by our College Data Analytics TeamUniversity Of Nebraska Medical Center ranks #1 of 21 colleges in College Factual’s 2027 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges in Nebraska ranking, which scores schools on more than 20 measures of academic quality and student outcomes. The top 21 colleges average a 54% six-year graduation rate and $72,290 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, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. We have ranked **21** colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual analyzed 21 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.
University Of Nebraska Medical Center leads the 21 ranked colleges in Nebraska, followed by Creighton University (#2) and University Of Nebraska Lincoln (#3). Here are the top-ranked colleges:
No school ranked higher than University Of Nebraska Medical Center this year in Nebraska. Located in Omaha, NE, University Of Nebraska Medical Center is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $16,973, while out-of-state students pay about $39,962. Median early-career earnings reach $85,223. University Of Nebraska Medical Center students take on a median of $20,905 in debt.
Creighton University came in at #2 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Nebraska. Based in Omaha, NE, Creighton University is a private not-for-profit institution. Creighton University graduates 83% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $48,856. Creighton University graduates report median early-career earnings of $64,369. The median student debt is $25,831.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln came in at #3 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Nebraska. This public school is set in Lincoln, NE. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $10,434 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,584. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,755 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $22,386.
Out of the 21 colleges in Nebraska in this year's ranking, Bellevue University landed the #4 spot. Located in Bellevue, NE, Bellevue University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 33% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,873. Bellevue University graduates report median early-career earnings of $61,548. Graduates carry a median of $27,852 in student loans.
University Of Nebraska At Omaha came in at #5 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Nebraska. University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a public school based in Omaha, NE. University Of Nebraska At Omaha posts a six-year graduation rate of 49%. In-state tuition and fees average $8,718, with out-of-state students paying around $23,206. University Of Nebraska At Omaha graduates report median early-career earnings of $48,906. Students borrow a median of $21,783 to complete a degree here.
University Of Nebraska At Kearney did well this year, earning the #6 position. This public school is set in Kearney, NE. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. In-state tuition and fees run about $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. University Of Nebraska At Kearney students take on a median of $22,173 in debt.
Nebraska Wesleyan University did well this year, earning the #7 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Lincoln, NE. Nebraska Wesleyan University graduates 66% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $43,572. Nebraska Wesleyan University graduates report median early-career earnings of $52,199. The median student debt is $27,667.
Doane College Crete landed the #8 spot in Nebraska this year. Located in Crete, NE, Doane College Crete is a private not-for-profit institution. Doane College Crete graduates 57% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,985. Median early-career earnings reach $53,500. Doane College Crete students take on a median of $28,802 in debt.
Hastings College landed the #9 spot in Nebraska this year. Hastings College is a private not-for-profit school based in Hastings, NE. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. In-state tuition and fees average $37,770. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,417 early in their careers. Hastings College students take on a median of $24,125 in debt.
Clarkson College landed the #10 spot in Nebraska this year. Based in Omaha, NE, Clarkson College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 36%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,104. Clarkson College graduates report median early-career earnings of $77,377. Clarkson College students take on a median of $30,052 in debt.
Wayne State College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Set in Wayne, NE, Wayne State College is a public institution. About 52% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,171. Graduates go on to earn a median of $46,646 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,974 to complete a degree here.
Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health did well this year, earning the #12 position. Based in Omaha, NE, Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health is a private not-for-profit institution. Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health graduates 49% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,934. Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health graduates report median early-career earnings of $64,158. The median student debt is $31,121.
College Of Saint Mary ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Located in Omaha, NE, College Of Saint Mary is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. Students from in state pay about $24,510 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $66,015 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $25,539 in student loans.
Bryan College Of Health Sciences did well this year, earning the #14 position. Bryan College Of Health Sciences is a private not-for-profit school based in Lincoln, NE. About 63% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,640. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $109,098. Bryan College Of Health Sciences students take on a median of $30,598 in debt.
Concordia University Seward placed #15 among the best colleges in Nebraska. Located in Seward, NE, Concordia University Seward is a private not-for-profit institution. Concordia University Seward graduates 65% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,640. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $51,046. Graduates carry a median of $26,726 in student loans.
Union College Nebraska came in at #16 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Lincoln, NE. Union College Nebraska graduates 58% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $29,334. Graduates go on to earn a median of $75,400 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $30,938.
Chadron State College did well this year, earning the #17 position. Set in Chadron, NE, Chadron State College is a public institution. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $8,294. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $47,254. Chadron State College students take on a median of $22,912 in debt.
Midland University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. This private not-for-profit school is set in Fremont, NE. About 42% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $42,050. Midland University graduates report median early-career earnings of $51,524. The median student debt is $27,536.
Peru State College came in at #19 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Peru, NE. Peru State College graduates 38% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,433. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $40,993. Graduates carry a median of $26,254 in student loans.
York College Nebraska placed #20 among the best colleges in Nebraska. Located in York, NE, York College Nebraska is a private not-for-profit institution. About 47% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $23,000 in tuition and fees. York College Nebraska graduates report median early-career earnings of $34,170. Students borrow a median of $28,370 to complete a degree here.
Alegent Health School Of Radiologic Technology placed #21 among the best colleges in Nebraska. Alegent Health School Of Radiologic Technology is a private not-for-profit school based in Omaha, NE. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,400.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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.
