Chadron State College

Chadron State College (CSC) is a public college in Chadron, Nebraska, United States. It is one of three public colleges in the Nebraska State College System. The school opened in June 1911 and has an enrollment of about 2,200 students. History Chadron State College was announced in January 1909 as the fourth normal school in the state. Bidders for the college included the towns of Ainsworth, Alliance, Chadron, Crawford, Gordon, and Rushville. The Chadron Commercial Club was one of the main entities pushing for the school to be located in Chadron. While the school was originally meant to open Fall 1910, opposition from then-governor Ashton C. Shallenberger and the Alliance Commercial Club delayed its opening. The college opened in 1911 as the Chadron State Normal College. In March 1921, the Nebraska State Legislature passed a bill making all state-funded normal schools colleges. This also gave the schools the legal right to grant a Bachelor of Arts degree. Following this, the college changed its name to the Chadron State Teachers College. In 1964, the college re-branded to its current name, Chadron State College. In September 1967, the college opened the High Rise Dormitory, an eleven-story high-rise dorm complex. It opened as the tallest building in Western Nebraska. In July 2006, the college was in danger of damage from the Spotted Tail wildfire. Spotted Tail was caused by a lightning strike on July 26 about seven miles (11 km) south of Chadron. By July 28, the wildfire reached the edge of Chadron and the college campus. Fire crews prevented the wildfire from reaching the campus. The Pine Ridge escarpment south of the college, including C-Hill, was deforested as a result of the fire. Presidents Campus Chadron State College's campus is located in Chadron, Nebraska, United States. The campus is 281-acre (114 ha) and has 25 major buildings. The campus includes eight academic buildings, six athletic buildings, three administration buildings, and five residential buildings. The campus includes High Rise, an eleven-story high-rise building which is the tallest building in Western Nebraska. Five of the buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. NRHP-listed buildings include the Sparks, Miller, Edna Work, and Crites Halls, and the Media Center, which were all listed in 1983. Academics Chadron State College is a state-funded college. As of 2025, 1,600 students are enrolled. The college includes 23 undergraduate fields of study. Major fields of study include Business Administration, Teachers Degree and Professional Development, Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Plant Sciences, and Criminal Justice and Corrections. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission with some programs and academic units also accredited by discipline-specific organizations. It offers more than 49 majors leading to bachelor's degrees and 8 professional studies options. Pre-professional programs in the health sciences are available, including the Rural Health Opportunities Program (RHOP) conducted jointly with the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Chadron State College also includes a partnership with Western Nebraska Community College in Scottsbluff through the Panhandle Advantage Program. Athletics Chadron State College, whose athletic teams are known as the Eagles, competes in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II. Chadron State sponsors 12 varsity athletic teams: men's and women's basketball; men's and women's cross country; football; women's golf; softball; men's and women's track and field; women's volleyball; and men's and women's wrestling. Notable alumni Jim Anderson – politician Don Beebe – professional football player and coach Val Logsdon Fitch – nuclear physicist (attended for three years before being drafted into U.S. Army in 1943) John Freudenberg – judge Garrett Gilkey – professional football player Jennifer L. Green – statistics professor Rafael Bastos Hocsman – comedian Jerry D. Mahlman – meteorologist Terrance McKinney – professional mixed martial artist Joel Rickenbach – politician Steve McClain – college basketball coach Lolo Letalu Matalasi Moliga – politician Larry Riley – professional basketball coach Togiola Tulafono – politician Tim Walz – politician, ran for Vice President of the United States in 2024 Danny Woodhead – professional football player Notes References External links Official website Athletics website