Colleges and universities in Nebraska offer a wide variety of accounting programs, from broad undergraduate accounting majors to specialized master’s degrees. This overview of accounting schools in Nebraska provides important information about your options so that you can decide on a program that best fits your schedule and career goals. Continue reading below to learn more about accounting program rankings, professional licensure, and career and salary outlooks in Nebraska.

Table of Contents

Comparison of Nebraska Accounting Schools and Programs

The table below provides detailed information on not-for-profit accounting programs in Nebraska to help you compare your options. Programs that appear in bold text offer hybrid or online options.

SchoolAccreditationAccounting Degree(s)Acceptance Rate10Grad Rate1Avg Net Price1Median Debt*10Median Earnings 10 Years After Entry**10
Bellevue UniversityIACBEBS-Accounting;
Minor-Accounting;
Minor-Tax;
MBA-Accounting;
MBA-Tax;
MS-Accounting		N.Av.41%$24,767$20,000$60,600
Chadron State CollegeACBSPBABA-Accounting;
MBA-Accounting		N.Av.44%$15,727$18,875$45,041
Concordia University-NebraskaIACBEBS-Accounting;
Minor-Accounting;
MBA-Accounting		84.8%59%$23,067$25,750$48,132
Creighton UniversityAACSBBSBA-Accounting;
Accelerated BSBA-Accounting/MAcc;
MAcc;
MBA-Accounting		77.8%78%$32,877$25,000$71,997
Doane University—BA-Accounting;
BBA-Accounting;
Minor-Accounting		77.2%61%$24,271$25,000$51,072
Hastings College—BA-Accounting;
Minor-Accounting		70.9%55%$22,128$27,000$49,768
Midland University—BSBA-Accounting;
Grad Cert-Accounting		63.8%44%$22,377$26,134$52,834
Nebraska Wesleyan University—BA-Accounting;
BS-Accounting;
Minor-Accounting;
5-Year Accelerated Bachelor’s/MBA		81.8%59%$25,201$26,970$55,906
Union College—BSBA-Accounting98.5%56%$23,462$27,000$49,289
University of Nebraska at KearneyAACSBBSBA-Accounting;
5-Year Accounting: CPA Track (Dual BSBA/MBA);
MBA-Accounting		90.3%54%$16,564$19,500$48,453
University of Nebraska at OmahaAACSBBSBA-Accounting;
MAcc-Financial Reporting and Auditing;
MAcc-Generalist;
MAcc-Information Analysis;
MAcc-Strategic Management Accounting		87.3%49%$12,973$19,000$51,972
University of Nebraska-LincolnAACSBBSBA-Accounting;
Minor-Accounting;
MPAcc;
PhD-Business: Accountancy		81.1%65%$16,805$21,000$55,689
Wayne State CollegeIACBEBABA-Accounting;
BSBA-Accounting;
MBA-Accounting		N.Av.51%$14,271$19,000$46,143
York University—BBA-Accounting61.8%43%$17,835$21,500$40,076

Table Notes:
*Median Debt: The median debt is the cumulative federal loan debt, excluding PLUS loans, at the time of graduation for students who completed an undergraduate program (certificate, associate, or bachelor’s degree) as reported by College Scorecard for academic year 2020-2021 based on ​​National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) data.
**Median Earnings 10 Years After Entry: Median earnings are the middle value of earnings, at which half earned more and half earned less, measured 10 years (2020-2021) after the first year of study (2010-2011) for all students, institution-wide, who received federal loans and who are employed but not enrolled in school. Note that this value includes those who completed their program of study as well as those who discontinued study without receiving an award.

Top-Ranked Accounting Schools in Nebraska

College rankings can be a useful tool to measure the overall reputation of a school or program. Weighing multiple rankings when evaluating your college choices can be helpful because different publishers may use different ranking factors in their methodologies. While the best program for your goals may rely on a combination of factors not typically considered in overall rankings, such as location or funding, seeing a program ranked on multiple lists can be a strong indication of reputation and academic quality.

