare professions, the college offers a wide selection of degrees and certificates in community health, health information management, healthcare administration and leadership, nursing, and radiography and medical imaging.

Most programs offer multiple levels of study. For example, the health information technology field offers certificates in health informatics or health information coding, which take just 3-4 semesters to complete. Candidates interested in more advanced study can pursue either a two-year associate degree in health information technology or a four-year bachelor's degree in health information administration.

Clarkson College also offers many of its courses online, and about 90% of students complete at least one online course each semester.

Another of the top trade schools in Nebraska for healthcare students, NMC serves around 1,100 students annually. The Omaha-based school offers 10 associate and certificate programs, including options in cardiovascular sonography, radiologic technology, respiratory care, physical therapy assistant, and surgical technology.

Most NMC programs emphasize significant hands-on learning, including clinical experiences, laboratory training, and simulations. Programs typically include supervised clinical training at hospitals, clinics, or other medical facilities. While most of the school's associate degrees take place mainly on campus, NMC does offer some certificates primarily online, including computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and mammography.

NMC students benefit from a fully functional campus with dedicated facilities for various fields, including a physical therapist assistant lab, a phlebotomy lab, and radiography lab. The campus also hosts a nursing skills laboratory equipped with 12 beds and two simulation rooms.

A private Jesuit college based in Omaha, Creighton is not technically a Nebraska trade school. However, the college does offer several professional certificate programs. Students can pursue undergraduate certificates in areas such as business analytics, healthcare administration and policy, healthcare management, lifestyle medicine, and project management. Creighton also offers a professionally focused associate degree in emergency medical services.

Creighton serves more than 8,900 students annually, and the school provides student support and resources typical of a major private institution, including academic advising and career services. Students benefit from academic coaching, individual tutoring, peer mentorship, and workshops.

Creighton's John P. Fahey Career Center offers support for both students and alumni, including career exploration, resume assistance, counseling, job listings, and internships. Students in healthcare programs can also take advantage of specialized, pre-professional advising services.