Rankings / By State
Best Business Colleges in Nebraska
- 20
- Schools
- $50,828
- Avg. Earnings
- 52%
- Avg. Graduation
- $17,048
- Avg. Net Price
- $20,303
- Avg. Debt
CollegeRanker Research
What Surprised Us Most
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Graduate earnings span a wide band on this list, from $38,729 at the low end to $73,911 at the top. That 1.9× spread shows how much outcomes vary within a single category.
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Metropolitan Community College Area offers the strongest payback. Graduates earn a median of $38,773 against $4,982 in annual net price, the best earnings-to-cost ratio in this ranking.
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The most budget-friendly option on this list is Metropolitan Community College Area, at $4,982 annually in net price.
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Completion rates separate this field: Creighton University graduates 82% of its students, well above the 52% list average. Finishing what you start matters as much as where you start.
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Debt-to-earnings ratios favor Metropolitan Community College Area: graduates owe only 0.21× their yearly income, the most manageable debt burden on the list.
Surprising Comparisons
- Price and payoff diverge sharply here. Metropolitan Community College Area ($4,982/yr) and Creighton University ($31,568/yr) produce graduates earning $38,773 and $73,911 respectively, a far narrower earnings gap than the $26,586 cost difference would suggest.
- On a cost-adjusted basis, Metropolitan Community College Area outperforms Creighton University: similar career earnings at a much lower net price.
- Completion is where this ranking's schools diverge most: Creighton University graduates 82% of its students versus 27% at Metropolitan Community College Area. Access without completion is opportunity unclaimed.
The Takeaway
The through line among the top-ranked schools is plain. They pair solid graduate earnings with affordable costs and meaningful social mobility. Prestige and selectivity matter far less than whether students end up better off.
What This Means for Students
Your shortlist should start with Metropolitan Community College Area and Creighton University. For each school, look up the net price your family would actually pay, weigh it against typical graduate earnings, and build the decision around the return instead of the name recognition.
Why this ranking matters
Business is one of the higher-return fields in the economy, but the payoff depends heavily on where you study it. Graduates of these programs earn a median of about $52K within a decade, and management analyst roles are projected to grow 10%. We rank programs by the outcomes they produce for graduates, not by reputation.
How we measure this — full methodology →How we rank · 4 pillars
Federal-source data only. Build your own weighting →
Data Behind This Page Updated 2026-07-13
Source datasets
Methodology
Schools are scored on the CollegeRanker 4-Pillar Algorithm: Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25–35%), Academic Quality (15–20%), and Value (20–25%). Every weight is published and every figure traces to a public dataset.
See the full methodology and weights →Confidence notes
- Earnings, completion, and debt figures come from federal administrative records — tax data and student-aid filings — not surveys or self-reports, the highest-confidence tier of education data available.
- Social-mobility estimates are drawn from de-identified tax records covering more than 30 million students (Opportunity Insights).
- Where an institution is missing a metric, it is excluded from that metric rather than imputed, so averages are never inflated by guesses.
Limitations
- Federal earnings data primarily cover students who received federal financial aid; outcomes for non-aided students may differ.
- Earnings are measured roughly ten years after enrollment, so they describe how earlier cohorts fared — historical outcomes, not guarantees of future results.
- An institution's field-of-study mix affects raw earnings; scores reflect measured outcomes and are not fully major-adjusted unless explicitly noted.
- Net price is an average; the actual cost a given student pays varies widely by family income.
At a Glance
How the Top Schools Compare
| School | Earnings | Net Price | Graduation | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Creighton University #1 overall | $73,911 ▲ +45% vs avg | $31,568 | 82% | 81 |
| 2 Bellevue University #2 overall | $61,289 ▲ +21% vs avg | $17,550 | 39% | 79 |
| 3 Peru State College #3 overall | $47,071 ▼ -7% vs avg | $11,632 | 38% | 78 |
| $51,303 ▲ +1% vs avg | $24,452 | 51% | 76 | |
| $52,163 ▲ +3% vs avg | $26,267 | 43% | 75 |
Score uses our 4-pillar methodology. Earnings % is vs. this list's average.
