Chadron was selected as the site of the fourth Nebraska State Normal School on January 8, 1910, on the grounds of the former Chadron Congregational Academy. Classes began in the summer of 1911, concluding with the dedication of the Administration Building, and 248 students registered in September. The school later evolved into a comprehensive college with a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs, was authorized to begin offering graduate degrees in 1955, and is the only four-year college in western Nebraska. Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission as well as subject-oriented accrediting agencies, it grew from a modest beginning into a rapidly growing multipurpose institution of higher education in the scenic Pine Ridge region of northwest Nebraska, serving the intellectual, cultural, and recreational needs of western Nebraska. Its alumni achievements and contributions to society have been recognized through regional, national, and international awards, including a Nobel Prize.