In one of literature's most beloved stories, a hapless hot-air balloon operator disappears from the Omaha skies and lands in Oz, where he becomes a revered wizard.
For many of today's business wizards, Nebraska itself is the Emerald City. The state is home to no less than Warren Buffett, the billionaire head of Berkshire Hathaway, who is called the "Oracle of Omaha" for his business savvy. Berkshire Hathaway is headquartered there. International food production companies Archer Daniels Midland, ConAgra Foods and Baker's Chocolate, a division of Kraft, also have large facilities in the state.
So if you're looking for a career college, trade school or university, Nebraska can be the yellow brick road to opportunity.
The Cornhusker State offers plenty of options for higher education. The flagship University of Nebraska offers traditional academic programs on three campuses. In Omaha, Metropolitan Community College has programs in about two dozen specialties, among them information technology, photography, and several health care fields.
Central Community College in Grand Island trains students in culinary arts, hospitality management, auto body technology and many other professions. With three locations in or near Lincoln, Southeast Community College has a comprehensive program for future medical assistants. Around the state, other technical schools and online programs allow you to attend school nearly anywhere.
More than 55 million people live within 500 miles of Nebraska. Its ranches and farmland are known as among the country's best. Many of the country's top businesses call it home. Once you've finished trade school or career college, you can look for employment opportunities without leaving.
Four facts about this robust job market include the following:
In May 2010, Nebraska's unemployment rate stood at 4.2 percent, well below the national average. Salaries averaged $38,000 in 2010, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
If you choose to attend a career college, trade school or university here, you will find plenty to do when you're not in class or studying. Guest ranches around the state allow visitors to experience cowboy life and even drive cattle. The Loup Rivers Scenic Byway hosts many popular rodeos that draw the nation's top ropers and riders. The Lied Jungle in Omaha is the world's largest indoor rain forest. The state's forested buttes and unspoiled regions offer plenty of open spaces for bicyclists and campers.