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Concordia University-Nebraska

#5 Best Education Colleges in Nebraska
Private nonprofit Seward, NE · Town · Plains · 100% data
B Earnings C+ Graduation C- Value
Graduation Rate
64% C+
Solid completion rate — most students graduate
Earnings (10yr)
$52,415 B
Well above the typical college graduate
Net Price
$23,965 D
40% more than the typical college
Acceptance Rate
86% C-
Accessible to most qualified applicants
Earnings +29% vs avg
Graduation +13% vs avg
Net Price 40% vs avg

Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 13.3× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $13.3 over 20 years. Ranked #5 in Best Education Colleges in Nebraska.

13.3× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $13.3 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,181,123.

What The Data Says

  1. A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.

  2. Earnings 29% above the national college median.

  3. Every $1 invested returns $13.3 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Why Concordia University-Nebraska Matters

Concordia University-Nebraska is a private university in Seward, 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
Private University
Carnegie Class
Master's University
Enrollment
1,283
Setting
Town
Designations
68
Primary Strengths
Education, Business & Marketing, Biology & Biomedical, Psychology

Why students choose Concordia University-Nebraska

Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Strength in Education
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C
Top 53% overall
B
Earnings
$52,415 median
C-
Value
2.2× net price
D
Affordability
$23,965/yr net
C+
Graduation
64% graduate
C-
Selectivity
86% admit rate
D+
Diversity
0.46 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

With about 1,300 students, Concordia University-Nebraska is a solid choice for those looking for a supportive community and a focused academic experience. The school is particularly well-suited for individuals interested in fields like Education, Business & Marketing, Psychology, Biology & Biomedical, and Criminal Justice. The acceptance rate of 86% means that many students can find a place here, which can be a relief if you’re navigating a competitive college landscape.

When it comes to life after graduation, the numbers paint a positive picture. Graduates earn an average of $52,415 within ten years, which can be a good return on investment, especially for those entering fields like education or business. While the graduation rate is 64%, it reflects a commitment to helping students succeed, and many who finish do find themselves moving into stable careers. The affordability of Concordia is also noteworthy, as students often find themselves in a position to manage their finances without overwhelming debt.

Looking at the financials, the net price after aid sits at around $23,965, making it a manageable option for many families. The median debt of $25,750 is reasonable compared to national averages, and with only 11% of students receiving Pell Grants, it suggests that most students here come from a variety of backgrounds. Those who thrive at Concordia tend to appreciate a close-knit environment and are ready to engage deeply with their studies and the community around them.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective Concordia University-Nebraska is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Concordia University-Nebraska? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a private institution in Seward, Nebraska, Concordia University-Nebraska admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 86%. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 23. The graduation rate is roughly 64%.

Acceptance Rate
86%
Retention Rate
80%
ACT Midpoint
23
Full-Time Faculty
100%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$6,919
Student–Faculty Ratio
12:1
Diversity Index
0.46
First-Gen Students
18%
Applicants
1,605
Admitted
1,458

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 Concordia University-Nebraska? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Concordia University-Nebraska is $40,640, 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 $23,965. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $19,107 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,750 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$40,640
Out-of-State
$40,640
Avg Net Price
$23,965
Median Debt
$25,750
Pell Grant Rate
11%
Federal Loan Rate
26%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$19,107
Family Income $30K–$48K
$20,295
Family Income $48K–$75K
$21,442
Family Income $110K+
$26,433

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Students Like You

Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Concordia University-Nebraska — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.

Compare schools in the full simulator →Sources: College Scorecard, Common Data Set, Opportunity Insights · today's dollars (CPI-adjusted) · descriptive, not predictive

Graduate Outcomes

Is Concordia University-Nebraska Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Concordia University-Nebraska earn a median of $52,415, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

6 Years After Entry
$44,527
8 Years
$46,998
10 Years
$52,415
Debt-to-Earnings
0.49x
Earning > $25K
72%

Earnings Trajectory

$44,527 6yr $46,998 8yr $52,415 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (149)
46%
100% (149)
46%
100% (149)
46%
100% (149)
46%

How Concordia Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation64%Earnings 10yr$52KNet Price$24KRetention80%Median Debt$26KPell Grant Rate11%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$19K$0-30K$20K$30-48K$21K$48-75K$26K$110K+

College ROI Calculator

Is Concordia University-Nebraska Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Concordia University-Nebraska delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $23,965/year ($95,860 total). Graduates earn $52,415 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,276,983 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,181,123 (13.3× your investment). The median debt is $25,750, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 64% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$95,860
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,276,983
Net Return
$1,181,123
ROI Multiple
13.3×
Cost Per Year
$23,965
Median Debt
$25,750
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
64%

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is Concordia University-Nebraska? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Concordia University-Nebraska. Its economic connectedness score is 1.67, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
1.67
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
-0.02
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
7.8%
Support Ratio
1.00
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Federal Grants
$3,421,307
Investment Income
$-9,076,339

Top Programs

The fields Concordia University-Nebraska awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.

Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Concordia University-Nebraska? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a private institution in Seward, Nebraska, Concordia University-Nebraska admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 86%. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 23. The graduation rate is roughly 64%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Concordia University-Nebraska? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Concordia University-Nebraska is $40,640, 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 $23,965. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $19,107 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,750 in federal student loans.

Is Concordia University-Nebraska Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Concordia University-Nebraska earn a median of $52,415, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

How Connected Is Concordia University-Nebraska? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Concordia University-Nebraska. Its economic connectedness score is 1.67, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Similar Schools

Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Concordia University-Nebraska.

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

The 2026 Annual Report

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

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