# Most Affordable Colleges in Nebraska

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-05-31 | Schools: 25 | Category: By State (Affordable)
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/most-affordable-colleges-nebraska

## Methodology

Ranked by lowest net price in Nebraska

CollegeRanker uses a 4-pillar algorithm: Academic Quality (15-20%), Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25-35%), Value & Affordability (20-25%). Social mobility data from Raj Chetty's Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (30M+ anonymized tax records). No subjective surveys.

## Summary

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.

## Key Findings

- Metropolitan Community College Area has a net price of just $4,982 with average earnings of $38,773.
- Northeast Community College graduates earn an average of $42,634 but have a higher debt load of $11,000.
- Mid-Plains Community College shows a solid 49% graduation rate while maintaining a low net price of $5,235.
- The average debt for graduates across these colleges is around $8,992, providing insight into post-college financial expectations.

## Rankings

| Rank | School | Location | Graduation | Earnings (10yr) | Net Price | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|------|--------|----------|------------|-----------------|-----------|-------------|---------------|
| 1 | [Mid-Plains Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/mid-plains-community-college) | North Platte, NE | 49% | $40,059 | $5,235 | $9,995 | 0.25x |
| 2 | [Western Nebraska Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/western-nebraska-community-college) | Scottsbluff, NE | 36% | $38,729 | $5,474 | $9,000 | 0.23x |
| 3 | [Metropolitan Community College Area](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/metropolitan-community-college-area) | Omaha, NE | 27% | $38,773 | $4,982 | $8,217 | 0.21x |
| 4 | [Central Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/central-community-college) | Grand Island, NE | 46% | $39,429 | $7,024 | $7,992 | 0.2x |
| 5 | [Northeast Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/northeast-community-college) | Norfolk, NE | 56% | $42,634 | $8,544 | $11,000 | 0.26x |
| 6 | [Southeast Community College Area](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/southeast-community-college-area) | Lincoln, NE | 36% | $43,405 | $9,171 | $11,000 | 0.25x |
| 7 | [Peru State College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/peru-state-college) | Peru, NE | 38% | $47,071 | $11,632 | $21,875 | 0.46x |
| 8 | [Chadron State College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/chadron-state-college) | Chadron, NE | 44% | $47,002 | $12,549 | $18,875 | 0.4x |
| 9 | [University of Nebraska at Omaha](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-nebraska-at-omaha) | Omaha, NE | 47% | $53,909 | $13,441 | $19,000 | 0.35x |
| 10 | [Wayne State College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/wayne-state-college) | Wayne, NE | 54% | $47,075 | $15,360 | $19,000 | 0.4x |
| 11 | [University of Nebraska at Kearney](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-nebraska-at-kearney) | Kearney, NE | 59% | $50,105 | $16,242 | $19,500 | 0.39x |
| 12 | [College of Saint Mary](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/college-of-saint-mary) | Omaha, NE | 60% | $54,338 | $16,590 | $24,250 | 0.45x |
| 13 | [University of Nebraska-Lincoln](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-nebraska-lincoln) | Lincoln, NE | 66% | $56,887 | $17,747 | $21,000 | 0.37x |
| 14 | [Nebraska Wesleyan University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/nebraska-wesleyan-university) | Lincoln, NE | 67% | $56,405 | $18,327 | $26,970 | 0.48x |
| 15 | [Bellevue University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/bellevue-university) | Bellevue, NE | 39% | $61,289 | $17,550 | $20,000 | 0.33x |
| 16 | [York University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/york-university) | York, NE | 44% | $44,130 | $20,951 | $21,500 | 0.49x |
| 17 | [Clarkson College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/clarkson-college) | Omaha, NE | 67% | $64,876 | $19,241 | $23,716 | 0.37x |
| 18 | [Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/nebraska-methodist-college-of-nursing-allied-health) | Omaha, NE | 63% | $65,071 | $21,863 | $23,417 | 0.36x |
| 19 | [Hastings College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/hastings-college) | Hastings, NE | 51% | $51,303 | $24,452 | $27,000 | 0.53x |
| 20 | [Concordia University-Nebraska](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/concordia-university-nebraska) | Seward, NE | 64% | $52,415 | $23,965 | $25,750 | 0.49x |
| 21 | [Union Adventist University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/union-adventist-university) | Lincoln, NE | 49% | $55,045 | $23,716 | $27,000 | 0.49x |
| 22 | [Midland University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/midland-university) | Fremont, NE | 43% | $52,163 | $26,267 | $26,134 | 0.5x |
| 23 | [Doane University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/doane-university) | Crete, NE | 56% | $53,316 | $26,364 | $25,000 | 0.47x |
| 24 | [Bryan College of Health Sciences](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/bryan-college-of-health-sciences) | Lincoln, NE | 73% | $70,845 | $26,919 | $24,985 | 0.35x |
| 25 | [Creighton University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/creighton-university) | Omaha, NE | 82% | $73,911 | $31,568 | $25,000 | 0.34x |

## Data Sources

- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov)
- Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (https://opportunityinsights.org/data)
- Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
- Times Higher Education World University Rankings
- NCES IPEDS

## Citation

CollegeRanker. "Most Affordable Colleges in Nebraska." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-05-31. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/most-affordable-colleges-nebraska

## License

This data summary is provided for informational purposes. Underlying data from federal sources (College Scorecard, IPEDS) is public domain. Opportunity Insights data is available under their data use agreement at https://opportunityinsights.org/data/.