Best Bachelor's Computer Engineering Degree Programs in Nebraska
University of Nebraska-Lincoln — Lincoln, NE
Key Distinction: Hands-on integrated hardware/software system design focus. ABET accreditation
Hakia Insight: UNL's dual-campus model (Lincoln and Omaha) lets students access both the Power and Energy Systems Lab and urban aerospace/defense contractor proximity without transferring, creating a built-in advantage for students targeting Midwest power utilities and defense contractors.
The Computer Engineering BS program at UNL offers comprehensive hands-on integrated hardware/software system design education across Lincoln and Omaha campuses. The curriculum emphasizes practical system-level design with strong mathematical foundations, digital logic, programming, and experimental design. Students must complete professional admission requirements after sophomore year, including C+ grades in core courses and 2.5 GPA. The program is ABET-accredited and focuses on developing engineers who view computer systems as integrated technologies. Graduates are prepared for careers in commerce, industry, and government, with strong emphasis on collaboration with professionals across disciplines. The program develops skills in quick adaptation to new environments, problem-solving, and lifelong learning. Students gain opportunities for involvement in professional organizations like ACM, UPE, and IEEE, building connections for future career collaboration and professional development.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering — 4 years, on-campus. BS
Research Labs and Institutes
- Power and Energy Systems Laboratory
- Wireless Communications and Networking Laboratory
- Intelligent Ubiquitous Computing Laboratory
- IMAGES Lab
- OtuLab
- Complex Materials Optics Network
- Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience
Industry Partners
- Interactive Information R&D (spin-off)
- J. A. Woollam Co. (spin-off)
Notable Faculty
- Dr. Yongfeng Lu — Laser processing and optical systems
- Dr. John Woollam — Ellipsometry and optical characterization
- Dr. Mathias Schubert — Materials characterization and optics
- Dr. Benjamin Riggan — Image processing and computer vision
- Dr. Wei Qiao — Electrical engineering and power systems
- Dr. Craig Zuhlke — Engineering research
- Dr. Lance C. Pérez — Electrical and computer engineering
Admissions
GPA Requirement: 2.5 minimum for professional admission.
Requirements: C+ in CSCE 230 and CSCE 310, C in ECEN 215, Minimum 2.5 GPA for professional admission, Complete professional admission process after sophomore year
Accreditations and Certifications
Location Advantages: Proximity to agricultural equipment manufacturers and precision agriculture sectorAccess to power utilities and renewable energy projectsRegional strength in agricultural technology innovation
University of Nebraska at Omaha — Omaha, NE
Key Distinction: UNO's computer engineering program uniquely integrates cybersecurity and critical infrastructure focus throughout its curriculum, supported by active federal research partnerships.
Hakia Insight: UNO's curriculum-wide cybersecurity integration—not an elective track, but woven through digital design and embedded systems coursework—aligns with the region's federal contractor presence in a way that makes graduates immediately deployable for critical infrastructure roles.
At the bachelor's level, UNO's computer engineering program is anchored in cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection, reflecting both institutional research strengths and the region's strategic importance. The program houses research clusters focused on network security, secure embedded systems, and resilient computing, giving undergraduates early opportunities to contribute to funded projects. Faculty maintain active partnerships with federal agencies and defense contractors, and the curriculum integrates security principles throughout the core sequence rather than isolating them in electives. Students benefit from access to UNO's School of Interdisciplinary Informatics, which bridges computer engineering with data science and informatics—an increasingly valuable combination in modern practice. The program's location in the Omaha metro area provides internship and employment connections with government contractors, financial institutions, and telecommunications firms. Capstone projects frequently involve real security challenges from industry partners, and many graduates transition directly into cybersecurity-focused roles or embedded systems positions requiring security expertise.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering — 4 years, on-campus
- Bachelor of Arts in Computer Engineering — 4 years, online
Research Labs and Institutes
- Big Data Computing Lab
- bricks Lab
- BRIDGE Lab: Bridging Research in Innovation, DesiGn, and Education
- Data Science Lab
- LASER Lab: Laboratory for Advanced Software Engineering Research
- NLPKR Lab: Knowledge Representation and Natural Language Understanding
- R.N.A. Lab: Robotics, Networking and Artificial Intelligence
- WINDS Lab: Wireless Infrastructure for Network of Distributed Sensors
Notable Faculty
- Dr. Parvathi Chundi — Big data computing and information extraction from large datasets
- Dr. Brian Ricks — Virtual reality and crowd simulation for human safety
- Dr. Yuliya Lierler — Natural language understanding and automated reasoning
- Dr. Pei-Chi Huang — Robotics and artificial intelligence
- Dr. Jong-Hoon Youn — Wireless sensor networks for medical applications
- Dr. Harvey Siy — Advanced software engineering research
- Dr. Mahadevan Subramaniam — Computer Science
Accreditations and Certifications
Location Advantages: Proximity to Omaha government and defense contractor presenceAccess to federal cybersecurity research partnerships
Hastings College — Hastings, NE
Key Distinction: Hastings College's computer engineering program prioritizes personalized education and broad technical foundations within a small liberal arts context, rather than specialization or research focus.
