Rankings / By State (Affordable)
Most Affordable Colleges in Nebraska
- 25
- Schools
- $52,007
- Avg. Earnings
- 53%
- Avg. Graduation
- $17,007
- Avg. Net Price
- $19,887
- 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 53% list average. Finishing what you start matters as much as where you start.
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Debt-to-earnings ratios favor Central Community College: graduates owe only 0.20× their yearly income, the most manageable debt burden on the list.
Surprising Comparisons
- The top spot belongs to Mid-Plains Community College ($40,059 earnings), not the highest earner, Creighton University ($73,911). That is what weighting mobility and value over salary alone produces.
- 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.
The Takeaway
A consistent pattern: the schools that finish at the top get there by delivering strong earnings, manageable debt, and real mobility rather than by charging more or rejecting more applicants. Those outcomes are what define educational value.
What This Means for Students
For students evaluating these schools, begin with Metropolitan Community College Area and Creighton University. Look past sticker price: pull each school's net price for your income level, compare it against projected earnings, and let the data guide the decision instead of the brand.
Why this ranking matters
These schools are ranked on outcomes that compound: graduate earnings, upward mobility, debt, and value, all drawn from federal tax records and Scorecard data rather than reputation surveys. The list rewards results over prestige, led by institutions whose graduates earn a median of about $52K ten years after enrollment.
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 Mid-Plains Community College #1 overall | $40,059 ▼ -23% vs avg | $5,235 | 49% | 82 |
| 2 Western Nebraska Community College #2 overall | $38,729 ▼ -26% vs avg | $5,474 | 36% | 82 |
| 3 Metropolitan Community College Area #3 overall | $38,773 ▼ -25% vs avg | $4,982 | 27% | 81 |
| $39,429 ▼ -24% vs avg | $7,024 | 46% | 80 | |
| $42,634 ▼ -18% vs avg | $8,544 | 56% | 76 |
Score uses our 4-pillar methodology. Earnings % is vs. this list's average.
See full ranking →Executive Summary
Most Affordable Colleges in Nebraska
This analysis ranks 25 institutions on graduate earnings, social mobility, completion, and cost. Across the list, alumni earn a median of $52,007 ten years after enrolling, against an average graduation rate of 53% and an average net price of $17,007.
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
Our Analysis Found
The most expensive quartile of colleges costs 373% more than the most affordable — but their graduates earn just 34% more.
Affordability & ROI Analysis
What does this ranking tell us about getting a real return on a degree?
$52,163
Median earnings (10yr)
51%
Median graduation rate
$17,550
Median net price
1.3%
Avg. mobility rate
Value rankings exist to show where students get the most for their money. The answer is rarely the cheapest school or the one with the highest earnings. It is the intersection of low cost and strong outcomes, which is what our methodology is built to surface. The schools at the top of this list show that affordability and results can coexist.
Start with the medians across these 25 schools. Graduates earn a median of $52,163 ten years after enrollment, or about $4,163 above the $48,000 a typical American worker earns. The median graduation rate is 51%, and the typical net price (what students pay after grants) runs $17,550 a year with about $21,500 in federal debt. Pell grants reach 28% of students on average, and the average mobility rate, the share of students lifted from the bottom income quintile to the top, is 1.3%.
The schools that win on value are the ones where net price and earnings form the tightest ratio. Median net price runs $17,550 and graduates earn a median of $52,163. That ratio, not prestige or selectivity, is the truest measure of what a degree is worth.
The podium
Build your ranking
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Tip: Check the box on any 2–4 schools below to compare them side by side.
