by our College Data Analytics TeamWith all of the graduate school options in Nebraska, narrowing things down is no easy task. This list ranks 37 programs by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual reviewed graduate schools 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.
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Learn more about these excellent graduate schools below:
Our analysis found University Of Nebraska Medical Center to be the best graduate school in Nebraska. University Of Nebraska Medical Center is a public school based in Omaha, NE. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,973, while out-of-state students pay about $39,962. Graduates go on to earn a median of $85,223 early in their careers. University Of Nebraska Medical Center students take on a median of $20,905 in debt.
Out of the 37 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 posts a six-year graduation rate of 83%. Students from in state pay about $48,856 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $64,369. Typical student debt is $25,831.
You'll be in good company at University Of Nebraska Lincoln, which ranked #3 this year. Located in Lincoln, NE, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a public institution. University Of Nebraska Lincoln posts a six-year graduation rate of 67%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,434, with out-of-state students paying around $28,584. Median early-career earnings reach $49,755. Students borrow a median of $22,386 to complete a degree here.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Nebraska At Omaha one of the top graduate schools in Nebraska. Set in Omaha, NE, University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a public institution. University Of Nebraska At Omaha posts a six-year graduation rate of 49%. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,718, while out-of-state students pay about $23,206. Median early-career earnings reach $48,906. Typical student debt is $21,783.
Out of the 37 graduate schools in Nebraska in this year's ranking, Bellevue University landed the #5 spot. Bellevue University is a private not-for-profit school based in Bellevue, NE. Roughly 33% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,873. Median early-career earnings reach $61,548. Graduates carry a median of $27,852 in student loans.
Clarkson College placed #6 among the best graduate schools in Nebraska. Based in Omaha, NE, Clarkson College is a private not-for-profit institution. Clarkson College graduates 36% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,104. Early-career graduates earn a median of $77,377. Students borrow a median of $30,052 to complete a degree here.
Central Community College placed #7 among the best graduate schools in Nebraska. Based in Grand Island, NE, Central Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,360, compared with $4,800 for out-of-state students. 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 came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Located in Kearney, NE, University Of Nebraska At Kearney is a public institution. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,564, while out-of-state students pay about $16,484. Early-career graduates earn a median of $46,744. University Of Nebraska At Kearney students take on a median of $22,173 in debt.
Doane College Crete landed the #9 spot in Nebraska this year. Doane College Crete is a private not-for-profit school based in Crete, NE. About 57% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,985. Early-career graduates earn a median of $53,500. The median student debt is $28,802.
Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health did well this year, earning the #10 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 average $18,934. Graduates go on to earn a median of $64,158 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $31,121 to complete a degree here.
Hastings College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Hastings, NE. Hastings College posts a six-year graduation rate of 49%. Students from in state pay about $37,770 in tuition and fees. 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 ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Lincoln, NE. 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. Students borrow a median of $27,667 to complete a degree here.
Wayne State College did well this year, earning the #13 position. Wayne State College is a public school based in Wayne, NE. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. Students from in state pay about $8,171 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $46,646. Wayne State College students take on a median of $22,974 in debt.
Bryan College Of Health Sciences came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Based in Lincoln, NE, Bryan College Of Health Sciences is a private not-for-profit institution. About 63% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $20,640. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $109,098. Typical student debt is $30,598.
Northeast Community College came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Set in Norfolk, NE, Northeast Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,840, compared with $5,130 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $40,568. Graduates carry a median of $11,937 in student loans.
Southeast Community College Area landed the #16 spot in Nebraska this year. Southeast Community College Area is a public school based in Lincoln, NE. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,444, compared with $4,032 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $44,877. Graduates carry a median of $14,935 in student loans.
College Of Saint Mary came in at #17 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Omaha, NE. College Of Saint Mary graduates 60% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $24,510. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $66,015. College Of Saint Mary students take on a median of $25,539 in debt.
Metropolitan Community College Area landed the #18 spot in Nebraska this year. Metropolitan Community College Area is a public school based in Omaha, NE. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,375, while out-of-state students pay about $4,950. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $45,583. Students borrow a median of $12,799 to complete a degree here.
Concordia University Seward placed #19 among the best graduate schools in Nebraska. Located in Seward, NE, Concordia University Seward is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. Students from in state pay about $40,640 in tuition and fees. Concordia University Seward graduates report median early-career earnings of $51,046. Typical student debt is $26,726.
Nebraska College Of Technical Agriculture came in at #20 in this year's ranking. 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. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $28,610. Students borrow a median of $12,127 to complete a degree here.
Chadron State College came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Chadron State College is a public school based in Chadron, NE. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. Students from in state pay about $8,294 in tuition and fees. Chadron State College graduates report median early-career earnings of $47,254. The median student debt is $22,912.
Midland University came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Midland University is a private not-for-profit school based in Fremont, NE. The six-year graduation rate is 42%. In-state tuition and fees run about $42,050. Midland University graduates report median early-career earnings of $51,524. Students borrow a median of $27,536 to complete a degree here.
Union College Nebraska ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Lincoln, NE, Union College Nebraska is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. Students from in state pay about $29,334 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $75,400. Students borrow a median of $30,938 to complete a degree here.
Western Nebraska Community College landed the #24 spot in Nebraska this year. Based in Scottsbluff, NE, Western Nebraska Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,840 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $4,410. Western Nebraska Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $62,413. Typical student debt is $14,507.
Mid Plains Community College landed the #25 spot in Nebraska this year. Set in North Platte, NE, Mid Plains Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,600, with out-of-state students paying around $4,530. Graduates go on to earn a median of $39,396 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,596 to complete a degree here.
Not far behind, these graduate schools also landed in the top of this year’s ranking:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 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
More about our data sources and methodologies.
