Western Nebraska Community College
#2 Most Affordable Colleges in Nebraska- Graduation Rate
- 36% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $38,729 C-
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $5,474 A
- 68% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 893
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 41.9× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $41.9 over 20 years. Ranked #2 in Most Affordable Colleges in Nebraska.
Every $1 spent returns $41.9 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $896,267.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduation of 36% — 37% below the national average.
-
Every $1 invested returns $41.9 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Western Nebraska Community College Matters
Western Nebraska Community College is a public community college in Scottsbluff, NE and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an above-average alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Community College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 893
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Mechanic & Repair Tech, Humanities, Business & Marketing
Why students choose Western Nebraska Community 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 $5,474 a year after grants and scholarships — 68% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $38,729 ten years after enrolling — 5% below the typical college, against $9,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.7% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 40% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.10 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of 893 students, Western Nebraska Community College in Scottsbluff caters to individuals seeking a solid foundation in various fields. This school is particularly appealing for those interested in Health Professions, Mechanic and Repair Technology, Humanities, Business and Marketing, or Computer Science and IT. It stands out for its focus on practical skills and job readiness, making it a good fit for students who want to enter the workforce quickly or transfer to a four-year institution.
After graduation, students can expect to earn around $38,729 within ten years. This figure highlights the potential for upward mobility, especially for those who enter high-demand fields. Affordability is also a key consideration here; with a net price of just $5,474, many graduates can start their careers without a heavy financial burden. While 27% of students receive Pell Grants, the overall financial support can help ease the transition from education to employment.
When it comes to the financial bottom line, the median debt for graduates stands at $9,000, which is manageable for many. This makes Western Nebraska Community College a practical choice for students looking to minimize their debt while gaining valuable skills. Those who thrive here often appreciate a hands-on learning environment and are motivated to build a career in their chosen field.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Western Nebraska Community 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 Western Nebraska Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, Western Nebraska Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 36%.
- Retention Rate
- 53%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $6,555
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 17:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.63
- First-Gen Students
- 48%
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 Western Nebraska Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Western Nebraska Community College is $4,410, 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 $5,474. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $4,420 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $9,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $3,840
- Out-of-State
- $4,410
- Avg Net Price
- $5,474
- Median Debt
- $9,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 27%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 8%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $4,420
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $3,808
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $7,099
- Family Income $110K+
- $11,714
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Western Nebraska Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Western Nebraska Community College report median earnings of $38,729, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $33,557
- 8 Years
- $36,228
- 10 Years
- $38,729
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.23x
- Earning > $25K
- 47%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (88)
- 27%
- 100% (88)
- 27%
- 100% (88)
- 27%
- 100% (88)
- 27%
How Western 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 Western Nebraska Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Western Nebraska Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $5,474/year ($21,896 total). Graduates earn $38,729 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $918,163 in total earnings — a net gain of $896,267 (41.9× your investment). The median debt is $9,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 36% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $21,896
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $918,163
- Net Return
- $896,267
- ROI Multiple
- 41.9×
- Cost Per Year
- $5,474
- Median Debt
- $9,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 36%
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 Western Nebraska Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Western Nebraska Community 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 1.69%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 15.7% 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 10.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $56,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.69%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 10.8%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 15.7%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $56,400
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $5,882,229
- Investment Income
- $-7,891
Top Programs
The fields Western Nebraska Community 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.
- Health Professions 33%
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 12%
- Humanities 10%
- Business & Marketing 8%
- Computer Science & IT 6%
- Precision Production 6%
- Education 6%
- Construction Trades 6%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Western Nebraska Community 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+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Western Nebraska Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, Western Nebraska Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 36%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Western Nebraska Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Western Nebraska Community College is $4,410, 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 $5,474. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $4,420 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $9,000 in federal student loans.
Is Western Nebraska Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Western Nebraska Community College report median earnings of $38,729, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Western Nebraska Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Western Nebraska Community 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 1.69%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 15.7% 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 10.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $56,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Western Nebraska Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Western Nebraska Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.10, 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 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Western Nebraska Community College.
- Labette Community CollegeParsons, KS · Close peer26% grad $37,818 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Mid-Plains Community CollegeNorth Platte, NE · Close peer49% grad $40,059 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- Redlands Community CollegeEl Reno, OK · Close peer34% grad $37,224 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Pennsylvania Highlands Community CollegeJohnstown, PA · Close peer39% grad $38,752 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- SUNY Corning Community CollegeCorning, NY · Close peer33% grad $38,817 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate
- Fulton-Montgomery Community CollegeJohnstown, NY · Close peer37% grad $39,535 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Western Nebraska Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Western Nebraska Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.10, 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 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note