Full rankings
Why it ranks #1
Mid-Plains Community College lands at #1 with a 82/100 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, 23% 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 #2
Western Nebraska Community College lands at #2 with a 82/100 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, 26% 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 #3
Metropolitan Community College Area lands at #3 with a 81/100 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, 25% 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 puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #4
Central Community College lands at #4 with a 80/100 composite, led by value per dollar (85/100) and pulled down by academic quality (58/100). Graduates earn a median $39,429 a decade after enrolling, 24% below this list's average, and net price runs $7,024 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 #5
Northeast Community College lands at #5 with a 76/100 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, 18% 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 puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #6
Southeast Community College Area lands at #6 with a 75/100 composite, led by value per dollar (81/100) and pulled down by academic quality (52/100). Graduates earn a median $43,405 a decade after enrolling, 17% below this list's average, and net price runs $9,171 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 #7
Peru State College lands at #7 with a 71/100 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, 9% 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 #8
Chadron State College lands at #8 with a 69/100 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, 10% 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 #9
University of Nebraska at Omaha lands at #9 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, 4% 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 puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #10
Wayne State College lands at #10 with a 64/100 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, 9% 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 #11
University of Nebraska at Kearney lands at #11 with a 64/100 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, 4% 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 #12
College of Saint Mary lands at #12 with a 62/100 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, 4% 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
Why it ranks #13
University of Nebraska-Lincoln lands at #13 with a 62/100 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, 9% 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 #14
Nebraska Wesleyan University lands at #14 with a 61/100 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, 8% 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 carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #15
Bellevue University lands at #15 with a 59/100 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, 18% 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 carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #16
Clarkson College lands at #16 with a 55/100 composite, led by academic quality (73/100) and pulled down by social mobility (38/100). Graduates earn a median $64,876 a decade after enrolling, 25% above this list's average, and net price runs $19,241 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 #17
York University lands at #17 with a 55/100 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, 15% 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
Omaha, NE · 73% accepted · $21,863 net
Why it ranks #18
Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health lands at #18 with a 51/100 composite, led by academic quality (75/100) and pulled down by social mobility (29/100). Graduates earn a median $65,071 a decade after enrolling, 25% above this list's average, and net price runs $21,863 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 #19
Hastings College lands at #19 with a 49/100 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% below 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 carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #20
Concordia University-Nebraska lands at #20 with a 49/100 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, 1% 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 #21
Union Adventist University lands at #21 with a 49/100 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, 6% 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 #22
Midland University lands at #22 with a 46/100 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, 0% 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 carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #23
Doane University lands at #23 with a 44/100 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, 3% 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 #24
Bryan College of Health Sciences lands at #24 with a 42/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (74/100) and pulled down by social mobility (26/100). Graduates earn a median $70,845 a decade after enrolling, 36% above this list's average, and net price runs $26,919 a year, above the field. 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 #25
Creighton University lands at #25 with a 36/100 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, 42% 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 carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Cut it by what you care about
The same 25 schools, re-ranked by the outcome that matters to you.
Where the programs are
Finding an affordable college can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack, especially when balancing costs with quality. In Nebraska, several community colleges are stepping up to the plate, providing education at a fraction of the cost compared to traditional four-year institutions. The lowest net price among these options is around $4,982, making higher education more accessible for many students and families.
What sets these schools apart is not just their affordability, but also the outcomes that come with attending them. The average earnings of graduates from these colleges stand at $52,007, while the graduation rate across the board is 53%. This combination of low debt and reasonable completion rates offers a clearer picture of how these institutions can help students transition into the workforce.
Take Metropolitan Community College Area, for instance, which has a net price of $4,982 and a graduation rate of 27%. In contrast, Northeast Community College, with a net price of $8,544, boasts a higher graduation rate of 56%. This highlights a tradeoff between immediate savings and long-term success, making it crucial to consider all aspects before making a decision.
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
Social mobility carries the heaviest weight in this ranking, and the measure comes from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built from more than 30 million anonymized tax records. Across the 14 schools here with that data, the average mobility rate is 1.3%. That figure is the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top. Mid-Plains Community College leads the group at 1.9%, with Chadron State College (1.9%) and Northeast Community College (1.8%) close behind.
Access varies widely. On average, 8.9% of students at these schools come from families in the bottom income quintile. Western Nebraska Community College enrolls the most, at 15.7%, a sign it is reaching the students mobility is meant to lift. A high mobility rate paired with strong access is the combination that changes a generation's trajectory.
For the low-income students who do enroll, the success rate (the odds of reaching the top quintile) averages 17.6% across the list, peaking at 53.4% at Creighton University.
These campuses can also be measured on social capital: the cross-class friendships Opportunity Insights links to long-run economic outcomes. Economic connectedness here averages 1.50, where about 1.0 is the national norm, and Creighton University is highest at 1.78.
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
Looking closely at the data reveals some interesting patterns. For example, Mid-Plains Community College has a graduation rate of 49% and a net price of $5,235, while Western Nebraska Community College shows a lower graduation rate at 36% but a slightly higher net price of $5,474. This suggests that while both schools are affordable, one may offer a better support system for completing a degree.
After going through this list, think about what factors are most important for you or your student. Is the focus on the lowest possible cost, or is it more about outcomes like graduation rates and potential earnings? Consider your personal circumstances: location, program offerings, and campus culture can significantly impact the overall college experience. Weigh these factors against the data presented here to make an informed choice.
In the end, the decision to attend college is about more than just numbers; it's about paving the way for a stable future. Selecting a school that balances affordability with strong outcomes can mean the difference between graduating with manageable debt and facing significant financial hurdles. For one family, choosing a college with a lower net price and a solid graduation rate can lay the groundwork for a path toward economic stability.
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
Most Affordable Colleges in Nebraska: Your Questions, Answered
What is the #1 school in the Most Affordable Colleges in Nebraska ranking? +
Mid-Plains Community College in North Platte, NE ranks #1 in our 2026 Most Affordable Colleges in Nebraska ranking. It earns the top spot on the strength of a median $40,059 in graduate earnings ten years after enrollment and a 49% 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 $52,007 average across the 25 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 53% 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 $17,007 a year across the 25 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 Most Affordable 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 25 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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