Nebraska Wesleyan University Nebraska Wesleyan University ( NWU ) is a private , coeducational university located in Lincoln , Nebraska , United States . It was founded in 1887 by Nebraska Methodists . As of 2007 , it has 1 , 600 full - time students and 300 faculty and staff . The school teaches in the tradition of a liberal arts college education . Nebraska Wesleyan was ranked the # 1 liberal arts college in Nebraska by " U . S . News and World Report " in 2002 . In 2009 , Forbes ranked it 84th of America ' s Best Colleges . It remains affiliated with the United Methodist Church . History . Chartered on January 20 , 1887 , Nebraska Wesleyan University had an initial enrollment of 96 . The initial teaching and administrative staff at this time totaled eight , including the chancellor . In September 1887 , the cornerstone was laid for Old Main , the defining building of the campus . Still with no stairways , windows , or flooring on some floors , classes began in September 1888 . The first graduating class was four women in 1890 . The second graduating class , in 1891 , was made up of four men . Nebraska Wesleyan received accreditation by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools in 1914 . The school is located in the former town of University Place , Nebraska . Today , it is part of Lincoln , Nebraska ; the surrounding neighborhood is a historic residential and shopping area of Lincoln . Early on , Nebraska Wesleyan was a college of liberal arts ; schools of art , business and education ; a music conservatory ; an academy ( high school ) also comprising an elementary school and kindergarten . The high school was discontinued in 1931 , and the primary schools in 1941 ( grade school ) and 1942 ( kindergarten ) . Nebraska Wesleyan offered a Master of Arts degree until 1937 . The University currently has 48 majors and 39 minors . It recently brought back its graduate programs with a Master of Science in Nursing developed in 2000 , a Master of Forensic Science degree first offered in 2001 and a Master of Arts in Historical Studies degree , whose first class graduated on May 19 , 2007 . Nebraska Wesleyan has been associated with four emblems in its history , featuring the Sunflower ( 1894 - 1907 ) , the Coyote ( 1907 - 1933 ) , the Plainsman ( 1933 - 2000 ) , and the Prairie Wolf ( 2000 - present ) . The school colors of brown and gold are a tribute to the first emblem . A fire on November 17 , 2006 , at the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity house killed 1 brother and sent 3 others to the hospital in critical condition . The Lincoln Police later cited 2 men and arrested 1 other on hazing charges as well as illegal possession of fireworks , although not in connection with this fire , resulting in suspension of the fraternity from campus for two to four years . Phi Kappa Tau has returned to Nebraska Wesleyan University in Fall 2011 . Athletics . Nebraska Wesleyan teams , nicknamed athletically as the Prairie Wolves , are part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics ( NAIA ) , primarily competing in the Great Plains Athletic Conference ( GPAC ) . The Prairie Wolves also compete as an Independent of the National Collegiate Athletic Association ( NCAA ) Division III level . Men ' s sports include baseball , basketball , cross country , football , golf , soccer , tennis and track & field ; while women ' s sports include basketball , cross country , golf , soccer , softball , tennis , track & field , and volleyball .