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Doane University
Former name
Doane College (1872–2016)
TypePrivate university
Established1872; 154 years ago (1872)
Religious affiliation
United Church of Christ
Endowment$107.4 million (2025)[1]
PresidentRoger Hughes[2][3]
Students1,985 [4]
Undergraduates1,315 [4]
Location
Crete, Nebraska
,
U.S.
Campus
  • Multiple sites
Colors   
Orange & Black[5]
NicknameTigers
Sporting affiliations
NAIA – GPAC
Websitedoane.edu
Map

Doane University is a private university in Crete, Nebraska, United States. It has additional campuses in Lincoln, Omaha, North Platte, and Bellevue. The oldest private institution in the State of Nebraska, the university was established in 1872 as Doane College following a donation from Thomas Doane. It is historically affiliated with the United Church of Christ.

History

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On May 20, 1871, a municipal secondary and post-secondary school was formed in Crete, Nebraska, known as Crete Academy. The following year, a new organization to oversee Crete Academy was established, and was located in Downtown Crete. Thomas Doane, the chief civil engineer for the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad, donated $2,000 to assist with funding the new school.[6] The new organization was officially formed on July 11, 1872, as Doane College, named for Thomas Doane.[7] Construction began the following year, and the college officially began its academic year in 1874.[8] By 1912, the campus had expanded to six buildings.[9]

In 1977, a part of Doane College's campus was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Doane College Historic District.[10] In 1981, Doane College began operations in Lincoln, and later opened a full campus in 1988.[11] In 2003, the college began offering classes in Grand Island through a partnership with Central Community College.[12] In 2012, Doane College opened a campus in Omaha, which would include its School of Graduate and Professional Studies.[13]

In May 2016, Doane College's leaders changed the institution's name to Doane University to reflect structural changes.[14] In 2020, the director of the Perkins Library was placed on leave following a controversial, "Parties of the Past," exhibit, which included two photos of students wearing blackface in 1926. That same year, the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education named it one of the "Worst Colleges for Free Speech." The university later reinstated the library director.[15]

Campuses

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Miller Pond, Brandt Memorial Bridge, Chab Weyers Hixon Lied Art Building
Cassel Open Air Theatre

Doane University's primary campus is located in Crete, Nebraska. Additionally, the university also has campuses and locations in Lincoln, Omaha, North Platte, and Bellevue.[16] The main campus includes several academic and residential halls, as well as a stadium.[17] The campus includes the Doane University Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[18]

Academics

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Colleges and schools

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  • The College of Arts and Sciences offers over 25 undergraduate majors.[19]
  • The College of Business offers undergraduate majors in accounting, agribusiness, business administration, and economics. Two graduate degrees are also offered: Master of Arts in Leadership and a Master of Business Administration.[20]
  • The College of Education offers undergraduate degrees in Elementary Education, Special Education, Secondary Education, and Physical and Health Education.[21] Graduate programs include the Masters of Education, Master of Arts, Education Specialist, Doctorate of Education, and initial certification at the advanced Level (also known as the Fast Track Program.[22]).[23]
  • The Open Learning Academy, offers online classes with transferable credits for non-degree seeking students.[24] DoaneX, a partnership with MOOC platform edX, offers professional certificates and credentials.[25]

Accreditations

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Doane University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and approved by the Nebraska Coordinating Commission of Post-Secondary Education.[26] Several programs also hold specialized accreditations.

Student media

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Doane University is the home of the Doane Owl, the oldest student-run newspaper in the state of Nebraska.[30] Established in 1879 as a literary publication and news bulletin, the Owl evolved into a traditional newspaper covering Doane, Saline County, and Crete, Nebraska.

Regarding student broadcasting, Doane's college radio station is KDNE. Programming on KDNE includes live broadcasts of Tigers sporting events, news broadcasts, and student-run music specialty shows. A pillar of the station is “Cheska Musica”, a long running polka show serving the nearby culturally Czech community of Wilber, Nebraska.[31]

Athletics

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See also: Doane Tigers football

The Doane athletic teams are called the Tigers. The university is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) since the 1969–70 academic year.

Doane competes in 24 intercollegiate varsity sports. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, Greco-Roman wrestling, golf, soccer, tennis, track & field (indoor and outdoor) and wrestling; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field (indoor and outdoor), volleyball and wrestling; and co-ed sports include cheerleading, dance and esports.[32]

