What Doane University is like

What it's like

Doane University is a century-old private institution rooted in Nebraska's Great Plains, with a historic main campus in Crete and an expanding footprint across the state. The university maintains a United Church of Christ affiliation and emphasizes both traditional residential education and modern online learning through partnerships. The campus has a notable athletic culture centered around the Tigers, competing in NAIA sports with particular strengths in wrestling, while also hosting the state's oldest student-run newspaper and an active college radio station that serves the surrounding Czech community.

Academic feel

Doane offers a broad range of undergraduate and graduate programs across arts and sciences, business, and education. The College of Arts and Sciences provides over 25 majors, while the College of Business offers accounting, agribusiness, business administration, and economics at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Education programs include initial certification through advanced doctoral degrees. The university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission with specialized accreditations in teacher education (CAEP), counseling (CACREP), music (NASM), and engineering (ABET). Research areas span engineering, artificial intelligence, economics, social psychology, and pedagogy, with growing online and professional certificate offerings through the Open Learning Academy and DoaneX partnership with edX.

What you should consider

In 2020, the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education designated Doane University as one of the "Worst Colleges for Free Speech," citing concerns about institutional speech policies.

Strengths

• Hosts the Doane Owl, the oldest student-run newspaper in Nebraska, established in 1879 and continuously covering campus and regional news.[1]
• Offers accredited engineering programs through ABET-accredited Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree.[1]
• Maintains specialized teacher education accreditation through CAEP, supporting multiple undergraduate and graduate education degrees including doctoral programs.[1]
• Competes in 24 intercollegiate varsity sports including wrestling programs, providing extensive athletic opportunities across NAIA and the Great Plains Athletic Conference.[1]

Weaknesses

• Was identified in 2020 by the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education as one of the worst colleges for free speech due to institutional speech policies.[1]
• In 2020, controversy arose over a Perkins Library exhibit titled 'Parties of the Past' that included historical photographs of students wearing blackface from 1926, resulting in the library director being placed on leave.[1]

Traditions

• College radio station KDNE broadcasts a long-running polka music show called 'Cheska Musica' that serves the culturally Czech community of nearby Wilber, Nebraska.[1]
• The Doane Owl student newspaper, established in 1879 as a literary publication and news bulletin, evolved into a traditional newspaper and remains the oldest student-run publication in Nebraska.[1]