Chadron State College
#1 Best Education Colleges in Nebraska- Graduation Rate
- 44% D+
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $47,002 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $12,549 B-
- 27% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 1,540
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 23.5× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $23.5 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Best Education Colleges in Nebraska.
Every $1 spent returns $23.5 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,128,015.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 44% — 23% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $23.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Chadron State College Matters
Chadron State College is a public university in Chadron, NE and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 1,540
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Education, Business & Marketing, Criminal Justice, Biology & Biomedical
Why students choose Chadron State College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $12,549 a year after grants and scholarships — 27% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $47,002 ten years after enrolling — 15% above the typical college, against $18,875 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.9% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 31% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.53 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of about 1,540 students, Chadron State College is a good fit for individuals seeking a supportive, smaller community. It's especially appealing for those interested in areas like Education, Business and Marketing, Criminal Justice, Biology and Biomedical, and Psychology. The focus here is on practical learning and building relationships with faculty, which can make a real difference in how students engage with their studies.
Graduates from Chadron can expect to earn around $47,002 after ten years, which provides a solid return on investment considering the cost of attendance. It's a place where many students find their footing and move into stable careers. The affordability factor is significant, especially for those who qualify for aid; with a net price of $12,549, students often find that the financial burden is manageable, allowing them to focus on their studies and career preparations.
When it comes to financial realities, the median debt for graduates sits at $18,875. This is fairly reasonable, especially when you weigh it against the potential earnings after graduation. Students who thrive here are typically those who appreciate a close-knit environment and are looking for a direct path to their chosen profession. The combination of supportive faculty and a strong community can help students navigate their academic journey successfully.
Rankings
- #1 Best Education Colleges in Nebraska
- #5 Best Business Colleges in Nebraska
- #6 Best Bachelor's Programs in Nebraska
- #6 Best Master's Programs in Nebraska
- #7 Best Biology Colleges in Nebraska
- #8 Most Affordable Colleges in Nebraska
- #8 Best Psychology Colleges in Nebraska
- #11 Best Online Colleges in Nebraska
Can I Get In?
How selective Chadron State College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Chadron State College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Chadron State College, located in Chadron, Nebraska, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 44%.
- Retention Rate
- 63%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 55%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $8,175
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 16:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.40
- First-Gen Students
- 39%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Chadron State College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Chadron State College is $8,290, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $12,549. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,047 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $18,875 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $8,290
- Out-of-State
- $8,290
- Avg Net Price
- $12,549
- Median Debt
- $18,875
- Pell Grant Rate
- 38%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 50%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $10,047
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $10,090
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $12,561
- Family Income $110K+
- $16,047
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Chadron State College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Chadron State College earn a median of $47,002, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $39,139
- 8 Years
- $44,887
- 10 Years
- $47,002
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.4x
- Earning > $25K
- 64%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (111)
- 24%
- 100% (111)
- 24%
- 100% (111)
- 24%
- 100% (111)
- 24%
How Chadron Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Chadron State College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Chadron State College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $12,549/year ($50,196 total). Graduates earn $47,002 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,178,211 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,128,015 (23.5× your investment). The median debt is $18,875, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 44% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $50,196
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,178,211
- Net Return
- $1,128,015
- ROI Multiple
- 23.5×
- Cost Per Year
- $12,549
- Median Debt
- $18,875
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 44%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Chadron State College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Chadron State College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.90%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 10.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 17.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $68,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.90%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 17.5%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 10.9%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $68,100
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $1,134,038
- Investment Income
- $184,040
Top Programs
The fields Chadron State College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
- Education 27%
- Business & Marketing 24%
- Criminal Justice 5%
- Biology & Biomedical 5%
- Psychology 5%
- Physical Sciences 5%
- Communications 2%
- Visual & Performing Arts 2%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Chadron State College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Chadron State College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Chadron State College, located in Chadron, Nebraska, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 44%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Chadron State College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Chadron State College is $8,290, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $12,549. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,047 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $18,875 in federal student loans.
Is Chadron State College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Chadron State College earn a median of $47,002, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Chadron State College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Chadron State College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.90%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 10.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 17.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $68,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Chadron State College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Chadron State College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.53, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Chadron State College.
- Mississippi University for WomenColumbus, MS · Close peer42% grad $46,128 earn 90% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Kent State University at TuscarawasNew Philadelphia, OH · Close peer37% grad $45,388 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- SUNY College at PotsdamPotsdam, NY · Close peer47% grad $47,866 earn 78% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- University of Wisconsin-SuperiorSuperior, WI · Close peer43% grad $49,606 earn 93% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Adams State UniversityAlamosa, CO · Close peer36% grad $44,372 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- University of Hawaii at HiloHilo, HI · Close peer45% grad $47,856 earn 61% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Chadron State College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Chadron State College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.53, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note