2026 Best Graduate Degrees Schools in Nebraska
Looking for the best Graduate Degrees degree programs in Nebraska? We have ranked 41 institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, Grad Degree reviewed 35 schools to compile this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Graduate Degrees Degree Schools in Nebraska
Here are the top-ranked schools:
Leading the list is University Of Nebraska Lincoln, our #1 Graduate Degrees school in Nebraska. Based in Lincoln, NE, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a public institution. About 67% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $10,434 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,584 for out-of-state students. University Of Nebraska Lincoln Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $22,386 in debt. Get the full University Of Nebraska Lincoln report
A rank of #2 makes Creighton University one of the top choices in Nebraska. This private not-for-profit school is set in Omaha, NE. Creighton University graduates 83% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $48,856. The median Graduate Degrees program debt is $25,831. See the full Creighton University profile
You'll be in good company at College Of Saint Mary, which ranked #3 this year. Set in Omaha, NE, College Of Saint Mary is a private not-for-profit institution. College Of Saint Mary posts a six-year graduation rate of 60%. Students from in state pay about $24,510 in tuition and fees. College Of Saint Mary Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $25,539 in debt. Read more about College Of Saint Mary
A rank of #4 makes Midland University one of the top choices in Nebraska. Set in Fremont, NE, Midland University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 42%. In-state tuition and fees run about $42,050. Students borrow a median of $27,536 to complete their Graduate Degrees program here. Get the full Midland University report
University Of Nebraska At Kearney came in at #5 on this year's Graduate Degrees ranking in Nebraska. Set in Kearney, NE, University Of Nebraska At Kearney is a public institution. University Of Nebraska At Kearney posts a six-year graduation rate of 57%. Students from in state pay about $8,564 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $16,484. Students borrow a median of $22,173 to complete their Graduate Degrees program here. Get the full University Of Nebraska At Kearney report
Hastings College did well this year, earning the #6 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Hastings, NE. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $37,770. Students borrow a median of $24,125 to complete their Graduate Degrees program here. See the full Hastings College profile
Wayne State College placed #7 among Graduate Degrees schools in Nebraska. Based in Wayne, NE, Wayne State College is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. In-state tuition and fees average $8,171. Graduates carry a median of $22,974 in student loans. Read more about Wayne State College
Doane College Crete did well this year, earning the #8 position. Doane College Crete is a private not-for-profit school based in Crete, NE. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. Students from in state pay about $41,985 in tuition and fees. Graduates carry a median of $28,802 in student loans. More on Doane College Crete
Concordia University Seward did well this year, earning the #9 position. Based in Seward, NE, Concordia University Seward is a private not-for-profit institution. About 65% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $40,640. Students borrow a median of $26,726 to complete their Graduate Degrees program here. Read more about Concordia University Seward
University Of Nebraska At Omaha did well this year, earning the #10 position. Located in Omaha, NE, University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a public institution. University Of Nebraska At Omaha graduates 49% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,718, with out-of-state students paying around $23,206. University Of Nebraska At Omaha Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $21,783 in debt. Read the full report on University Of Nebraska At Omaha
Nebraska Wesleyan University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. Based in Lincoln, NE, Nebraska Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit institution. Nebraska Wesleyan University graduates 66% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $43,572. Students borrow a median of $27,667 to complete their Graduate Degrees program here. More on Nebraska Wesleyan University
Bellevue University landed the #12 spot in Nebraska this year. Based in Bellevue, NE, Bellevue University is a private not-for-profit institution. Bellevue University posts a six-year graduation rate of 33%. In-state tuition and fees average $12,873. Graduates carry a median of $27,852 in student loans. More on Bellevue University
Chadron State College did well this year, earning the #13 position. Located in Chadron, NE, Chadron State College is a public institution. Chadron State College graduates 50% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,294. Graduates carry a median of $22,912 in student loans. See the full Chadron State College profile
Southeast Community College Area came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Southeast Community College Area
University Of Nebraska Medical Center did well this year, earning the #15 position. Read the full report on University Of Nebraska Medical Center
Bryan College Of Health Sciences ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. Read the full report on Bryan College Of Health Sciences
Central Community College placed #17 among Graduate Degrees schools in Nebraska. See the full Central Community College profile
Wisconsin Academy A Paul Mitchell Partner Group Pmts Lincoln did well this year, earning the #18 position. Read the full report on Wisconsin Academy A Paul Mitchell Partner Group Pmts Lincoln
College Of Hair Design East Campus ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. Get the full College Of Hair Design East Campus report
Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health placed #20 among Graduate Degrees schools in Nebraska. See the full Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health profile
Union College Nebraska placed #21 among Graduate Degrees schools in Nebraska. Read the full report on Union College Nebraska
Summit Christian College placed #22 among Graduate Degrees schools in Nebraska. Read the full report on Summit Christian College
Myotherapy Institute landed the #23 spot in Nebraska this year. Read the full report on Myotherapy Institute
Mid Plains Community College landed the #24 spot in Nebraska this year. Get the full Mid Plains Community College report
Alegent Health School Of Radiologic Technology ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. More on Alegent Health School Of Radiologic Technology
Rest of the Top 15% Best Graduate Degrees Degree Schools in Nebraska
These schools also placed among the very best this year:
Northeast Community College did well this year, earning the #26 position. Get the full Northeast Community College report
Metropolitan Community College Area placed #27 among Graduate Degrees schools in Nebraska. Read more about Metropolitan Community College Area
Little Priest Tribal College landed the #28 spot in Nebraska this year. Get the full Little Priest Tribal College report
Nebraska College Of Technical Agriculture landed the #29 spot in Nebraska this year. Read the full report on Nebraska College Of Technical Agriculture
Josephs College Cosmetology placed #30 among Graduate Degrees schools in Nebraska. Read more about Josephs College Cosmetology
Nebraska Indian Community College ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. Read the full report on Nebraska Indian Community College
Xenon International Academy Omaha placed #32 among Graduate Degrees schools in Nebraska. More on Xenon International Academy Omaha
Western Nebraska Community College came in at #33 in this year's ranking. More on Western Nebraska Community College
Ricketts Great Books College placed #34 among Graduate Degrees schools in Nebraska. See the full Ricketts Great Books College profile
Peru State College landed the #35 spot in Nebraska this year. Get the full Peru State College report
Capitol School Of Hairstyling And Esthetics did well this year, earning the #36 position. Read more about Capitol School Of Hairstyling And Esthetics
University Of Nebraska Central Administration System Office ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. See the full University Of Nebraska Central Administration System Office profile
Clarkson College
Clarkson College landed the #38 spot in Nebraska this year. See the full Clarkson College profile
College Of Hair Design Downtown placed #39 among Graduate Degrees schools in Nebraska. Read the full report on College Of Hair Design Downtown
York College Nebraska ranked #40 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. Read the full report on York College Nebraska
Universal College Of Healing Arts placed #41 among Graduate Degrees schools in Nebraska. See the full Universal College Of Healing Arts profile
More Graduate Degrees Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Grad Degree (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: State · 35 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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