by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in Nebraska, narrowing things down is no easy task. We have ranked **15** colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual reviewed 15 colleges using more than 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.
Here are the top-ranked colleges:
University Of Nebraska Medical Center earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Colleges ranking in Nebraska. Set in Omaha, NE, University Of Nebraska Medical Center is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,973, compared with $39,962 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $85,223. University Of Nebraska Medical Center students take on a median of $20,905 in debt.
You'll be in good company at Creighton University, which ranked #2 this year. Located in Omaha, NE, Creighton University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. In-state tuition and fees run about $48,856. Creighton University graduates report median early-career earnings of $64,369. Creighton University students take on a median of $25,831 in debt.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Nebraska Lincoln one of the top colleges in Nebraska. Set in Lincoln, NE, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a public institution. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,434, with out-of-state students paying around $28,584. University Of Nebraska Lincoln graduates report median early-career earnings of $49,755. University Of Nebraska Lincoln students take on a median of $22,386 in debt.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Nebraska At Omaha one of the top colleges in Nebraska. Set in Omaha, NE, University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a public institution. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,718, with out-of-state students paying around $23,206. Early-career graduates earn a median of $48,906. Students borrow a median of $21,783 to complete a degree here.
The strong outcomes at Bellevue University earned it the #5 place in Nebraska. Set in Bellevue, NE, Bellevue University is a private not-for-profit institution. Bellevue University graduates 33% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,873. Graduates go on to earn a median of $61,548 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $27,852.
University Of Nebraska At Kearney came in at #6 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Kearney, NE. University Of Nebraska At Kearney posts a six-year graduation rate of 57%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,564, compared with $16,484 for out-of-state students. University Of Nebraska At Kearney graduates report median early-career earnings of $46,744. Graduates carry a median of $22,173 in student loans.
Clarkson College landed the #7 spot in Nebraska this year. Based in Omaha, NE, Clarkson College is a private not-for-profit institution. Clarkson College graduates 36% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,104. Early-career graduates earn a median of $77,377. Graduates carry a median of $30,052 in student loans.
Nebraska Wesleyan University landed the #8 spot in Nebraska this year. Set in Lincoln, NE, Nebraska Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $43,572. Nebraska Wesleyan University graduates report median early-career earnings of $52,199. Graduates carry a median of $27,667 in student loans.
Hastings College came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Set in Hastings, NE, Hastings College is a private not-for-profit institution. Hastings College graduates 49% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $37,770. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $42,417. Hastings College students take on a median of $24,125 in debt.
Doane College Crete landed the #10 spot in Nebraska this year. Doane College Crete is a private not-for-profit school based in Crete, NE. Doane College Crete posts a six-year graduation rate of 57%. In-state tuition and fees run about $41,985. Early-career graduates earn a median of $53,500. Graduates carry a median of $28,802 in student loans.
Wayne State College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Located in Wayne, NE, Wayne State College is a public institution. About 52% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,171. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $46,646. Graduates carry a median of $22,974 in student loans.
Bryan College Of Health Sciences placed #12 among the best colleges in Nebraska. Located in Lincoln, NE, Bryan College Of Health Sciences is a private not-for-profit institution. Bryan College Of Health Sciences posts a six-year graduation rate of 63%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,640. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $109,098. Typical student debt is $30,598.
Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health placed #13 among the best colleges in Nebraska. Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health is a private not-for-profit school based in Omaha, NE. About 49% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,934. Early-career graduates earn a median of $64,158. Graduates carry a median of $31,121 in student loans.
College Of Saint Mary did well this year, earning the #14 position. Set in Omaha, NE, College Of Saint Mary is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $24,510 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $66,015. College Of Saint Mary students take on a median of $25,539 in debt.
Concordia University Seward ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. This private not-for-profit school is set in Seward, NE. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. Students from in state pay about $40,640 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $51,046. The median student debt is $26,726.
Chadron State College landed the #16 spot in Nebraska this year. Based in Chadron, NE, Chadron State College is a public institution. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $8,294 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $47,254. The median student debt is $22,912.
Union College Nebraska landed the #17 spot in Nebraska this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Lincoln, NE. Union College Nebraska graduates 58% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $29,334. Early-career graduates earn a median of $75,400. Graduates carry a median of $30,938 in student loans.
Midland University landed the #18 spot in Nebraska this year. Set in Fremont, NE, Midland University is a private not-for-profit institution. Midland University graduates 42% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $42,050. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $51,524. Typical student debt is $27,536.
Peru State College did well this year, earning the #19 position. Based in Peru, NE, Peru State College is a public institution. About 38% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $8,433. Peru State College graduates report median early-career earnings of $40,993. Peru State College students take on a median of $26,254 in debt.
York College Nebraska came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Based in York, NE, York College Nebraska is a private not-for-profit institution. York College Nebraska graduates 47% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,000. Median early-career earnings reach $34,170. York College Nebraska students take on a median of $28,370 in debt.
Alegent Health School Of Radiologic Technology placed #21 among the best colleges in Nebraska. Based in Omaha, NE, Alegent Health School Of Radiologic Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $8,400 in tuition and fees.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Rankings consider 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
More about our data sources and methodologies.
