The following community colleges are members of the Nebraska Community College Association. In 1971, the Nebraska Legislature began development on a plan to merge the vocational-technical schools and junior colleges. In July 1973, the Nebraska Community College system was established with legislation (LB 759) consolidating junior colleges and vocational/technical schools.[4]
Brownville College was organized in December, 1858, with Rev. Thomas W. Tipton as president. The college was short-lived and closed soon after in 1860. Thomas Tipton later became one of the first U.S. Senators for Nebraska.[5][6][7]
Cotner College was founded in 1889 by the Nebraska Christian Missionary Alliance and was affiliated with the Disciples of Christ. It was located in the then-independent town of Bethany Heights, Nebraska, which is now part of Lincoln. Bethany Heights was annexed by Lincoln in 1926 and Cotner College closed the Bethany Heights location in 1933.[10] However, Cotner College as an institution continued to exist in various forms, such as the Cotner School of Religion which operated two locations, one opened in 1945 across the street from the University of Nebraska—Lincoln's East Campus and the other opened in 1954 across the street from the University of Nebraska—Lincoln's Downtown Campus.[11] These locations allowed UNL students to minor in religious studies through dual enrollment at both Cotner and the University of Nebraska.[11] Upon the closure of its Bethany Heights location, the medical and dental departments were given over to the University of Nebraska, creating the foundation for those departments at the university.[12][11] Cotner Blvd. in Lincoln, Nebraska is named after the former college.
Founded in 1901, Broken Bow Normal & Business College opened in Broken Bow, Nebraska. It later morphed into the new Custer College, named for Custer County, in 1909. It was reported that Custer College closed its doors in 1916 for unexplained reasons.[13]
Founded in 1884 as a seminary for Lutheran ministry students and had remained a college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Midland University announced a plan to purchas the college in 2013. Midland backed out of the purchase and Dana College remained closed.[14]
Closed in 2018. Founded in 1943, Grace was originally intended as an interdenominational Bible institute where Christian men and women might further their theological training. In 2017, a large portion of the school's campus was sold to Omaha Public Schools and announced plans to move to Blair, Nebraska and occupy the former campus of Dana College, which folded in 2010. On October 3, 2017, however, Grace CEO Bill Bauhard announced that Grace University would halt operations at the end of the 2017–2018 academic year, citing financial and enrollment challenges.[15]
Grand Island College and Conservatory of Music, originally called Grand Island Academy, was founded by the Baptist Church of Nebraska in 1882. It closed in 1931 and merged with the University of Sioux Falls. Grand Island Senior High School now sits on the former college site.[16][17][18]
Grand Island Business and Normal College was founded in 1885 by professors Hargis, Rucker, and Evans. After a six-state newspaper advertisement campaign that continued until 1910, enrollment at the college grew strongly. Throughout the years, the college underwent several name changes; it was known as Grand Island School of Business and Spencer School of Business. The college became a not-for-profit college was renamed Grand Island College in 1996, but it closed shortly after in 1999 due to declining enrollment.[19][20]
Founded in 1965, Hiram Scott College was one of six colleges started by small-town businessmen on the model of Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa. The college struggled financially since its start, and closed soon after in 1972. The land and buildings were later acquired by the University of Nebraska in 1974 for its Panhandle Research and Extension Center.
John F. Kennedy College was founded in 1965 in Wahoo, Nebraska, one of six colleges started by small-town businessmen on the model of Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa. The college was named after President John F. Kennedy. Due to a drop in enrollment and financial difficulties following the end of the military conscription draft in 1973, Kennedy College closed in 1975. JFK College athletic teams became known for pioneering early intercollegiate women's athletics. The softball team won the first three Women's College World Series championships in 1969–71. The women's basketball team, winners of several AAU titles, helped to further the diplomatic thaw in Sino-American relations in 1973 by representing the U.S. on a tour of games in the People's Republic of China, which was the subject of an article in Sports Illustrated.
John J. Pershing College was founded in 1966 in Beatrice, Nebraska, one of six colleges started by small-town businessmen on the model of Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa. The college suffered from a lack of funding, high student turnover, and accreditation issues. Ultimately, none of the "Parsons Plan" colleges became economically viable, and all closed by the mid-1970s. Pershing College ceased operating in 1971, and its former site is now occupied by the Beatrice campus of Southeast Community College.
In 1892, Prof. F. F. Roose founded Lincoln Normal University, to provide "a practical and economical education in the western states."[21] It was located southeast of the Nebraska State Capitol where Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital now stands. Normal Blvd. in Lincoln, Nebraska is named for the former university.[22]
In 1884, Prof. F. F. Roose founded Lincoln Business College, which later merged with the Nebraska School of Business in 1925 to become the Lincoln School of Commerce. It occupied several locations in downtown Lincoln until ultimately moving to its last location on K Street in the 1960s. In April 1997, it was acquired by Educational Medical, Inc.[23] In 2004 the school was renamed the Lincoln campus of Iowa-based Hamilton College.[24][25] In October 2007, all of the Hamilton campuses were merged into Kaplan University.[26] In March 2018, it became the Lincoln campus of Purdue University Global.
In 1868, the Nebraska legislature chartered the Episcopal Nebraska College & Divinity School at Nebraska City. It was created out of the Talbot Hall boys school founded by Episcopal Bishop Robert Clarkston. In 1872 after a competition for students with Otoe University, also in Nebraska City, Nebraska College and Divinity School purchased Otoe University and moved its operations to that campus. The school closed in 1885 after Bishop George Worthington determined the school could no longer financially continue.[27]
Fontanelle, Nebraska was originally organized by the Nebraska Colonization Company, founded in Quincy, Illinois in 1854. The company's goal in founding the town was to develop "a literary institution which shall be known as the Nebraska University." The Nebraska Territory Legislature awarded a charter to the Nebraska University, also called Fontanelle University, in 1855, and the first building was erected in 1856. Operated by the Congregational Church the university flourished for several years. This was the first recorded college to exist in then Nebraska Territory.[27] When Fontanelle lost the county seat, leaders decided to move the university, and Doane College was organized in Crete, Nebraska in 1872.[28]
Otoe University was founded in 1859 by Nebraska Presbyterians. It was built on land that was purchased from Russell, Majors & Waddell Freight Co. on Sioux Street (which later became Fourth Avenue) between 13th and 14th Streets in Nebraska City. In 1872, Otoe University was closed and taken over by Nebraska College, which purchased the building and grounds and moved to the former Otoe University campus.[27]
^Recent Acquisitions[usurped], Nebraska History, Retrieved March 14, 2013 ("The Lincoln Business College was the predecessor to the Lincoln School of Commerce, which is now Hamilton College.")
