Nebraska
Nebraska: A Step By Step Guide To Obtain State Approval For A Private Post Secondary Institution
Licensing Agency
Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education (CCPE) – Division of State Authorization & Program Review
Degree-Granting Institutions
Process
- Determine Exemption Status – Verify whether the school is subject to the Postsecondary Institution Act. Exclusively religious schools, employer-only programs, and trade-board–licensed entities are exempt; all others require Commission authorization.
- Pre-Application Meeting – Arrange an orientation call with CCPE staff. Requirements, surety-bond formula, and review timelines are explained.
- Prepare Application Materials – Compile a single PDF with:
• Articles of incorporation, Nebraska registered-agent filing, governing-board roster
• Five-year strategic plan with enrollment and revenue projections
• Proof of accreditation (or candidacy) or signed affiliation agreement with an accredited partner
• Program inventory (degree titles, credit hours, outcomes) and draft catalog pages
• Faculty vitae and qualification matrix
• Campus lease/deed, floor plans, fire/occupancy permits
• Latest audited financials or start-up capitalization proving six months’ reserves
• Surety bond equaling ten percent of first-year projected Nebraska tuition (minimum $100,000) - Online Application – Complete the CCPE “Application for Authorization to Operate” form, upload the PDF, and email to the State Authorization analyst; mail the original bond to CCPE within five business days.
- Fees Payment – Submit a $1,500 institutional filing fee plus $250 per proposed degree by check or ACH at submission.
- Review & Evaluation – Staff screen for completeness, then enlist two peer reviewers per discipline. Reviewers examine curriculum, faculty, and resources; a site visit is arranged if facilities are unverified.
- Additional Review – If chartered outside Nebraska, file a Certificate of Authority with the Secretary of State before the Commission issues authorization.
- Licensure Decision – The Coordinating Commission votes at its next quarterly meeting. Approval is issued as a Provisional Authorization (up to three years). Once accreditation is confirmed and graduates complete, a Regular Authorization (five-year term) is awarded.
- Continuous Compliance – Institutions may operate only the degrees and locations listed on the certificate. Changes—new programs, relocations, ownership transfers—require prior CCPE approval; annual reports are due July 1.
- Renewal – Every five years submit a renewal application, updated bond, accreditation evidence, latest audit, and pay a $1,000 renewal fee plus $150 per active program.
Checklist of Required Items
• Completed CCPE application form
• Accreditation certificate or candidacy letter / affiliation agreement
• Governance documents and registered-agent filing
• Five-year strategic and financial plan
• Audited financials or capitalization proof
• Surety bond (≥ 10 % projected tuition / $100 k minimum)
• Catalog, curricula, learning-outcome maps
• Faculty CVs and qualification chart
• Facility lease/deed, safety permits
• Institutional liability-insurance certificate
• Filing fee $1,500 + $250 per degree
Fees & Timelines
Total timeline: 4-6 months from complete submission to Commission vote.
Agency Contact
Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education
Attn: State Authorization & Program Review
Director: Dr. Kathleen Fimple – 402-471-0030
140 N 8th Street, Suite 300, Lincoln, NE 68509
Vocational and Career Schools (Non-Degree)
Licensing Agency
Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) – Private Postsecondary Career Schools Section
Process
- Confirm Coverage – Any private school offering occupational certificates or diplomas to the public must obtain an NDE Career School License unless it qualifies for an exemption.
- Initial Consultation – Contact the Career Schools Section for a start-up packet and bond calculation worksheet; staff outline statutory requirements and inspection scheduling.
- Prepare Application Materials – Assemble an “Initial Career School License” packet containing:
• NDE license application form, signed and notarized
• Ownership disclosure and organizational chart
• Proof of business registration and liability insurance
• Program outlines with clock hours, course descriptions, textbooks, equipment lists, and learning objectives
• Instructor résumés showing minimum three years’ recent occupational experience or state trade licenses
• School catalog and student-enrollment contract with admissions, refund, attendance, grading, and grievance policies
• Facility floor plan, local fire-marshal inspection, and ADA compliance statement
• Three-year operating budget or reviewed financials
• Surety bond equal to the greater of $20,000 or ten percent of projected first-year tuition revenue - Online Application – Submit the complete packet via NDE’s secure upload portal; mail the original surety bond and $100 fee to the Career Schools Section.
- Fees Payment – Pay a $100 initial license fee (check payable to “Nebraska Department of Education”). Additional curricula added later cost $25 per program.
- Review & Evaluation – NDE staff conduct a desk review for completeness, then schedule an on-site inspection to verify classrooms, labs, equipment, safety compliance, and student-records systems; inspectors interview instructors and review advertising materials for accuracy.
- Licensure Decision – If standards are met, NDE issues a Provisional Career School License valid for one year. During this period, the school must achieve baseline outcomes (at least 60 % completion and 70 % placement) and demonstrate adherence to refund policies.
- Continuous Compliance – Licensed schools must:
• Maintain the surety bond at required levels, renewing annually before June 30
• File quarterly enrollment and tuition-refund reports
• Submit all new advertising to NDE for approval before publication
• Retain student records for a minimum of five years; transcripts permanently
• Notify NDE of staff or curriculum changes within ten business days - Renewal – Annually by June 1 submit the renewal application, updated catalog, instructor list, audited or reviewed financials, proof of bond continuation, placement statistics, and pay a $100 renewal fee. NDE conducts a site inspection every three years; non-compliant schools may be placed on probation or have licenses revoked.
Checklist of Required Items
• NDE career-school application form
• Ownership and management roster
• Nebraska business registration certificate
• School catalog and enrollment contract
• Detailed program curricula and equipment lists
• Instructor résumés and trade licenses
• Facility floor plan and fire-safety approval
• Audited or reviewed financials / start-up budget
• Surety bond (≥ $20,000 or 10 % tuition)
• Liability-insurance certificate
• Initial license fee $100
Fees & Timelines
State Exemptions
- Religious Institutions – Nonprofit schools controlled by a recognized church or religious organization that offer exclusively religious instruction and award only theological or ministry-related degrees or diplomas.
- Employer-Only Training – Programs delivered solely to a company’s employees or members at no tuition charge to the general public.
- Board-Licensed Trade Schools – Institutions already overseen by a Nebraska licensing board (cosmetology, massage therapy, truck driving, etc.) do not require duplicate CCPE or NDE approval for those programs.
- Avocational / Recreational Education – Courses offered purely for personal enrichment or leisure, where no occupational credential is granted.
Institutions operating within an exemption category must remain strictly within its limits; expansion into secular degree programs or public vocational offerings triggers the applicable CCPE or NDE licensing process described above.
For personalized guidance on navigating the authorization process for your private post secondary institution in Nebraska, reach out to Expert Education Consultants (EEC) at +19252089037 or email sandra@experteduconsult.com