Notable alumni

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  • Cristelle Rodriguez — Class of 2026 - senior world team women's wrestler[33]
  • Samantha Marie Ware – Class of 2013 - Actress and singer
  • Raymonn Adams – Class of 2001 - Professional football player
  • Bob Stitt – Class of 1987 - College football coach
  • Barb Fugate — Class of 1980 - World Cup women's rugby player, coach and Hall of Fame member [34]
  • Michael Aung-Thwin – Class of 1969 - Burmese historian and academic
  • John Perry – Class of 1964 - Philosopher
  • Douglas L. Wilson – Class of 1957 - American presidential historian.
  • Toshihiro Takami – Class of 1956 - Won the Asian version of the Nobel Peace Prize for his extensive work establishing ARI, teaching sustainable farming to third world countries.
  • Weldon Kees – Class of 1935 - Poet, painter, filmmaker, and jazz musician
  • Donald Nyrop — Class of 1934 - President, CEO, and chairman of the board of Northwest Airlines
  • Robert Taylor – Class of 1933 - Hollywood actor
  • Claude E. Welch – Class of 1927 - Chief surgeon of the Pope during the assassination attempt in 1981
  • Ralph W. Tyler – Class of 1921 - American educator
  • Robert Van Pelt – Class of 1920 - Judge, U.S. District Court, 1957–88
  • Henry Pratt Fairchild – Class of 1900 - Sociologist and educator
  • Judi M. gaiashkibos – Class of 2000 and Board of Trustees - Executive director of the Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs[35]
  • Joseph D. Leitch – Class of 1886 - US Army major general[36][37]

References

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  1. ^ "U.S. and Canadian 2025 NCSE Participating Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2025 Endowment Market Value" (XLSX). National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO). Retrieved February 14, 2026.
  2. ^ "Dr. Roger Hughes Named 13th President of Doane University". Doane University (Press release). By Office of Strategic Marketing and Communication. May 7, 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  3. ^ Whitford, Emma (July 23, 2021). "Doane University's next president is a former football coach". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  4. ^ a b "College Navigator - Doane University".
  5. ^ Doane University Visual Identity System (PDF).
  6. ^ "State Items". The Beatrice Weekly Express. July 25, 1872. p. 2. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  7. ^ "DOANE COLLEGE". The Crete Vidette. September 2, 1926. p. 23. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  8. ^ "Doane College 1874". Nebraska State Journal. July 24, 1874. p. 1. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  9. ^ "Historical Sketch". Doane College Catalogue. Crete, Nebraska. May 1910. p. 7.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  10. ^ "Nebraska National Register Sites in Saline County". nebraskahistory.org. Archived from the original on April 11, 2000. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  11. ^ "Local adult classes offered by Doane". Lincoln Journal. September 16, 1981. p. 1. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  12. ^ "Brown sets out plan for Doane College in G.I." The Grand Island Independent. July 30, 2003. p. 9. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  13. ^ "School bell is about to ring at Doane's new Omaha campus". Omaha World-Herald. January 13, 2014. p. 13. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  14. ^ "Doane University restructures colleges". Lincoln Journal Star. May 11, 2016. pp. B7. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  15. ^ Dunker, Chris (January 29, 2020). "Doane lands on list of 'Worst Colleges for Free Speech'". JournalStar.com. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
  16. ^ "Our Campuses | Doane University". www.doane.edu. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  17. ^ "Doane University Crete Campus Map" (PDF). Doane University. 2024.
  18. ^ "National Register of Historic Places Inventory -- Nomination Form". National Park Service. August 8, 1977.
  19. ^ "Arts and Sciences Programs | Doane University". www.doane.edu. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  20. ^ "College of Business | Doane University". www.doane.edu. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  21. ^ "College of Education - Undergraduate Programs | Doane University". www.doane.edu. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  22. ^ "Initial Certification at the Advanced Level | Doane University". www.doane.edu. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  23. ^ "College of Education - Graduate Programs | Doane University". www.doane.edu. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  24. ^ "Find a Course - Open Learning Academy | Doane University". web.doane.edu. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  25. ^ https://www.doane.edu/academics/doanex
  26. ^ "Accreditation | Doane University". web.doane.edu. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  27. ^ a b "Doane University: Greatness on the Great Plains - Doane University - Acalog ACMS". catalog.doane.edu. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  28. ^ "Master of Arts in Counseling (MAC) program granted accreditation | Doane University". www.doane.edu. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  29. ^ https://www.doane.edu/news-and-events/all-news-events/engineering-program-now-abet-accredited
  30. ^ Wegley, Andrew (November 17, 2021). "Once in peril, student newspaper at Doane University gets funding lifeline". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  31. ^ "KDNE Radio | Doane University". web.doane.edu. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  32. ^ "Doane University Athletics". Doane University Athletics. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  33. ^ https://www.themat.com/profiles/cristelle-rodriguez
  34. ^ https://www.usrugbyfoundation.org/hall-of-fame-members/barb-fugate
  35. ^ Mabry, John (May 22, 2012). "A 'Junkyard Dog' Fighting for the Underdog". Lincoln Journal Star. Lincoln, Nebraska. Archived from the original on March 22, 2020. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  36. ^ Doane College (1884). Catalogue of Doane College. Lincoln, NE: Journal Company. p. 12 – via Google Books.
  37. ^ Graves, William S. (1940). "Death Notice, Joseph Dugald Leitch". Seventy-first Annual Report of the Association of Graduates of the United States Military Academy. Newburgh, NY: Moore Printing Company. p. 185 – via West Point Digital Library.
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