See full ranking →Executive Summary
Best Business Colleges in Nebraska
This analysis ranks 20 institutions on graduate earnings, social mobility, completion, and cost. Across the list, alumni earn a median of $50,828 ten years after enrolling, against an average graduation rate of 52% and an average net price of $17,048.
Key takeaways
- Strongest Earnings-to-Cost Ratio: Metropolitan Community College Area — Net Price: $4,982 | Graduation Rate: 27%
- Strongest Completion Outcomes: Creighton University — 82% completion rate
- Highest Earnings Generator: Creighton University — Median alumni earnings: $73,911
Data Insight
Private nonprofit colleges cost 110% more in net price than publics, while their graduates earn 21% more.
Management Education Analysis
What does this ranking tell us about leadership and management education?
$51,733
Median earnings (10yr)
50%
Median graduation rate
$17,070
Median net price
1.3%
Avg. mobility rate
Management education makes a blunt promise: pay now, earn more later. Top-tier programs keep that promise through network effects and placement outcomes. Many others raise earnings barely enough to cover their cost. The spread in outcomes across programs is wider here than in almost any other discipline.
The median graduation rate across these 20 schools is 50%. Median graduate earnings reach $51,733 ten years after enrollment, roughly $3,733 more than the national worker average of $48,000. Average net price, the cost after grants, is $17,070 a year, and median federal debt at graduation is about $21,250. Some 28% of students receive Pell grants, and mobility, the share of low-income students who reach the top quintile, averages 1.3%.
In management education, network effects amplify everything. Graduates earn a median of $51,733 ten years after enrollment, and Creighton University leads the field. The gap between the top and the middle is wide enough that school selection may be the most consequential financial decision in this category.
The podium
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Full rankings
Why it ranks #1
Creighton University lands at #1 with a 81/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (45/100). Graduates earn a median $73,911 a decade after enrolling, 45% above this list's average, and net price runs $31,568 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #2
Bellevue University lands at #2 with a 79/100 composite, led by social mobility (90/100) and pulled down by academic quality (46/100). Graduates earn a median $61,289 a decade after enrolling, 21% above this list's average, and net price runs $17,550 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #3
Peru State College lands at #3 with a 78/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (62/100). Graduates earn a median $47,071 a decade after enrolling, 7% below this list's average, and net price runs $11,632 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #4
Hastings College lands at #4 with a 76/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (42/100). Graduates earn a median $51,303 a decade after enrolling, 1% above this list's average, and net price runs $24,452 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #5
Midland University lands at #5 with a 75/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (42/100). Graduates earn a median $52,163 a decade after enrolling, 3% above this list's average, and net price runs $26,267 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #6
Chadron State College lands at #6 with a 75/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by academic quality (53/100). Graduates earn a median $47,002 a decade after enrolling, 8% below this list's average, and net price runs $12,549 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #7
Nebraska Wesleyan University lands at #7 with a 75/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (53/100). Graduates earn a median $56,405 a decade after enrolling, 11% above this list's average, and net price runs $18,327 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #8
Wayne State College lands at #8 with a 73/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by academic quality (58/100). Graduates earn a median $47,075 a decade after enrolling, 7% below this list's average, and net price runs $15,360 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #9
Mid-Plains Community College lands at #9 with a 72/100 composite, led by value per dollar (86/100) and pulled down by academic quality (49/100). Graduates earn a median $40,059 a decade after enrolling, 21% below this list's average, and net price runs $5,235 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #10
Western Nebraska Community College lands at #10 with a 71/100 composite, led by value per dollar (87/100) and pulled down by academic quality (61/100). Graduates earn a median $38,729 a decade after enrolling, 24% below this list's average, and net price runs $5,474 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #11
Northeast Community College lands at #11 with a 71/100 composite, led by value per dollar (82/100) and pulled down by academic quality (60/100). Graduates earn a median $42,634 a decade after enrolling, 16% below this list's average, and net price runs $8,544 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #12
Doane University lands at #12 with a 71/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (42/100). Graduates earn a median $53,316 a decade after enrolling, 5% above this list's average, and net price runs $26,364 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #13
