The cost of college in Nebraska — and what it pays back
Across the 27 Nebraska institutions we profile, the median net price — what students actually pay after grants and scholarships — is $17,550/yr, $648 above the $16,902 national median. Graduates earn a median $51,303 ten years after entry (above the $43,549 national median), and 15 of the 27 schools clear their full cost on institution-wide earnings. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
How Nebraska's 27 colleges split by ROI verdict
Verdicts: payback under 5 / 10 / 20 / over 20 years (or none).
| College | Net price/yr | Earnings 10y | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clarkson College | $19,241 | $64,876 | 4.7 yrs |
| Bryan College of Health Sciences | $26,919 | $70,845 | 4.8 yrs |
| Creighton University | $31,568 | $73,911 | 4.9 yrs |
| Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health | $21,863 | $65,071 | 5.2 yrs |
| Bellevue University | $17,550 | $61,289 | 5.4 yrs |
| College | Net price/yr | Earnings 10y | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan Community College Area | $4,982 | $38,773 | no payback |
| Mid-Plains Community College | $5,235 | $40,059 | no payback |
| Western Nebraska Community College | $5,474 | $38,729 | no payback |
| Central Community College | $7,024 | $39,429 | no payback |
| Northeast Community College | $8,544 | $42,634 | no payback |
How many Nebraska colleges actually pay for themselves?
15 of 27 — 56% of the Nebraska institutions we profile clear their full net cost on institution-wide earnings above the $48,360 high-school baseline. The rest need a high-paying major to pay off; the school average alone does not do it.
Do Nebraska graduates out-earn the national median?
Nebraska graduates report a median $51,303 ten years after entry, $7,755 above the $43,549 national median. Earnings track the local labour market and the mix of fields the state's colleges graduate, not the state border itself.