6 Respected Institutions Of Higher Education in Nebraska And Kansas

Deciding where to pursue your education can be overwhelming, especially when thinking over factors like location, campus size, and tuition cost. When making a list of schools, it's worth considering institutions in the Midwestern United States, many of which combine top-level academics with low costs. In no particular order, here are some great options in Nebraska and Kansas for whatever you wish to study.

Starting off the list at #1 is the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Chartered in 1869 and located not far from the State Capitol building, it is the largest campus in the University of Nebraska system, with more than 25,000 students. Famous alumni include investor Warren Buffett, comedian Johnny Carson, artist and engineer Harold Edgerton, and author Willa Cather.

Academics at UNL are spread among nine colleges: Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, Architecture, Arts and Sciences, Business, Education and Human Sciences, Engineering, the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts, Journalism and Mass Communications, and the College of Law. The campus is also home to Memorial Stadium, home of the famous Cornhusker football team.

At #2 is The University of Kansas, located in the town of Lawrence, with additional campuses in Kansas City, Overland Park, Wichita, and Salina. With more than 400 degree and certificate programs, it attracts students with all manner of career goals, learning everything from aerospace engineering and geographic & atmospheric science to elementary education and East Asian languages & cultures.

The university's Center for Undergraduate Research offers a variety of programs for students and provides instructors with resources to promote research in the classroom. Graduate education is central to the school's mission of learning, scholarship and creative activity, with more than 5,000 graduate-level enrollees annually.

Coming in at #3 is Hastings College, a private, residential institution affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA). Nearly every Hastings College student resides and eats on campus, with options for men's, women's, and co-ed residence halls, as well as college houses and on-campus apartments. Every student who is accepted receives an iPad and Apple Pencil, textbooks are included in the tuition cost, and the curriculum involves a study abroad course for each attendee.

The campus sits on 120 acres and includes the Hastings College Arboretum and Japanese Friendship Garden, as well as The Clyde Sachtleben Observatory, which is open to the public. The city of Hastings, the official birthplace of Kool-Aid, has been named one of the 20 best small college towns in the country by USA Today. With more than 75 student organizations, there are plenty of ways to get involved on campus.

In the #4 spot is Kansas State University. Originally founded in 1863 as Kansas State Agricultural College, the school was the nation's first operational land-grant university, with a mission of teaching agriculture, military tactics, mechanical arts and classical studies. Its main campus is in Manhattan, along with another outpost in Olathe, the Polytechnic Campus in Salina, and online courses serving students in all 50 states and more than 40 countries.

The Department of Diversity and Multicultural Student Affairs offers programming, intercultural learning and extracurricular activities to students from all walks of life, with the goal of building an inclusive campus climate. With more than 250 undergraduate majors and programs and 165-plus graduate degrees and certificates, learners can pursue their passions while having confidence in the school's high job placement rate for bachelor's and master's degrees.

At #5 is Dodge City Community College, often abbreviated as DC3. Founded in 1935 in response to the hardships of the Great Depression, its official motto is "In Quest of Truth." Tuition costs are kept low and financial aid is available, ensuring opportunities for people of all backgrounds. High school sophomores, juniors and seniors can get a head start on their college education by taking college-level courses through the Dual Credit & Concurrent Enrollment program.

The off-campus Adult Learning Center offers English as a Second Language to help non-native speakers, as well as GED prep courses. DC3 offers degree programs in fields as disparate as cosmetology, biology, and athletic training. Student housing is also available for those who wish to reside on-campus.

Finishing things up at #6 is the University of Nebraska Medical Center, located in the city of Omaha. More than 4,000 students attend its programs in medicine, biochemistry and molecular biology, psychiatry, pharmacology and experimental neuroscience, and many other graduate and postdoctoral opportunities. 29 medical residency programs offer experience and training in a variety of clinical settings including metropolitan, rural and regional centers.

Nearly half of Nebraska's physicians, dental professionals, pharmacists, bachelor-prepared nurses and allied health professionals have graduated from UNMC. Instruction is also given at additional campuses in Lincoln, Kearney, Norfolk, and Scottsbluff-Gering, which hosts dentistry and nursing programs.