Hakia Insight: Hastings College's intentional positioning as a small liberal arts program rather than a research powerhouse means you're not competing with graduate students for lab access; instead, you're the priority for faculty mentorship and hands-on projects from day one.
At the bachelor's level, hastings College's computer engineering program serves a primarily residential, liberal arts-focused student body and emphasizes individual student development and broad technical literacy over specialized research depth. The curriculum integrates core computer engineering concepts—digital logic, microprocessors, embedded systems—with a strong general education foundation and opportunities for interdisciplinary application. Class sizes remain small, fostering close faculty-student mentorship and direct laboratory experience with hardware platforms and design tools. Graduates are prepared for entry-level positions in embedded systems, systems support, and technical roles at small-to-medium enterprises and regional offices of larger companies. The program does not maintain dedicated research labs, but faculty actively mentor student projects and capstone work. Hastings' location in rural Nebraska positions students for internship and employment opportunities in regional manufacturing, telecommunications, and utility sectors, while many graduates also relocate to larger tech centers. The program is best suited for students seeking a well-rounded engineering education within a supportive, intimate academic environment rather than a research-intensive or specialized track.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering — 4 years, on-campus
- Bachelor of Arts in Computer Engineering — 4 years, online
Accreditations and Certifications
Location Advantages: Regional employment in manufacturing, telecommunications, and utilities
Concordia University-Nebraska — Seward, NE
Key Distinction: Values-integrated engineering education emphasizing ethical leadership and interdisciplinary problem-solving alongside technical depth.
Hakia Insight: Concordia's values-integrated mission isn't window dressing—it structures how the program teaches problem-solving, meaning graduates distinguish themselves in interviews not just by technical competence but by articulating why the problems they solve matter ethically.
At the bachelor's level, concordia's computer engineering program roots itself in the school's broader mission of preparing graduates for both technical excellence and ethical leadership in technology. The curriculum emphasizes fundamental design principles and problem-solving approaches that remain relevant across evolving industry landscapes, rather than chasing the latest tools. Students engage in interdisciplinary projects that often bridge engineering and humanities perspectives—a distinctive approach at the undergraduate level. Faculty prioritize mentorship and accessibility; upper-level courses remain small enough for substantive student-faculty interaction around design challenges and research questions. Graduates enter the field not only with competent technical skills but also with developed judgment about technology's broader implications—a quality employers increasingly value.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering — 4 years, on-campus
- Bachelor of Arts in Computer Engineering — 4 years, online
Accreditations and Certifications
Location Advantages:
Creighton University — Omaha, NE
Key Distinction: Creighton's computer engineering program stands out for its low student-to-faculty ratios and emphasis on mentorship combined with rigorous project-based learning in embedded systems and digital design.
Hakia Insight: Creighton's low student-to-faculty ratios in embedded systems and digital design labs mean you get the mentorship intensity of a tiny program paired with proximity to Omaha's aerospace and healthcare IT sectors—two industries that reward depth over breadth.
At the bachelor's level, creighton's computer engineering program emphasizes a hands-on, project-based curriculum where students engage with embedded systems, digital design, and signal processing from sophomore year onward. The program benefits from Creighton's Jesuit educational philosophy, which prioritizes mentorship and ethical reasoning alongside technical depth—faculty work closely with cohorts of 20–30 students per class rather than teaching large lectures. Students have access to modern digital design labs, FPGA platforms, and embedded systems workstations where they build real hardware projects. The program maintains strong connections with Omaha's growing tech sector, including companies in healthcare IT, financial services, and aerospace, creating internship and placement pathways. Graduates commonly pursue roles in firmware development, hardware design, and systems integration, with many staying in the Midwest or relocating to Silicon Valley and Austin tech hubs. The curriculum also incorporates a capstone design project in the senior year where teams solve real-world engineering problems for local industry sponsors, providing both portfolio-building experience and direct industry exposure.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering — 4 years, on-campus
- Bachelor of Arts in Computer Engineering — 4 years, online
Accreditations and Certifications
Location Advantages: Proximity to Omaha healthcare IT and financial services sectorAccess to Midwest aerospace and defense contractors
Doane University — Crete, NE
Key Distinction: Intimate, project-driven curriculum with flexible specialization tracks and early research involvement for undergraduates.
