by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in Nebraska, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. Our ranking highlights **13** graduate schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual analyzed 13 graduate schools 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 is the early-career salary range across the top-ranked graduate schools:
Learn more about these excellent graduate schools below:
University Of Nebraska Medical Center tops our 2026 ranking of the best graduate schools in Nebraska. Based in Omaha, NE, University Of Nebraska Medical Center is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,973, compared with $39,962 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $85,223 early in their careers. The median student debt is $20,905.
Out of the 13 graduate schools in Nebraska in this year's ranking, Creighton University landed the #2 spot. 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 average $48,856. Median early-career earnings reach $64,369. The median student debt is $25,831.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Nebraska Lincoln one of the top graduate schools in Nebraska. Located in Lincoln, NE, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a public institution. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,434, while out-of-state students pay about $28,584. Early-career graduates earn a median of $49,755. The median student debt is $22,386.
The strong outcomes at Clarkson College earned it the #4 place in Nebraska. This private not-for-profit school is set in Omaha, NE. Clarkson College posts a six-year graduation rate of 36%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,104. Early-career graduates earn a median of $77,377. Graduates carry a median of $30,052 in student loans.
The strong outcomes at Bellevue University earned it the #5 place in Nebraska. This private not-for-profit school is set in Bellevue, NE. The six-year graduation rate is 33%. In-state tuition and fees run about $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 #6 in this year's ranking. Based in Omaha, NE, University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,718, while out-of-state students pay about $23,206. Graduates go on to earn a median of $48,906 early in their careers. University Of Nebraska At Omaha students take on a median of $21,783 in debt.
Doane College Crete came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Doane College Crete is a private not-for-profit school based in Crete, NE. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,985. Doane College Crete graduates report median early-career earnings of $53,500. The median student debt is $28,802.
University Of Nebraska At Kearney did well this year, earning the #8 position. This public school is set in Kearney, NE. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. 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.
Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health placed #9 among the best graduate schools in Nebraska. This private not-for-profit school is set in Omaha, NE. About 49% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,934. Median early-career earnings reach $64,158. Graduates carry a median of $31,121 in student loans.
Wayne State College came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Based 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. Wayne State College graduates report median early-career earnings of $46,646. Typical student debt is $22,974.
Concordia University Seward ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Concordia University Seward is a private not-for-profit school based in Seward, NE. Concordia University Seward graduates 65% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,640. Graduates go on to earn a median of $51,046 early in their careers. Concordia University Seward students take on a median of $26,726 in debt.
Nebraska Wesleyan University placed #12 among the best graduate schools in Nebraska. Set in Lincoln, NE, Nebraska Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $43,572. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $52,199. Students borrow a median of $27,667 to complete a degree here.
Chadron State College placed #13 among the best graduate schools in Nebraska. This public school is set in Chadron, NE. About 50% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,294. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $47,254. Students borrow a median of $22,912 to complete a degree here.
College Of Saint Mary placed #14 among the best graduate schools in Nebraska. Based in Omaha, NE, College Of Saint Mary is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. In-state tuition and fees average $24,510. Early-career graduates earn a median of $66,015. Students borrow a median of $25,539 to complete a degree here.
Midland University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Fremont, NE, Midland University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 42%. Students from in state pay about $42,050 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $51,524. Graduates carry a median of $27,536 in student loans.
Union College Nebraska came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Union College Nebraska is a private not-for-profit school based in Lincoln, NE. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $29,334 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $75,400. Union College Nebraska students take on a median of $30,938 in debt.
York College Nebraska ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. York College Nebraska is a private not-for-profit school based in York, NE. About 47% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,000. Early-career graduates earn a median of $34,170. Students borrow a median of $28,370 to complete a degree here.
Peru State College placed #18 among the best graduate schools in Nebraska. Peru State College is a public school based in Peru, NE. About 38% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,433. Median early-career earnings reach $40,993. The median student debt is $26,254.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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.
