Goodwill Omaha’s Adult Education Center Becomes the First Adult High School in Nebraska
For the first time in Nebraska history, adults who never completed high school now have a pathway to earn a true diploma. The Nebraska Department of Education has approved Goodwill Omaha’s Adult Education Center (AEC) under Rule 14, officially designating it as the state’s first high school exclusively for adults ages 21 and older.
“This program opens doors to good jobs and career growth, while creating stability that lifts up not just individuals, but their children, families and the Omaha community,” said Tobi Mathouser, Goodwill Omaha President and CEO. “The Adult Education Center is helping people change the course of their lives.”
To start the process of earning a diploma, program participants must submit transcripts from the last high school they attended. The AEC team evaluates them against Nebraska state standards, identifies missing credits and provides coursework taught by certified Nebraska teachers. Graduates walk away with the same credentials as any traditional high school student.
The program is different from a GED because students earn a true high school diploma, which often carries more weight with employers, trade programs and colleges. The program is free and is a hybrid model. In-person classes are taught at Goodwill Omaha’s headquarters at 4805 North 72nd Street.
Goodwill Omaha will host an orientation for new students on October 4, 2025. Applications are now open at https://goodwillomaha.org/aec/.