by our College Data Analytics TeamBellevue University ranks #1 of 14 colleges in College Factual’s 2027 Best Associate’s Degree Colleges in Nebraska ranking, which scores schools on more than 20 measures of academic quality and student outcomes. The top 14 colleges average a 48% six-year graduation rate and $60,555 in median earnings five years after graduation.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
With all of the college options in Nebraska, it can be hard to know where to start. Our ranking highlights **14** institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual reviewed 14 colleges across over 20 objective factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Bellevue University leads the 14 ranked colleges in Nebraska, followed by Central Community College (#2) and Clarkson College (#3). Explore the leading colleges below:
Bellevue University tops our 2027 ranking of the best colleges in Nebraska. This private not-for-profit school is set in Bellevue, NE. Roughly 33% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $12,873. Bellevue University graduates report median early-career earnings of $61,548. The median student debt is $27,852.
The strong outcomes at Central Community College earned it the #2 place in Nebraska. Set in Grand Island, NE, Central Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,360, compared with $4,800 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $43,218. The median student debt is $10,277.
A rank of #3 makes Clarkson College one of the top colleges in Nebraska. Located in Omaha, NE, Clarkson College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 36%. In-state tuition and fees average $16,104. Early-career graduates earn a median of $77,377. The median student debt is $30,052.
The strong outcomes at Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health earned it the #4 place in Nebraska. This private not-for-profit school is set in Omaha, NE. Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health graduates 49% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $18,934. Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health graduates report median early-career earnings of $64,158. Graduates carry a median of $31,121 in student loans.
Out of the 14 colleges in Nebraska in this year's ranking, Northeast Community College landed the #5 spot. This public school is set in Norfolk, NE. Students from in state pay about $3,840 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,130 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $40,568. Graduates carry a median of $11,937 in student loans.
Southeast Community College Area ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Southeast Community College Area is a public school based in Lincoln, NE. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,444, while out-of-state students pay about $4,032. Early-career graduates earn a median of $44,877. Typical student debt is $14,935.
Concordia University Seward ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Concordia University Seward is a private not-for-profit school based in Seward, NE. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. Students from in state pay about $40,640 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $51,046. Students borrow a median of $26,726 to complete a degree here.
Metropolitan Community College Area ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Set in Omaha, NE, Metropolitan Community College Area is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,375, compared with $4,950 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $45,583. Graduates carry a median of $12,799 in student loans.
Union College Nebraska came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Set in Lincoln, NE, Union College Nebraska is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $29,334. Median early-career earnings reach $75,400. Graduates carry a median of $30,938 in student loans.
Nebraska College Of Technical Agriculture ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Based in Curtis, NE, Nebraska College Of Technical Agriculture is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,926. Nebraska College Of Technical Agriculture graduates report median early-career earnings of $28,610. The median student debt is $12,127.
Western Nebraska Community College landed the #11 spot in Nebraska this year. Located in Scottsbluff, NE, Western Nebraska Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,840, compared with $4,410 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $62,413. Students borrow a median of $14,507 to complete a degree here.
Mid Plains Community College came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Located in North Platte, NE, Mid Plains Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,600, with out-of-state students paying around $4,530. Mid Plains Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $39,396. Mid Plains Community College students take on a median of $14,596 in debt.
Little Priest Tribal College landed the #13 spot in Nebraska this year. This public school is set in Winnebago, NE. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,400.
Nebraska Indian Community College did well this year, earning the #14 position. This public school is set in Macy, NE. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,080.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
See our data sources and methodologies.
