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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Chadron Commercial Club was one of the main entities pushing for the school to be located in Chadron.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The college opened in 1911 as the Chadron State Normal College.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 1964, the college re-branded to its current name, Chadron State College.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</ref>

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 Template:Convert 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Presidents

No.	Name	Tenure	Ref.
1	Joseph Sparks	1911–1916	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2	Robert I. Elliott	1916–1940
acting	E.L. Rouse	1939–1941
3	Wiley G. Brooks	1941–1954
4	Barton L. Kline	1954–1961
5	F. Clark Elkins	1961–1967
6	Edwin C. Nelson	1967–1973
7	Larry G. Tangeman	1973–1975
executive secretary	Edwin C. Nelson	1975–1986
8	Samuel H. Rankin	1986–1998
9	Thomas L. Krepel	1998–2005
10	Janie Park	2005–2012
11	Richard R. Rhine	2012–2023
12	Ron K. Patterson	2023–2025
13	Jodi Kupper	2025-present	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Campus

Adelaide Miller Hall

Chadron State College's campus is located in Chadron, Nebraska, United States. The campus is Template:Convert and has 25 major buildings. The campus includes eight academic buildings, six athletic buildings, three administration buildings, and five residential buildings.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The campus includes High Rise, an eleven story high-rise building which is the tallest building in Western Nebraska.<ref name=":0" /> 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Chadron State College also includes a partnership with Western Nebraska Community College in Scottsbluff through the Panhandle Advantage Program.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Athletics

Template:Main 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Notable alumni

• Jim Anderson – Republican member of Wyoming Senate (2001–2015); member of Wyoming House of Representatives (1997–2000)<ref name="legislature">Legislature biography</ref><ref name="senate">Template:Cite web</ref>
• Don Beebe – football player
• Val Logsdon Fitch – nuclear physicist (attended for three years before being drafted into U.S. Army in 1943)
• John Freudenberg – Associate Justice of the Nebraska Supreme Court
• Garrett Gilkey – football player
• Jerry D. Mahlman – Meteorologist and global warming expert
• Joel Rickenbach – served in South Dakota House of Representatives – 1975 to 1984
• Steve McClain – Head basketball coach for University of Illinois at Chicago, coached University of Wyoming from 1998 to 2007
• Lolo Letalu Matalasi Moliga – Governor of American Samoa (2013–2021)
• Larry Riley – Professional basketball coach
• Togiola Tulafono – Governor of American Samoa (2003–2013)
• Tim Walz – Governor of Minnesota; Democratic candidate for Vice President of the United States in the 2024 United States presidential election
• Danny Woodhead – football player

External links

• Template:Official website
• Athletics website