College Factual’s Best Accounting Schools 2023

  • Creighton University (#66)
  • University of Nebraska-Lincoln (#95)2

US News & World Report’s Best Online Bachelor’s in Business Programs 2023

  • University of Nebraska at Omaha (#32 tie)5

US News & World Report’s Best Undergrad Accounting Programs 2022-2023

  • Creighton University (#28 tie)6

Highest First-Time CPA Exam Pass Rate with a Bachelor’s Degree

The National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) releases a report including data on candidate performance on the Uniform CPA Exam.11 The following schools had the highest first-time CPA exam pass rates in Nebraska in 2019 (the most recent report available*) for candidates with a bachelor’s degree, with the overall pass rate for first-time test-takers in Nebraska being 68.0%:

  1. University of Nebraska-Lincoln 78.5%
  2. Creighton University 75.0%
  3. Nebraska Wesleyan University 69.7%
  4. University of Nebraska-Omaha 67.4%
  5. Wayne State College 57.1%
  6. University of Nebraska at Kearney 51.6%

*As NASBA makes significant changes to the CPA Exam as part of the CPA Evolution initiative, new candidate score reports by state are not anticipated until at least mid-2024.

Schools in Nebraska with Accounting Degrees

To give you an idea of the breadth and depth of accounting degrees offered in Nebraska, we have profiled select programs below. Be sure to visit the websites of programs of interest for more detailed information on courses, admissions requirements and deadlines, and faculty.

Graduate Accounting Programs

Creighton University

The Heider College of Business at Creighton University offers an AACSB-accredited Master of Accounting (MAcc) degree. The curriculum meets the educational requirements for CPA licensure and prepares graduates to sit for the examination. Students take a core set of graduate business and accounting courses and then choose from electives such as Advanced Taxation, Current Issues in Accounting, and Advanced Cost Accounting. Coursework gives students the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in the accounting field and in business management positions. Graduate applicants without an academic accounting background may need to complete some required courses before beginning the program. Graduates are prepared to work in a wide range of roles, from accountant or tax manager to financial analyst or auditor. Creighton University also offers an undergraduate Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) in Accounting degree. Undergraduates in the BSBA Accounting program can enroll in the accelerated BSBA-Accounting/MAcc program, which allows students to complete both degrees in five years.

University of Nebraska Omaha

At the College of Business Administration at the University of Nebraska Omaha (UNO), students can earn an AACSB-accredited Master of Accounting (MAcc) degree. This master’s program is ideal for those interested in careers that require advanced accounting knowledge. The 30-credit MAcc consists of 15 hours of core accounting courses, six hours of contemporary business environment courses, and nine hours of elective courses. UNO offers four possible concentrations: Financial Reporting and Auditing, Strategic Management Accounting, Information Analysis, and Generalist. Electives are typically chosen based on concentration. Students learn a set of technical accounting skills along with a broad understanding of business and finance concepts. Applicants without an undergraduate accounting degree can apply for admission but may need to complete additional prerequisites before beginning the program.

Online and Hybrid Accounting Programs

Bellevue University

Bellevue University offers a 36-credit Master of Science in Accounting (MSA) with optional concentrations in Finance or Tax. The degree can be completed at the Bellevue campus or online as both formats of this IACBE-accredited program have the same curriculum. The program is designed to prepare students for real-world accounting scenarios and coursework in the MSA program can be applied towards the Uniform CPA Exam education requirements. Graduates may find employment as accountants, controllers, or auditors in public, private, or nonprofit institutions. All students complete 27 credits in accounting, such as Advanced Cost Accounting, Taxation of Business Entities, and Advanced Auditing, as well as nine credits from the MBA curriculum including Business Analysis for Decision-Making and Financial Management & Strategy. Undergraduate students at Bellevue have the option of completing some of the required coursework during their final year of study. A 36-credit Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Accounting is also offered online or on-campus.

