by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in Nebraska, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. This list ranks **19** colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual analyzed 19 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.
The best college for you depends on what you want to study. Narrow your list by location and field of study, or explore other rankings below. You can also browse by degree level:
Looking to pit your favorite colleges against each other? Check out College Combat to build custom comparisons using the factors most important to you.
Learn more about these excellent colleges below:
University Of Nebraska Medical Center tops our 2026 ranking of the best colleges in Nebraska. University Of Nebraska Medical Center is a public school based in Omaha, NE. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,973, while out-of-state students pay about $39,962. Early-career graduates earn a median of $85,223. The median student debt is $20,905.
A rank of #2 makes Creighton University one of the top colleges in Nebraska. Creighton University is a private not-for-profit school based in Omaha, NE. Creighton University posts a six-year graduation rate of 83%. In-state tuition and fees average $48,856. Creighton University graduates report median early-career earnings of $64,369. Students borrow a median of $25,831 to complete a degree here.
Out of the 19 colleges in Nebraska in this year's ranking, University Of Nebraska Lincoln landed the #3 spot. This public school is set in Lincoln, NE. 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. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $49,755. Students borrow a median of $22,386 to complete a degree here.
The strong outcomes at University Of Nebraska At Omaha earned it the #4 place in Nebraska. Based in Omaha, NE, University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a public institution. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,718, with out-of-state students paying around $23,206. Early-career graduates earn a median of $48,906. University Of Nebraska At Omaha students take on a median of $21,783 in debt.
Bellevue University came in at #5 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Nebraska. Bellevue University is a private not-for-profit school based in Bellevue, NE. Bellevue University posts a six-year graduation rate of 33%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,873. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $61,548. Bellevue University students take on a median of $27,852 in debt.
Clarkson College did well this year, earning the #6 position. Located in Omaha, NE, Clarkson College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 36% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $16,104 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $77,377. Typical student debt is $30,052.
Central Community College placed #7 among the best colleges in Nebraska. This public school is set in Grand Island, NE. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,360, with out-of-state students paying around $4,800. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,218 early in their careers. The median student debt is $10,277.
University Of Nebraska At Kearney did well this year, earning the #8 position. Set in Kearney, NE, University Of Nebraska At Kearney is a public institution. University Of Nebraska At Kearney posts a six-year graduation rate of 57%. Students from in state pay about $8,564 in tuition and fees, compared with $16,484 for out-of-state students. University Of Nebraska At Kearney graduates report median early-career earnings of $46,744. The median student debt is $22,173.
Doane College Crete came in at #9 in this year's ranking. 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. Early-career graduates earn a median of $53,500. Graduates carry a median of $28,802 in student loans.
Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Set 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 posts a six-year graduation rate of 49%. Students from in state pay about $18,934 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $64,158. Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health students take on a median of $31,121 in debt.
Hastings College came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Based in Hastings, NE, Hastings College is a private not-for-profit institution. Hastings College posts a six-year graduation rate of 49%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $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.
Nebraska Wesleyan University came in at #12 in this year's ranking. 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. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $52,199. Graduates carry a median of $27,667 in student loans.
Wayne State College landed the #13 spot in Nebraska this year. Wayne State College is a public school based in Wayne, NE. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,171. Wayne State College graduates report median early-career earnings of $46,646. Typical student debt is $22,974.
Bryan College Of Health Sciences landed the #14 spot in Nebraska this year. Based in Lincoln, NE, Bryan College Of Health Sciences is a private not-for-profit institution. About 63% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,640. Graduates go on to earn a median of $109,098 early in their careers. Bryan College Of Health Sciences students take on a median of $30,598 in debt.
Northeast Community College landed the #15 spot in Nebraska this year. Located in Norfolk, NE, Northeast Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,840, with out-of-state students paying around $5,130. Median early-career earnings reach $40,568. Typical student debt is $11,937.
Southeast Community College Area did well this year, earning the #16 position. Based in Lincoln, NE, Southeast Community College Area is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,444, while out-of-state students pay about $4,032. Graduates go on to earn a median of $44,877 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $14,935.
College Of Saint Mary came in at #17 in this year's ranking. College Of Saint Mary is a private not-for-profit school based in Omaha, NE. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $24,510. Graduates go on to earn a median of $66,015 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $25,539.
Metropolitan Community College Area landed the #18 spot in Nebraska this year. This public school is set in Omaha, NE. Students from in state pay about $3,375 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,950. Metropolitan Community College Area graduates report median early-career earnings of $45,583. The median student debt is $12,799.
Concordia University Seward did well this year, earning the #19 position. Concordia University Seward is a private not-for-profit school based in Seward, NE. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,640. Median early-career earnings reach $51,046. Typical student debt is $26,726.
Nebraska College Of Technical Agriculture did well this year, earning the #20 position. Based in Curtis, NE, Nebraska College Of Technical Agriculture is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,926. Nebraska College Of Technical Agriculture graduates report median early-career earnings of $28,610. Students borrow a median of $12,127 to complete a degree here.
Chadron State College did well this year, earning the #21 position. Set in Chadron, NE, Chadron State College is a public institution. Chadron State College graduates 50% of students within six years. 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 did well this year, earning the #22 position. Midland University is a private not-for-profit school based in Fremont, NE. Roughly 42% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,050. Median early-career earnings reach $51,524. Typical student debt is $27,536.
Union College Nebraska came in at #23 in this year's ranking. Located in Lincoln, NE, Union College Nebraska is a private not-for-profit institution. Union College Nebraska graduates 58% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $29,334 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $75,400. Graduates carry a median of $30,938 in student loans.
Western Nebraska Community College came in at #24 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Scottsbluff, NE. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,840, compared with $4,410 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $62,413. Typical student debt is $14,507.
Mid Plains Community College did well this year, earning the #25 position. Located in North Platte, NE, Mid Plains Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,600, while out-of-state students pay about $4,530. Early-career graduates earn a median of $39,396. Students borrow a median of $14,596 to complete a degree here.
These colleges also placed among the very best this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Colleges are scored on 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
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