Hakia Insight: Doane's flexibility to customize specialization tracks mid-degree combined with early undergraduate research access compresses the learning curve that typically doesn't begin until grad school, letting you discover your research niche by junior year.
At the bachelor's level, doane's computer engineering program operates within a smaller, highly collaborative liberal-arts-informed environment where students benefit from direct faculty access and flexible curricular pathways. The program integrates core engineering principles with opportunities to tailor specializations—whether toward robotics, digital signal processing, or systems design—early in the student's journey. Doane emphasizes the connection between engineering fundamentals and their real-world applications through project-based learning that often extends into senior capstone work with regional partners. Students graduate with not only technical depth but also communication and leadership skills developed through small cohorts and mentored research experiences. The school's size means less hierarchy in lab access; undergraduates often contribute to ongoing faculty projects rather than waiting for senior status.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering — 4 years, on-campus
- Bachelor of Arts in Computer Engineering — 4 years, online
Location Advantages:
Best Master's Computer Engineering Degree Programs in Nebraska
University of Nebraska-Lincoln — Lincoln, NE
Key Distinction: Thesis vs coursework track options (Option A thesis-based, Option B coursework-only). Graduate assistantships available with stipends and tuition waivers
Hakia Insight: UNL's Option B coursework-only track with graduate assistantships means working professionals can earn a master's without the thesis bottleneck, while still tapping the Power and Energy Systems Lab—the fast credential for practitioners, not researchers.
The M.S. in Computer Science with Computer Engineering Specialization offers working professionals two distinct tracks: Option A (thesis track) for research-oriented careers requiring 30 credits including 6-9 thesis credits, and Option B (coursework track) for terminal degree seekers requiring 30 credits with 15 graduate-only course credits. Both options require 3 core courses and 3 breadth courses across three specialized tracks: Circuits and Cyber-Physical Interfaces, Systems, and Communications/Networking/Signal Processing. The program accommodates professionals with flexible scheduling through evening and weekend course offerings. Students benefit from graduate assistantships with competitive stipends and tuition waivers. The curriculum embeds industry-relevant skills in VLSI design, embedded systems, IoT, cybersecurity, and wireless networks. Strong industry partnerships provide capstone project opportunities with real companies. Graduates typically see 25-40% salary increases over bachelor's level, with mid-career salaries ranging $95,000-$130,000. The program accepts students with strong backgrounds in computer engineering, electrical engineering, or computer science, making it accessible for career advancement.
Programs Offered
- Master of Science in Computer Science (Computer Engineering Specialization) — 1-2 years, on-campus. MS
Research Labs and Institutes
- Power and Energy Systems Laboratory
- Wireless Communications and Networking Laboratory
- Intelligent Ubiquitous Computing Laboratory
- IMAGES Lab
- OtuLab
- Complex Materials Optics Network
- Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience
Industry Partners
- Interactive Information R&D (spin-off)
- J. A. Woollam Co. (spin-off)
Career Outcomes
Median Salary: $NaN.
Notable Faculty
- Dr. Yongfeng Lu — Laser processing and optical systems
- Dr. John Woollam — Ellipsometry and optical characterization
- Dr. Mathias Schubert — Materials characterization and optics
- Dr. Benjamin Riggan — Image processing and computer vision
- Dr. Wei Qiao — Electrical engineering and power systems
- Dr. Craig Zuhlke — Engineering research
- Dr. Lance C. Pérez — Electrical and computer engineering
Admissions
GPA Requirement: 2.5 minimum for professional admission.
Requirements: 3 core courses (9 credits), 3 breadth courses across 3 tracks (9 credits), Memorandum of Courses filed before completing half of program, 15 colloquia attendance (8 for accelerated students)
Accreditations and Certifications
Location Advantages: Proximity to agricultural equipment manufacturers and precision agriculture sectorAccess to power utilities and renewable energy projectsRegional strength in agricultural technology innovation
University of Nebraska at Omaha — Omaha, NE
Key Distinction: UNO's computer engineering program uniquely integrates cybersecurity and critical infrastructure focus throughout its curriculum, supported by active federal research partnerships.
Hakia Insight: UNO's master's program transforms federal cybersecurity partnerships into direct student advantage—the Big Data Computing Lab and BRIDGE Lab aren't just research venues but training grounds where students work on critical infrastructure protection problems that government agencies actively fund, making graduates immediately hireable for high-clearance roles.
