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Best Value Schools in Nebraska

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2023 Best Value Schools in Nebraska

Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Prices

17 Schools Ranked
$19,999 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$24,924 Avg Student Debt*

It's not easy to decide which program to enroll in when you have so many options available. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools and bootcamps that offer fast-track entry to many fields.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Course Advisor has created its Best Value Schools in Nebraska ranking. This report analyzed 17 schools in Nebraska to see which ones offered the best value programs for students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.

Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. Specifically, our score for quality is discounted by the published tuition and fees charged by the given college. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The more quality your dollar buys, the better the value.

In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.

Top Value Schools in Nebraska

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

1,876 Total Awards
$4,680 Average Tuition & Fees

Our analysis found Metropolitan Community College to be the best value school for students in Nebraska. MCC is a public institution located in Omaha, Nebraska. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1,876 degrees in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at MCC are $4,680 per year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $13,886 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, MCC graduates make an average of $37,258 annually.

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#2

Southeast Community College Area

Lincoln, Nebraska
1,330 Total Awards
$3,780 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southeast Community College Area. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Schools in Nebraska list. Southeast Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Lincoln, Nebraska. It awarded 1,330 degrees in 2020-2021.

Southeast Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $3,780 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,221 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $150.After graduating from Southeast Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $38,034 during the early years of their career.

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#3

Central Community College

Grand Island, Nebraska
2,747 Total Awards
$4,590 Average Tuition & Fees

Out of the 17 schools in Nebraska that were part of this year’s ranking, Central Community College landed the # 3 spot on the list. Central Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Grand Island, Nebraska. It awarded 2,747 degrees in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Central Community College are $4,590 a year. On average, students take out $10,096 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Central Community College graduates make an average of $35,791 annually.

Full Central Community College Report

#4

Northeast Community College

Norfolk, Nebraska
972 Total Awards
$5,010 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Northeast Community College. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Value Schools in Nebraska list. Northeast is a public institution located in Norfolk, Nebraska. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 972 degrees in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Northeast are $5,010 a year. On average, students take out $13,035 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Northeast, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $34,151 during the early years of their career.

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#5

Wayne State College

Wayne, Nebraska
934 Total Awards
$7,458 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Wayne State College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Schools in Nebraska list. Wayne, Nebraska is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 934 students in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at WSC are $7,458 per year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,937 in student loans.After graduating from WSC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $42,000 during the early years of their career.

WSC not only placed well in our value ranking, but it is also #5 on our Best Schools in Nebraska list.

Full Wayne State College Report

#6

Chadron State College

Chadron, Nebraska
491 Total Awards
$7,206 Average Tuition & Fees

Chadron State College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Schools in Nebraska ranking. This small public school is located in Chadron, Nebraska, and it awarded 491 degrees in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Chadron State College are $7,206 per year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,709 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Chadron State College graduates make an average of $44,696 annually.

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#7

Bellevue University

Bellevue, Nebraska
3,533 Total Awards
$8,310 Average Tuition & Fees

Bellevue University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Schools in Nebraska ranking. Located in Bellevue, Nebraska, the fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 3,533 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Bellevue University are $8,310 per year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $29,741 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Bellevue University graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $54,053 during the early year of their career.

Bellevue University also took the #1 spot in our Best Schools in Nebraska rankings.

Full Bellevue University Report

#8

University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Lincoln, Nebraska
6,179 Total Awards
$26,720 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Nebraska - Lincoln ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Schools in Nebraska list. Located in Lincoln, Nebraska, the large public school awarded 6,179 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.

UNL undergraduate students pay an average of $26,720 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $21,763 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $298, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, UNL graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $44,380 during the early year of their career.

UNL also made our Best Schools in Nebraska list, coming in at #2.

Full University of Nebraska - Lincoln Report

1,448 Total Awards
$15,320 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Nebraska at Kearney did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for students. It came in at #9 on the list. Located in Kearney, Nebraska, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,448 degrees in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UNK are $15,320 per year. On average, students take out $22,258 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $153, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, UNK graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $39,814 during the early year of their career.

Read full report on University of Nebraska at Kearney

3,611 Total Awards
$21,718 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Nebraska at Omaha landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value programs. UNOMAHA is a public institution located in Omaha, Nebraska. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 3,611 degrees in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at UNOMAHA are $21,718 a year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $22,890 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $158, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, UNOMAHA graduates make an average of $43,015 annually.

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#11

Peru State College

Peru, Nebraska
372 Total Awards
$7,800 Average Tuition & Fees

Peru State College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value programs. Peru, Nebraska is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 372 students in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Peru State are $7,800 a year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $27,366 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Peru State graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $37,169 during the early year of their career.

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#12

Concordia University, Nebraska

Seward, Nebraska
1,272 Total Awards
$36,310 Average Tuition & Fees

Concordia University, Nebraska landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value programs. Located in Seward, Nebraska, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 1,272 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Concordia University, Nebraska are $36,310 per year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,880 in student loans.After graduating from Concordia University, Nebraska, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $45,364 during the early years of their career.

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#13

Doane University

Crete, Nebraska
689 Total Awards
$37,880 Average Tuition & Fees

Doane University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for students. It came in at #13 on the list. Crete, Nebraska is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out degrees to 689 students in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Doane Crete are $37,880 a year. On average, students take out $30,859 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $269, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Doane Crete graduates make an average of $40,305 annually.

Full Doane University Report

#14

Nebraska Wesleyan University

Lincoln, Nebraska
496 Total Awards
$38,334 Average Tuition & Fees

Nebraska Wesleyan University landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value programs. NWU is located in Lincoln, Nebraska and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 496 degrees to qualified students.

NWU undergraduate students pay an average of $38,334 in tuition and fees each year. On average, students take out $27,239 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $534, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from NWU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $45,410 during the early years of their career.

NWU not only placed well in our value ranking, but it is also #4 on our Best Schools in Nebraska list.

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#15

Midland University

Fremont, Nebraska
385 Total Awards
$36,746 Average Tuition & Fees

Midland University landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value programs. Midland U is a private not-for-profit institution located in Fremont, Nebraska. The school has a small population, and it awarded 385 degrees in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Midland U are $36,746 per year. On average, students take out $27,319 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $295. During the early years of their career, Midland U graduates make an average of $45,838 annually.

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#16

Creighton University

Omaha, Nebraska
2,878 Total Awards
$44,524 Average Tuition & Fees

Creighton University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Schools in Nebraska list. Creighton is located in Omaha, Nebraska and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2,878 degrees to qualified students.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Creighton are $44,524 a year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $25,325 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $518. During the early years of their career, Creighton graduates make an average of $58,756 annually.

Creighton did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our Best Schools in Nebraska list.

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#17

Hastings College

Hastings, Nebraska
299 Total Awards
$33,590 Average Tuition & Fees

Hastings College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Schools in Nebraska ranking. Hastings is a very small private not-for-profit school situated in Hastings, Nebraska. It awarded 299 degrees in 2020-2021.

Hastings undergraduate students pay an average of $33,590 in tuition and fees each year. On average, students take out $22,689 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Hastings graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $36,308 during the early year of their career.

Read full report on Hastings College

Best Value Schools in the Plains States Region

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Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 17 schools only.

References

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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