The Best Colleges in Nebraska
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Nebraska featured a low 2.5% unemployment rate as of February 2024. This figure usually indicates more open positions than available candidates; as a result, employers must offer competitive benefits and salaries and consider more applicants.
Nebraska residents can use this opportunity to switch companies or start a career in one of the state’s largest employment sectors, such as healthcare, education, or management. However, to obtain one of these financially lucrative and personally fulfilling jobs, most need a college degree.
Choosing the right Nebraska college or university can seem overwhelming, especially if you have no experience with higher education. Below, we highlight the 15 best colleges and universities in Nebraska to help you select the right school and program to meet your personal and professional goals.
The following ranking contains valuable information concerning schools’ academic programs, extracurricular activities, student services, and application requirements, as well as other details that can help you make an informed decision.
Visit the embedded links to learn more about each school. Admissions counselors can answer any additional questions you may have about specific programs.
Best Colleges in Nebraska
- In-State$8,040
- Out-of-state$25,770
- In-State$6,138
- Out-of-state$17,928
- Retention Rate85%
- Acceptance Rate77%
- Students Enrolled23,986
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment62%
- AccreditationYes
Clarkson College
Omaha, NE- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$14,880
- Out-of-state$14,880
- In-State$12,294
- Out-of-state$12,294
- Retention Rate73%
- Acceptance Rate56%
- Students Enrolled1,133
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment98%
- AccreditationYes
College of Saint Mary
- Omaha, NE
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$22,450
- Out-of-state$22,450
- In-State$21,103
- Out-of-state$21,103
- Retention Rate71%
- Acceptance Rate50%
- Students Enrolled857
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment56%
- AccreditationYes
- In-State$43,684
- Out-of-state$43,684
- In-State$17,496
- Out-of-state$17,496
- Retention Rate92%
- Acceptance Rate72%
- Students Enrolled8,255
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment37%
- AccreditationYes
- In-State$6,270
- Out-of-state$13,650
- In-State$6,216
- Out-of-state$13,656
- Retention Rate77%
- Acceptance Rate86%
- Students Enrolled6,017
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment71%
- AccreditationYes
- In-State$38,898
- Out-of-state$38,898
- In-State$8,050
- Out-of-state$8,050
- Retention Rate75%
- Acceptance Rate81%
- Students Enrolled1,688
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment21%
- AccreditationYes
- In-State$8,136
- Out-of-state$20,310
- In-State$6,138
- Out-of-state$14,760
- Retention Rate74%
- Acceptance Rate87%
- Students Enrolled15,015
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment76%
- AccreditationYes
How We Rank Schools
At BestColleges, we believe a college education is one of the most important investments you can make. We help you navigate the college selection process by offering transparent, inclusive, and relevant school rankings.
We use datasets from trusted sources like the National Center for Education Statistics to inform the data for these schools and our methodologies. This ranking is from 2020. To learn more, check out our full ranking methodologies.
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