It’s been a record-breaking year at the College of Business with remarkable accomplishments and collaborations. Your generous support played a pivotal role in our success, and together, we are making a profound impact on the lives of our students and our greater community.
Celebrating Milestones
This year, we celebrate the 60th anniversary of our Master of Business Administration program, which has continually adapted to meet the evolving needs of our students. Ranked No. 7 in the nation and No. 1 in Nebraska by the Princeton Review in July, our MBA continues to offer an exceptionally high return on investment. Our graduates report starting salaries over $140,000, while we’ve strategically kept tuition under $34,000.
We honored the 100th anniversary of our first actuarial science students. Otto Gross, ’28, and friends convinced Professor Floyd Harper to teach them actuarial math in 1924, planting the first seeds of a program at Nebraska. To honor his father, Gary Gross provided a $100,000 matching gift for our current actuarial science program.
This fall, we ranked No. 30 among public universities for undergraduate business programs by the U.S. News & World Report.
Breaking Enrollment Records
This fall, we welcomed our largest class of first-year students in our history, with an impressive 11.1% increase in first-time freshmen. Bolstered by a 13.9% increase in Nebraska residents, this class experienced significant gains in business and law, actuarial science, accounting and finance, as well as international students. Our overall student body grew to nearly 4,400, a 3.1% increase.
Our graduate enrollment also grew by 8.5% to 573 students, led by a 22% increase in online MBA students. Bringing an average of 7.5 years of work experience, the new MBA students also increased the program’s representation of women by 14% and those serving in the military by 15%.
Growing a world-class business school is a collaborative effort. Being a school that students want to attend — and graduates want to return to — is a credit to our dedicated and passionate faculty, staff, alumni and friends.
Fostering a Strong Community
Underscoring our commitment to student success and building community, the college also achieved a record retention rate of 87.2% for students returning for their sophomore year this fall. Our students benefit from one-on-one interactions and peer-to-peer mentoring programs through academic advising, career coaching and free tutoring. Every first-year student also receives coaching on how to excel using their natural talents.
We’ve also created specialized programs to provide support and resources like the Inclusive Business Leaders, a cohort-based program for first-year business students who are committed to making the college and the field of business more inclusive for all; Entrepreneurship Catalysts, a cohort-based program open to any university major to explore entrepreneurial potential; and Nebraska Business Honors Academy, a four-year cohort-based, enhanced business curriculum for high-ability students (like Trevor Lockard).
Thanks to your support, we also awarded a new high of $1.45 million in scholarships enabling students to focus on their education and engage in valuable experiences outside of the classroom, including internships and competitions (like Emily Krupicka). There is a direct correlation between scholarships awarded and the success of our student recruitment and retention efforts. Our alumni and friends — those who didn’t necessarily earn degrees from Nebraska — have strong Husker ties and they want to make an impact on our students and our college through their philanthropy. We are grateful.
Innovating Curriculum and Partnerships
To keep the momentum going, we launched a new major in business analytics this fall, equipping our students to turn data into actionable insights. We kicked off the Ameritas Emerging Leaders Academy in October and the Business in Action Job Shadow Program for students to explore career paths.
We worked with University of Nebraska business schools and the College of Engineering to launch our Coursera Career Academy, a workforce development initiative to offer corporate certifications. Faculty can embed modules in their courses while MBA alums can earn additional credentials.
The University of Nebraska Foundation and the college joined forces with Husker Rebekah Allick, management major from Lincoln to continue to build awareness about our Only in Nebraska Campaign. Publicly launched in 2022, our campaign goal is $148 million over a 10-year period, and we recently just surpassed the $85 million mark.
The future is bright for Nebraska Business. Together, we can sustain this momentum and empower our students to achieve their dreams. I invite you to join us, whether through funding scholarships, mentoring or participating in upcoming events.
Thank you for your unwavering support. Together, we are building business leaders like only Nebraska can.
Kathy Farrell