University of Nebraska at Kearney

At the University of Nebraska at Kearney, aspiring CPAs can complete an AACSB-accredited Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Accounting through a hybrid of online and on-campus classes. The degree comprises 33 credits including 18 credits of business core courses and 15 credits of electives. While many core courses are available online, accounting concentration students must take at least one elective on-campus to meet the degree requirements. Classes are held synchronously requiring students to attend at specific times either on-campus or through web conferencing technology. Examples of accounting electives include Tax Accounting, Government/Nonprofit Accounting, and Advanced Auditing. The program seeks to improve critical thinking and problem-solving skills as well as prepare graduates for rapid changes in the US and global business economies. Applications are accepted from students with a bachelor’s degree in any subject although prerequisites may be required for applicants with a non-business bachelor’s degree.

Nebraska CPA Requirements and Steps

The Nebraska Board of Public Accountancy (the Board) requires that CPA applicants have at least a bachelor’s degree and 150 applicable semester hours from an accredited institution. The state has a two-tiered system that requires aspiring CPAs to first earn a Certificate to Practice followed by a Permit to Practice. There are seven main steps to complete in order to earn a full CPA license in Nebraska.

  1. Complete 150 semester hours of college-level education in accounting.
  2. Pass the Uniform CPA Examination.
  3. Pass the NBPA ethics exam and the AICPA ethics course and exam.
  4. Apply for a CPA Certificate.
  5. Accumulate the required hours of experience.
  6. Apply for an Initial Permit to Practice.
  7. Receive your Active Permit to Practice.

1. Complete 150 semester hours of college-level education in accounting.

Nebraska CPA candidates must complete 150 semester hours of postsecondary education that includes the award of a bachelor’s degree. The 150 hours must include 30 semester hours of upper-level undergraduate and/or graduate accounting courses beyond accounting principles covering the following subjects:

  • Accounting information systems
  • Auditing
  • Cost and managerial accounting
  • Financial accounting theory and problems
  • Governmental and not-for-profit accounting
  • Tax preparation and planning

Candidates must also take 30 semester hours in general business courses covering at least the following topics:

  • Business ethics
  • Business law
  • Finance
  • Macroeconomics
  • Management
  • Marketing
  • Microeconomics
  • Principles of accounting

The remaining 90 semester hours may be taken from a range of subjects or general business topics and must include at a minimum:

  • Oral and written communication skills
  • Mathematics
  • Arts, natural sciences, social sciences or humanities
  • Statistics

2. Pass the Uniform CPA Examination.

The Nebraska Board of Public Accountancy uses the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) to administer the Uniform CPA Exam testing process. Candidates may apply to take the exam at any time after completing their bachelor’s degree through the NASBA website. Once an application is approved, the candidate will receive a Notice to Schedule to schedule and take the exam. All four sections of the exam must be passed within a 30-month rolling period.

3. Pass the NBPA ethics exam and the AICPA ethics course and exam.

Prospective Nebraska CPAs must successfully pass the NBPA ethics exam administered by the Board. This open-book exam tests applicants’ knowledge of state rules and regulations related to accountancy. Applicants must also pass the AICPA ethics examination. The materials for this examination and self-study course can be ordered directly through AICPA.

4. Apply for a CPA Certificate.

After completing the educational requirements and ethics exams and receiving notification of a passing score on the Uniform CPA Exam, the next step is to apply to the Board for a certificate to practice. The certificate to practice is needed in order to complete the required experience hours for a full license. Candidates can access the Application for CPA Certificate Issuance on the Board’s website.