At the master's level, UNO's computer engineering program is anchored in cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection, reflecting both institutional research strengths and the region's strategic importance. The program houses research clusters focused on network security, secure embedded systems, and resilient computing, giving undergraduates early opportunities to contribute to funded projects. Faculty maintain active partnerships with federal agencies and defense contractors, and the curriculum integrates security principles throughout the core sequence rather than isolating them in electives. Students benefit from access to UNO's School of Interdisciplinary Informatics, which bridges computer engineering with data science and informatics—an increasingly valuable combination in modern practice. The program's location in the Omaha metro area provides internship and employment connections with government contractors, financial institutions, and telecommunications firms. Capstone projects frequently involve real security challenges from industry partners, and many graduates transition directly into cybersecurity-focused roles or embedded systems positions requiring security expertise.
Programs Offered
- Master of Science in Computer Engineering — 1-2 years, on-campus
- Master of Arts in Computer Engineering — 1-2 years, online
Research Labs and Institutes
- Big Data Computing Lab
- bricks Lab
- BRIDGE Lab: Bridging Research in Innovation, DesiGn, and Education
- Data Science Lab
- LASER Lab: Laboratory for Advanced Software Engineering Research
- NLPKR Lab: Knowledge Representation and Natural Language Understanding
- R.N.A. Lab: Robotics, Networking and Artificial Intelligence
- WINDS Lab: Wireless Infrastructure for Network of Distributed Sensors
Notable Faculty
- Dr. Parvathi Chundi — Big data computing and information extraction from large datasets
- Dr. Brian Ricks — Virtual reality and crowd simulation for human safety
- Dr. Yuliya Lierler — Natural language understanding and automated reasoning
- Dr. Pei-Chi Huang — Robotics and artificial intelligence
- Dr. Jong-Hoon Youn — Wireless sensor networks for medical applications
- Dr. Harvey Siy — Advanced software engineering research
- Dr. Mahadevan Subramaniam — Computer Science
Accreditations and Certifications
Location Advantages: Proximity to Omaha government and defense contractor presenceAccess to federal cybersecurity research partnerships
Best Doctoral Computer Engineering Degree Programs in Nebraska
University of Nebraska-Lincoln — Lincoln, NE
Key Distinction: Nebraska-Lincoln's computer engineering program uniquely emphasizes power systems, renewable energy, and agricultural automation, creating distinct career pathways in the energy and precision agriculture sectors.
Hakia Insight: Nebraska-Lincoln's doctoral program has carved a niche most schools ignore: its power systems and agricultural automation focus creates a genuine alternative career arc to traditional tech, where graduates can command premium salaries in renewable energy or precision agriculture—sectors desperate for PhD-trained engineers who understand both the hardware and the domain.
At the doctoral level, nebraska-Lincoln's computer engineering program leverages the university's strong electrical and computer engineering research enterprise, with particular depth in power systems, renewable energy integration, and agricultural automation. Unlike purely IT-focused programs, this curriculum maintains rigorous coverage of analog and digital electronics, signal processing, and control systems—preparing graduates for hardware-intensive roles in energy, agriculture tech, and industrial automation. The program operates within a department that hosts active research groups studying smart grid technologies and precision agriculture systems, and motivated undergraduates gain access to labs and field test sites. The Great Plains location provides unexpected advantages: major agricultural equipment manufacturers and grain processing facilities employ computer engineers for machinery automation and IoT integration, creating regional job pathways beyond the typical tech hub destinations. Students can pursue specialization tracks in power electronics or embedded systems for agriculture, and many capstone projects emerge from real problems on Nebraska farms or at rural utility cooperatives. The combination of rigorous EE foundations with applied agricultural and energy applications makes graduates particularly competitive for roles requiring both hardware expertise and domain knowledge in non-traditional tech sectors.
Programs Offered
- Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Engineering — 4-6 years, on-campus
- Doctor of Science in Computer Engineering — 4-6 years, online
Research Labs and Institutes
- Power and Energy Systems Laboratory
- Wireless Communications and Networking Laboratory
- Intelligent Ubiquitous Computing Laboratory
- IMAGES Lab
- OtuLab
- Complex Materials Optics Network
- Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience
Industry Partners
- Interactive Information R&D (spin-off)
- J. A. Woollam Co. (spin-off)
Career Outcomes
Median Salary: $NaN.
Notable Faculty
- Dr. Yongfeng Lu — Laser processing and optical systems
- Dr. John Woollam — Ellipsometry and optical characterization
- Dr. Mathias Schubert — Materials characterization and optics
- Dr. Benjamin Riggan — Image processing and computer vision
- Dr. Wei Qiao — Electrical engineering and power systems
- Dr. Craig Zuhlke — Engineering research
- Dr. Lance C. Pérez — Electrical and computer engineering
Admissions
GPA Requirement: 2.5 minimum for professional admission.
Accreditations and Certifications
Location Advantages: Proximity to agricultural equipment manufacturers and precision agriculture sectorAccess to power utilities and renewable energy projectsRegional strength in agricultural technology innovation
