by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in Nebraska, narrowing things down is no easy task. Our ranking highlights **20** graduate schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual evaluated 20 graduate schools on more than 20 objective measures 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 top-ranked graduate schools span the following early-career salary range:
Explore the leading graduate schools below:
University Of Nebraska Medical Center earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Nebraska. Based in Omaha, NE, University Of Nebraska Medical Center is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,973, while out-of-state students pay about $39,962. Early-career graduates earn a median of $85,223. University Of Nebraska Medical Center students take on a median of $20,905 in debt.
The strong outcomes at Creighton University earned it the #2 place in Nebraska. Located in Omaha, NE, Creighton University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $48,856. Median early-career earnings reach $64,369. Students borrow a median of $25,831 to complete a degree here.
You'll be in good company at University Of Nebraska Lincoln, which ranked #3 this year. Set in Lincoln, NE, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a public institution. University Of Nebraska Lincoln posts a six-year graduation rate of 67%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,434, while out-of-state students pay about $28,584. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,755 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $22,386 in student loans.
A rank of #4 makes Bellevue University one of the top graduate schools in Nebraska. This private not-for-profit school is set in Bellevue, NE. Roughly 33% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,873. Bellevue University graduates report median early-career earnings of $61,548. Bellevue University students take on a median of $27,852 in debt.
University Of Nebraska At Omaha came in at #5 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Nebraska. This public school is set in Omaha, NE. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,718, compared with $23,206 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $48,906. The median student debt is $21,783.
Clarkson College did well this year, earning the #6 position. Clarkson College is a private not-for-profit school based in Omaha, NE. Clarkson College posts a six-year graduation rate of 36%. Students from in state pay about $16,104 in tuition and fees. Clarkson College graduates report median early-career earnings of $77,377. Clarkson College students take on a median of $30,052 in debt.
University Of Nebraska At Kearney ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. University Of Nebraska At Kearney is a public school based in Kearney, NE. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,564, compared with $16,484 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $46,744 early in their careers. University Of Nebraska At Kearney students take on a median of $22,173 in debt.
Doane College Crete placed #8 among the best graduate schools in Nebraska. Located in Crete, NE, Doane College Crete is a private not-for-profit institution. About 57% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $41,985. Median early-career earnings reach $53,500. Graduates carry a median of $28,802 in student loans.
Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health did well this year, earning the #9 position. 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 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. Students borrow a median of $31,121 to complete a degree here.
Bryan College Of Health Sciences came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Based 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%. In-state tuition and fees average $20,640. Early-career graduates earn a median of $109,098. Bryan College Of Health Sciences students take on a median of $30,598 in debt.
Wayne State College came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Located in Wayne, NE, Wayne State College is a public institution. Wayne State College posts a six-year graduation rate of 52%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,171. Early-career graduates earn a median of $46,646. Students borrow a median of $22,974 to complete a degree here.
Hastings College placed #12 among the best graduate schools in Nebraska. Based in Hastings, NE, Hastings College is a private not-for-profit institution. Hastings College graduates 49% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $37,770 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $42,417. The median student debt is $24,125.
Concordia University Seward landed the #13 spot in Nebraska this year. Set in Seward, NE, Concordia University Seward is a private not-for-profit institution. Concordia University Seward posts a six-year graduation rate of 65%. In-state tuition and fees average $40,640. Early-career graduates earn a median of $51,046. Graduates carry a median of $26,726 in student loans.
Nebraska Wesleyan University did well this year, earning the #14 position. Set in Lincoln, NE, Nebraska Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 66% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $43,572. Early-career graduates earn a median of $52,199. The median student debt is $27,667.
College Of Saint Mary ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. College Of Saint Mary is a private not-for-profit school based in Omaha, NE. College Of Saint Mary graduates 60% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $24,510. Early-career graduates earn a median of $66,015. Students borrow a median of $25,539 to complete a degree here.
Chadron State College came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Chadron State College is a public school based in Chadron, NE. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,294. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $47,254. Graduates carry a median of $22,912 in student loans.
Union College Nebraska did well this year, earning the #17 position. Set in Lincoln, NE, Union College Nebraska is a private not-for-profit institution. About 58% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $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. Based in Fremont, NE, Midland University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 42% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $42,050. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $51,524. The median student debt is $27,536.
Peru State College placed #19 among the best graduate schools in Nebraska. Located in Peru, NE, Peru State College is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 38%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,433. Graduates go on to earn a median of $40,993 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $26,254.
York College Nebraska placed #20 among the best graduate schools in Nebraska. Located in York, NE, York College Nebraska is a private not-for-profit institution. York College Nebraska posts a six-year graduation rate of 47%. Students from in state pay about $23,000 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $34,170 early in their careers. The median student debt is $28,370.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools 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
More about our data sources and methodologies.