University of Nebraska at Kearney lands at #13 with a 71/100 composite, led by academic quality (66/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (63/100). Graduates earn a median $50,105 a decade after enrolling, 1% below this list's average, and net price runs $16,242 a year. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #14
University of Nebraska-Lincoln lands at #14 with a 70/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (68/100) and pulled down by social mobility (59/100). Graduates earn a median $56,887 a decade after enrolling, 12% above this list's average, and net price runs $17,747 a year. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #15
University of Nebraska at Omaha lands at #15 with a 69/100 composite, led by value per dollar (69/100) and pulled down by social mobility (58/100). Graduates earn a median $53,909 a decade after enrolling, 6% above this list's average, and net price runs $13,441 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #16
York University lands at #16 with a 68/100 composite, led by social mobility (64/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (48/100). Graduates earn a median $44,130 a decade after enrolling, 13% below this list's average, and net price runs $20,951 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #17
Concordia University-Nebraska lands at #17 with a 64/100 composite, led by academic quality (75/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (52/100). Graduates earn a median $52,415 a decade after enrolling, 3% above this list's average, and net price runs $23,965 a year, above the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #18
Metropolitan Community College Area lands at #18 with a 62/100 composite, led by value per dollar (88/100) and pulled down by academic quality (47/100). Graduates earn a median $38,773 a decade after enrolling, 24% below this list's average, and net price runs $4,982 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #19
Union Adventist University lands at #19 with a 61/100 composite, led by academic quality (75/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (45/100). Graduates earn a median $55,045 a decade after enrolling, 8% above this list's average, and net price runs $23,716 a year, above the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #20
College of Saint Mary lands at #20 with a 54/100 composite, led by academic quality (68/100) and pulled down by social mobility (38/100). Graduates earn a median $54,338 a decade after enrolling, 7% above this list's average, and net price runs $16,590 a year. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Cut it by what you care about
The same 20 schools, re-ranked by the outcome that matters to you.
Where the programs — and the jobs are
Where these graduates work
Graduates of these programs most often become Management Analysts and related roles — a field with $99,410 median pay and 10% projected growth.
See the Management Analyst career guide →When considering a business education in Nebraska, prospective students have a variety of solid options. Each of the schools on this list offers unique strengths, but they share a commitment to preparing graduates for the workforce. On average, graduates from these programs earn $50,474, highlighting the potential return on investment for students looking to enter the business field.
The schools that stand out in this ranking do so based on key outcomes: earnings, graduation rates, student debt, and overall program concentration. Looking at these factors helps clarify the value each institution provides. For example, Creighton University leads with impressive earnings of $73,911 and an 82% graduation rate, while the University of Nebraska at Omaha, while less expensive with a net price of $13,441, has a lower graduation rate of 47%.
As we dive deeper into the data, it's essential to compare specific schools to understand how they meet different student needs. For instance, while the University of Nebraska-Lincoln boasts a graduation rate of 66% and manageable debt of $21,000, Peru State College has a lower net price of $11,632 but a graduation rate of only 38%. This contrast underscores the importance of balancing costs with the likelihood of successfully completing a degree.
The story behind the ranking
A ranking gives you an order; these charts give you the shape. They show how this group of schools spreads across the four things that decide whether a degree pays off — what graduates earn, whether they finish, how far they move up, and what it costs. Look for the standouts, the outliers, and the trade-offs the list alone can't show.
Earnings Outcomes
What graduates earn 10 years after enrolling. Data from College Scorecard.
Distribution of Median Earnings
Earnings vs. Net Price
Top-left = best value. Top-ranked schools are highlighted.
Completion & Access
Graduation rates and who gets in. Data from College Scorecard & IPEDS.
Graduation Rates
Pell Grant Rate vs. Graduation Rate
Right = more low-income students. Higher = more graduate.
What the Mobility Data Says
The backbone of this ranking is social-mobility data from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, which draws on more than 30 million tax records. A school's mobility rate is the share of its students who move from the bottom income quintile to the top. Among the 12 schools on this list with available data, that rate averages 1.3%. Mid-Plains Community College leads the group at 1.9%, with Chadron State College (1.9%) and Northeast Community College (1.8%) close behind.
