BELLEVUE, Neb.—Bellevue University has become the largest private college in the state by recruiting older students and offering many courses online.
More than half of Bellevue’s 7,792 students take classes online and might not even step foot on campus. But Bellevue’s headcount of full- and part-time students exceeds the 6,992 headcount at Creighton University, according to federal reports.
The state’s other private colleges are significantly smaller than Bellevue and Creighton. Doane College has 2,591 students, Nebraska Wesleyan University has 2,201 students, Concordia University has 1,317 students, Hastings College has 1,189 students, Midland Lutheran College has 957 students and College of Saint Mary has 910 students.
Bellevue opened in 1966 as a traditional school, although it offered many night classes to students who would start at Bellevue and then transfer to another college.
Bellevue provost Mary Hawkins said the school had to change to thrive.
“We either were going to beat our heads against a brick wall or rethink the model of a college,” Hawkins said. “We rethought the model.”
In the 1980s, Bellevue’s enrollment dipped as the state’s community college system improved.
In the spring of 1987, Bellevue’s board considered closing the college because it was short on money.
But Bellevue escaped bankruptcy and started building its first accelerated degree program for on adults wanting to finish a college degree quickly.
“It was a risk to offer the (accelerated) degrees,” said Del Stites, a philosophy professor who has taught at Bellevue for 38 years. “This school has had a willingness to take risks.”
Today students can complete their final two years of college work in 15 months, Hawkins said. Bellevue offers credit for previous work experience.
The college’s enrollment is also helped by job training programs. Hawkings said Bellevue designs training programs for area Omaha companies, including ConAgra Foods Inc. and PayPal.
Bellevue can create degree programs or classes specifically to meet a large company’s needs.
Now Hawkins said the future looks bright for Bellevue.
“I think our reputation is stronger now than it’s ever been,” she said.
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