5. Accumulate the required hours of experience.

Candidates for a Nebraska CPA license must complete at least two years and up to three years of professional experience, depending on the experience type and employer. Experience can consist of:

  • Two years (4,000 hours) of experience in the Nebraska Department of Revenue and/or the Nebraska Auditor of Public Accounts; or
  • Three years (6,000 hours) of experience in private industry, government or academia; or
  • Three years (6,000 hours) of experience across the Nebraska Department of Revenue and/or the Nebraska Auditor of Public Accounts and private industry, government or academia

Experience must be earned within the 10 years preceding the license application to be considered.

6. Apply for an Initial Permit to Practice.

Once the experience requirements have been met, prospective CPAs must complete an Initial Permit to Practice application and supporting documentation of their experience. The forms to document experience are available on the Board’s website and candidates must contact the Board to request the application form.

7. Receive your Active Permit to Practice.

It can take up to six weeks for the Board to review a completed application. When the application has been approved, an Active Permit to Practice will be mailed. Once received, the permit must be displayed in a prominent location where the individual practices. An applicant may not use the CPA designation until the permit is received.

CPA License Renewal and Continuing Education Information

Active Permits to Practice expire biennially on June 30. Licensed CPAs in Nebraska must complete 80 hours of continuing professional education (CPE), including four hours of ethics training, during each two-year CPE period, which ends December 31. Initial permits issued after July 1 only require 40 CPE hours to renew in the first year. CPE hours must be reported by January 31 of the following year. All training should be completed through a CPE organization approved by the Board; otherwise, pre-approval may be required. The Board recommends that any CPA who performs audits, reviews, or compilations complete at least 40% of the required CPE hours in Accounting and Auditing coursework, although this is not a requirement. Additional information about CPE requirements is available on the Board’s website.

Career Opportunities for Accounting Graduates in Nebraska

Nebraska has several career opportunities available for accounting program graduates in both the public and private sectors. There are a large number of state and local government agencies that keep many accounting specialists on their staff. Large accounting firms like Ernst & Young and Deloitte are located in the state and often hire local graduates for both internships and full-time positions. Large companies such as ConAgra or Papillion Foods are also based in Omaha and may offer accounting and tax specialist roles. Graduates can also choose an entrepreneurial path by starting their own CPA firms or small businesses in Nebraska.

Nebraska Accounting Salary and Jobs by Metro Area

Metro AreaAccountants & Auditors Employed12Average Annual Salary12
Grand Island330$71,350
Lincoln1,810$69,030
Omaha-Council Bluffs NE-IA4,840$76,530
Sioux City IA-NE-SD560$73,690

Additional Resources

Top Accounting Firms for Graduates in Nebraska

  • Lutz & Company, PC: A locally-owned CPA firm with four offices across Nebraska, including Omaha, Lincoln, and Hastings
  • Bland & Associates P.C.: An award-winning full-service accounting and business firm based in Omaha.
  • FORVIS CPAs & Advisors: A national accounting firm with expertise in related fields, such as risk management and valuation services.

Nebraska Accounting Associations

References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. College Factual Best Accounting Schools 2023: https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/accounting/rankings/top-ranked/
3. The Princeton Review. The Best 382 Colleges 2023 Edition. Penguin Random House, 2022.
4. US News & World Report’s Best MBA Accounting Programs: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-business-schools/accounting-rankings
5. US News & World Report’s Best Online Bachelor’s in Business Programs 2023: https://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/bachelors/online-bachelors-business-rankings
6. US News & World Report’s Best Undergraduate Accounting Programs: https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/business-accounting
7. Association to Advance College Schools of Business, Accredited Universities and Schools, Business & Accounting: https://www.aacsb.edu/accredited
8. Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs, Accredited Schools, Separate Accounting: https://acbspsearch.org/
9. International Accreditation Council for Business Education, Members: https://iacbe.org/accreditation/member-status-information/
10. Department of Education College Scorecard: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/
11. The NASBA Candidate Performance Report, 2019 University Edition: https://nasbareport.com/
12. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics, May 2022 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, Nebraska: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_ne.htm
13. Nebraska Board of Public Accountancy: https://nbpa.nebraska.gov/