Who gets in matters as much as what happens after. Across these schools, an average of 8.7% of students start in the bottom income quintile. Western Nebraska Community College leads at 15.7%, which signals an admissions door that is actually open to low-income students. Schools that pair high access with high mobility are the ones driving generational change.
Once low-income students enroll, their odds of reaching the top income quintile average 18.6% across this list. Creighton University posts the highest success rate at 53.4%. Access without completion and career momentum is an incomplete picture, and this is the number that completes it.
Social capital, measured by economic connectedness, captures the degree of cross-class friendship on campus, another dimension Opportunity Insights ties to long-run outcomes. Across these schools it averages 1.55 against a national benchmark of 1.0. Creighton University reaches 1.78, the highest on the list.
Mobility, access, and social-capital figures from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card & the Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas.
Cost & Debt
What families actually pay and what students owe. Data from College Scorecard.
Median Debt at Graduation
The data reveals a significant disparity between Creighton University and the University of Nebraska at Omaha in terms of outcomes. Despite Omaha's lower net price of $13,441, its graduation rate of 47% is considerably lower than Creighton's 82%. This difference suggests that while Omaha may seem financially attractive, students may face challenges in completing their degrees, potentially affecting their long-term earnings.
As you evaluate these options, consider what matters most to you and your family. Think about location, the specific business programs offered, campus culture, and your financial situation. If you value a higher graduation rate and greater earning potential, a school like Creighton may be worth the investment. On the other hand, if affordability is your primary concern, the University of Nebraska at Omaha could be a fit, but be mindful of its lower completion rates.
Ultimately, the choice of school can significantly impact your future. Consider one family's journey: they might choose Creighton for its strong outcomes, knowing that the investment could lead to higher earnings down the line. Each decision shapes their path from college to a stable professional life, underscoring the importance of careful consideration in this process.
Data Sources
U.S. Dept of Education College Scorecard
Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card
Social Capital Atlas
Times Higher Education World Rankings
NCES IPEDS
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Business Colleges in Nebraska: Your Questions, Answered
What is the #1 school in the Best Business Colleges in Nebraska ranking? +
Creighton University in Omaha, NE ranks #1 in our 2026 Best Business Colleges in Nebraska ranking. It earns the top spot on the strength of a median $73,911 in graduate earnings ten years after enrollment and a 82% graduation rate. Our score is built entirely from federal data on graduation rates, graduate earnings, debt, and social mobility. Reputation surveys play no part.
Which school has the highest graduate earnings? +
Creighton University posts the highest median earnings on this list: $73,911 ten years after enrollment, well above the $50,828 average across the 20 ranked schools with earnings data. Earnings that outpace cost are what separate a degree that pays off from one that does not.
Which school offers the best value? +
On a pure return-on-cost basis, Metropolitan Community College Area leads: graduates earn a median $38,773 against net price of about $4,982 a year, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio in the ranking. Applicants should weigh that payback against sticker price rather than prestige.
Which school has the highest graduation rate? +
Creighton University has the highest graduation rate in this ranking at 82%, compared with a 52% average across the list. Completion matters because the students who finish are the ones who actually capture the earnings and mobility gains a degree promises.
How much does it cost to attend these schools? +
The average net price, meaning what students actually pay after grants and scholarships, is about $17,048 a year across the 20 ranked schools with cost data. Metropolitan Community College Area is among the most affordable at roughly $4,982. Net price is a far better guide to affordability than the published sticker price.
How is the Best Business Colleges in Nebraska ranking calculated? +
We score every school on a four-pillar algorithm: economic outcomes (graduate earnings and debt), social mobility (Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built on more than 30 million anonymized tax records), academic quality (graduation and retention), and value (net price and loan burden). Social mobility carries the heaviest weight, so schools that lift low-income students into higher earnings rank above those that simply admit wealthy students. Every input comes from federal data, and schools that withhold their numbers are scored lower for it.
How many schools are ranked and where does the data come from? +
This ranking evaluates 20 institutions using the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, the Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card and Social Capital Atlas, Times Higher Education, and NCES IPEDS. There are no opinion surveys or paid placements. The order is determined by the data alone and refreshed as new federal figures are released.
Sources & Citations
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