Best colleges in Nebraska, ranked by ROI

Name: Nebraska colleges — cost, earnings and ROI rankings
Creator: Degree Dividend

By the Degree Dividend editorial data teamEvery figure verified against its federal source — methodologyData updated June 2026

We rank all 27 Nebraska institutions we profile by payback years — total net cost divided by earnings above the $48,360 high-school baseline. The state's median net price is $17,550/yr (above the $16,902 national median), and its graduates earn a median $51,303 ten years out (above the $43,549 national median). Clarkson College leads, clearing its cost in 4.7 years. (Scorecard, 2026.)

$17,550

Median net price / yr

Scorecard, 2026

$51,303

Median earnings, 10 yrs

Scorecard, 2026

9.7 yrs

Median payback

Our math, 2026

Colleges ranked

degreedividend.com

Nebraska colleges by payback (best first)

#	College	Net price/yr	Earnings 10y	Payback
1	Clarkson College	$19,241	$64,876	4.7 yrs
2	Bryan College of Health Sciences	$26,919	$70,845	4.8 yrs
3	Creighton University	$31,568	$73,911	4.9 yrs
4	Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health	$21,863	$65,071	5.2 yrs
5	Bellevue University	$17,550	$61,289	5.4 yrs
6	University of Nebraska-Lincoln	$17,747	$56,887	8.3 yrs
7	Nebraska Wesleyan University	$18,327	$56,405	9.1 yrs
8	University of Nebraska at Omaha	$13,441	$53,909	9.7 yrs
9	College of Saint Mary	$16,590	$54,338	11.1 yrs
10	Union Adventist University	$23,716	$55,045	14.2 yrs
11	Doane University	$26,364	$53,316	21.3 yrs
12	Concordia University-Nebraska	$23,965	$52,415	23.6 yrs
13	Midland University	$26,267	$52,163	27.6 yrs
14	Hastings College	$24,452	$51,303	33.2 yrs
15	University of Nebraska at Kearney	$16,242	$50,105	37.2 yrs
16	Peru State College	$11,632	$47,071	no payback
17	Chadron State College	$12,549	$47,002	no payback
18	Wayne State College	$15,360	$47,075	no payback
19	Northeast Community College	$8,544	$42,634	no payback
20	Southeast Community College Area	$9,171	$43,405	no payback
21	York University	$20,951	$44,130	no payback
22	Mid-Plains Community College	$5,235	$40,059	no payback
23	Metropolitan Community College Area	$4,982	$38,773	no payback
24	Western Nebraska Community College	$5,474	$38,729	no payback
25	Central Community College	$7,024	$39,429	no payback
26	Nebraska Indian Community College	$23,334	$31,458	no payback
27	Xenon A Stephanie Moss Academy	$15,965	$28,953	no payback

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · ranking and payback are our math. Payback uses institution-wide earnings; a specific major can rank very differently.

Colleges in Nebraska: frequently asked questions

Which college has the best ROI in Nebraska?

Clarkson College. It charges $19,241/yr after aid and its graduates earn a median $64,876 ten years out, clearing the cost in about 4.7 years — the fastest payback of the 27 Nebraska colleges we track.

How much does college cost in Nebraska?

The median net price across Nebraska colleges is $17,550/yr after grants and scholarships — above the $16,902 national median. That is the actual price the typical aided student pays, not the published sticker.

What do Nebraska college graduates earn?

A median $51,303 ten years after entry (Scorecard), above the $43,549 national median. Earnings vary widely by school and major — see each college's profile for its own figure.

How many Nebraska colleges pay for themselves?

15 of the 27 Nebraska colleges we track clear their cost on institution-wide earnings above the high-school baseline. The rest need a high-ROI major to pay off — the school average alone does not.