2027 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in Nebraska

[Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities](/majors/liberal-arts-sciences-humanities/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 10 schools to find the best return on investment for liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in Nebraska
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools
Leading the list is Metropolitan Community College Area, our #1 best value for liberal arts / sciences & humanities in Nebraska. Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public school located in the city of Omaha. In-state tuition and fees average $3,375, compared with $4,950 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $10,214. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Metropolitan Community College Area generally make around $33,011. That is a strong return on a $10,214 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes Central Community College one of the best values for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Central Community College is a large public school located in the city of Grand Island. Students from in state pay about $3,360 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,800. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $8,313 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Central Community College generally make around $26,198. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Western Nebraska Community College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Located in the town of Scottsbluff, Western Nebraska Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,840 in tuition and fees, compared with $4,410 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,507 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Western Nebraska Community College earn a median of $62,413 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes Mid Plains Community College one of the best values for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Set in the rural area of North Platte, Mid Plains Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,600, with out-of-state students paying around $4,530. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $8,817 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Mid Plains Community College generally make around $24,535. Set against $8,817 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northeast Community College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Set in the town of Norfolk, Northeast Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,840, while out-of-state students pay about $5,130. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Northeast Community College generally make around $30,292. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southeast Community College Area came in at #6 for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the city of Lincoln, Southeast Community College Area is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,444, while out-of-state students pay about $4,032. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $31,041. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Nebraska At Omaha ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Set in the city of Omaha, University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,718, with out-of-state students paying around $23,206. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $26,310 in student loans. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of University Of Nebraska At Omaha earn a median of $40,892 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,310 median debt. The acceptance rate is 87%.
University Of Nebraska At Kearney ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Located in the town of Kearney, University Of Nebraska At Kearney is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,564 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $16,484. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $20,675 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $29,471. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Nebraska At Kearney admits about 90% of applicants.
Nebraska Indian Community College landed the #9 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities value this year. Located in the rural area of Macy, Nebraska Indian Community College is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $4,080 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $31,458 ten years after entry.
Doane College Crete landed the #10 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities value this year. Doane College Crete is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Crete. Students from in state pay about $41,985 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $28,802. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Doane College Crete generally make around $53,500. Set against $28,802 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 98%.
More Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Rankings
View All Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.