2026 Best Value Nursing Schools in Nebraska
Looking for the best-value Nursing degree programs in Nebraska? Our ranking highlights 41 schools by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
So you can compare your options, Nursing Degree Search reviewed 8 schools to compile this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Nursing Degree Schools in Nebraska
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
For return on investment, no school beat Southeast Community College Area this year in Nebraska. Set in Lincoln, NE, Southeast Community College Area is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,444, with out-of-state students paying around $4,032. Students borrow a median of $14,935 to complete their Nursing program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,405 ten years after entry. Set against $14,935 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read the full report on Southeast Community College Area
Out of the 8 schools in Nebraska in this year's value ranking, Central Community College landed the #2 spot. Central Community College is a public school based in Grand Island, NE. In-state tuition and fees average $3,360, compared with $4,800 for out-of-state students. The median Nursing program debt is $10,277. Central Community College alumni report median earnings of $39,429 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $10,277 median debt. More on Central Community College
You'll get strong value at Metropolitan Community College Area, which ranked #3 this year. Based in Omaha, NE, Metropolitan Community College Area is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,375, while out-of-state students pay about $4,950. Students borrow a median of $12,799 to complete their Nursing program here. Metropolitan Community College Area alumni report median earnings of $38,773 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $12,799 median debt. Read the full report on Metropolitan Community College Area
A rank of #4 makes Mid Plains Community College one of the best values in Nebraska. Set in North Platte, NE, Mid Plains Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,600 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,530. Students borrow a median of $14,596 to complete their Nursing program here. Mid Plains Community College alumni report median earnings of $40,059 a decade after entry. Set against $14,596 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read more about Mid Plains Community College
You'll get strong value at Northeast Community College, which ranked #5 this year. Based in Norfolk, NE, Northeast Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,840, with out-of-state students paying around $5,130. Graduates carry a median of $11,937 in student loans. Median earnings reach $42,634 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $11,937 median debt. Read more about Northeast Community College
Nebraska Wesleyan University came in at #6 in this year's value ranking. Based in Lincoln, NE, Nebraska Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $43,572. Typical Nursing student debt is $27,667. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $56,405. That is a strong return on a $27,667 median debt. Nebraska Wesleyan University has an acceptance rate of 80%. Read the full report on Nebraska Wesleyan University
College Of Saint Mary placed #7 among the best-value Nursing schools in Nebraska. College Of Saint Mary is a private not-for-profit school based in Omaha, NE. In-state tuition and fees run about $24,510. Typical Nursing student debt is $25,539. College Of Saint Mary alumni report median earnings of $54,338 a decade after entry. Set against $25,539 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 45% of those who apply are admitted. More on College Of Saint Mary
Creighton University came in at #8 in this year's value ranking. Set in Omaha, NE, Creighton University is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $48,856. Graduates carry a median of $25,831 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $73,911 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $25,831 median debt. Creighton University has an acceptance rate of 80%. Get the full Creighton University report
Nebraska College Of Technical Agriculture placed #9 among the best-value Nursing schools in Nebraska. Read the full report on Nebraska College Of Technical Agriculture
University Of Nebraska Medical Center offered strong value this year, earning the #10 position. More on University Of Nebraska Medical Center
Myotherapy Institute landed the #11 spot for value in Nebraska this year. More on Myotherapy Institute
Summit Christian College offered strong value this year, earning the #12 position. Get the full Summit Christian College report
Clarkson College
Clarkson College placed #13 among the best-value Nursing schools in Nebraska. Read more about Clarkson College
Josephs College Cosmetology offered strong value this year, earning the #14 position. Read more about Josephs College Cosmetology
Concordia University Seward ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best-value Nursing schools. Get the full Concordia University Seward report
Nebraska Indian Community College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best-value Nursing schools. More on Nebraska Indian Community College
Western Nebraska Community College came in at #17 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Western Nebraska Community College report
Ricketts Great Books College placed #18 among the best-value Nursing schools in Nebraska. See the full Ricketts Great Books College profile
York College Nebraska offered strong value this year, earning the #19 position. More on York College Nebraska
Bryan College Of Health Sciences came in at #20 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Bryan College Of Health Sciences
Peru State College came in at #21 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Peru State College
College Of Hair Design East Campus ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best-value Nursing schools. Read more about College Of Hair Design East Campus
Chadron State College came in at #23 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Chadron State College
University Of Nebraska At Omaha placed #24 among the best-value Nursing schools in Nebraska. Read more about University Of Nebraska At Omaha
Midland University placed #25 among the best-value Nursing schools in Nebraska. See the full Midland University profile
Rest of the Top 15% Best-Value Nursing Degree Schools in Nebraska
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
University Of Nebraska Lincoln placed #26 among the best-value Nursing schools in Nebraska. More on University Of Nebraska Lincoln
Alegent Health School Of Radiologic Technology ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best-value Nursing schools. Read the full report on Alegent Health School Of Radiologic Technology
Hastings College
Hastings College came in at #28 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Hastings College
Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health placed #29 among the best-value Nursing schools in Nebraska. Get the full Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health report
Capitol School Of Hairstyling And Esthetics came in at #30 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Capitol School Of Hairstyling And Esthetics
Xenon International Academy Omaha came in at #31 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Xenon International Academy Omaha report
University Of Nebraska At Kearney came in at #32 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on University Of Nebraska At Kearney
Doane College Crete ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best-value Nursing schools. Read more about Doane College Crete
Union College Nebraska offered strong value this year, earning the #34 position. Get the full Union College Nebraska report
Wisconsin Academy A Paul Mitchell Partner Group Pmts Lincoln came in at #35 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Wisconsin Academy A Paul Mitchell Partner Group Pmts Lincoln
Bellevue University landed the #36 spot for value in Nebraska this year. Read more about Bellevue University
Wayne State College placed #37 among the best-value Nursing schools in Nebraska. See the full Wayne State College profile
Universal College Of Healing Arts came in at #38 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Universal College Of Healing Arts report
College Of Hair Design Downtown placed #39 among the best-value Nursing schools in Nebraska. See the full College Of Hair Design Downtown profile
University Of Nebraska Central Administration System Office ranked #40 on our 2026 list of the best-value Nursing schools. See the full University Of Nebraska Central Administration System Office profile
Little Priest Tribal College came in at #41 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Little Priest Tribal College
More Nursing Value Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Nursing Degree Search (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Best Colleges For Money · Scope: State · 8 schools evaluated. *Averages shown above reflect the top 41 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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