Best colleges in Nebraska
Every accredited four-year college ranked by the Compass Score: outcomes, entering students, cost and teaching, from federal data.
Best colleges in Nebraska19 schools
19 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score.
How this list is made
- Schools in Nebraska.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
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University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Lincoln, NE · Public#3 in Nebraska
- Value grade B+ · Top 30%
- 67% graduate
- 4
Bryan College of Health Sciences
Lincoln, NE · Private nonprofitTop 14% for earnings
- Value grade B · Top 50%
- 70% graduate
- 5
Nebraska Wesleyan University
Lincoln, NE · Private nonprofit#5 in Nebraska
- Value grade B · Top 48%
- 66% graduate
- 6
Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health
Omaha, NE · Private nonprofitTop 19% for earnings
- Value grade B · Top 37%
- 60% graduate
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University of Nebraska at Kearney
Kearney, NE · Public#8 in Nebraska
- Value grade B+ · Top 34%
- 58% graduate
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Chadron State College
Chadron, NE · PublicTop 24% for low net price
- Value grade B+ · Top 25%
- 50% graduate
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Union Adventist University
Lincoln, NE · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- Value grade B-
- 52% graduate
- 14
University of Nebraska at Omaha
Omaha, NE · PublicGood: Compass grade B-
- Value grade A- · Top 17%
- 47% graduate
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Bellevue University
Bellevue, NE · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- Value grade A- · Top 20%
- 33% graduate
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Clarkson College
Omaha, NE · Private nonprofitTop 20% for earnings
- Value grade B+ · Top 29%
- 47% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Creighton University | $31,568 | $25,000 | $73,911 | 83% |
| College of Saint Mary | $16,590 | $24,250 | $54,338 | 61% |
| University of Nebraska-Lincoln | $17,747 | $21,000 | $56,887 | 67% |
| Bryan College of Health Sciences | $26,919 | $24,985 | $70,845 | 70% |
| Nebraska Wesleyan University | $18,327 | $26,970 | $56,405 | 66% |
| Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health | $21,863 | $23,417 | $65,071 | 60% |
| Wayne State College | $15,360 | $19,000 | $47,075 | 52% |
| University of Nebraska at Kearney | $16,242 | $19,500 | $50,105 | 58% |
| Concordia University-Nebraska | $23,965 | $25,750 | $52,415 | 65% |
| Chadron State College | $12,549 | $18,875 | $47,002 | 50% |
| Hastings College | $24,452 | $27,000 | $51,303 | 49% |
| Doane University | $26,364 | $25,000 | $53,316 | 57% |
| Union Adventist University | $23,716 | $27,000 | $55,045 | 52% |
| University of Nebraska at Omaha | $13,441 | $19,000 | $53,909 | 47% |
| York University | $20,951 | $21,500 | $44,130 | 52% |
| Bellevue University | $17,550 | $20,000 | $61,289 | 33% |
| Midland University | $26,267 | $26,134 | $52,163 | 42% |
| Peru State College | $11,632 | $21,875 | $47,071 | 38% |
| Clarkson College | $19,241 | $23,716 | $64,876 | 47% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 26
- Alaska 5
- Arizona 16
- Arkansas 23
- California 128
- Colorado 26
- Connecticut 26
- Delaware 4
- District of Columbia 9
- Florida 61
- Georgia 60
- Hawaii 6
- Idaho 9
- Illinois 57
- Indiana 45
- Iowa 30
- Kansas 27
- Kentucky 29
- Louisiana 24
- Maine 19
- Maryland 26
- Massachusetts 67
- Michigan 44
- Minnesota 40
- Mississippi 16
- Missouri 53
- Montana 10
- Nevada 6
- New Hampshire 13
- New Jersey 36
- New Mexico 11
- New York 135
- North Carolina 55
- North Dakota 9
- Ohio 99
- Oklahoma 23
- Oregon 21
- Pennsylvania 118
- Puerto Rico 52
- Rhode Island 11
- South Carolina 35
- South Dakota 11
- Tennessee 43
- Texas 85
- Utah 16
- Vermont 9
- Virginia 51
- Washington 24
- West Virginia 19
- Wisconsin 36
- Wyoming 3