2026 Best Value Graduate Degrees Schools in Nebraska
Looking for the best-value Graduate Degrees degree programs in Nebraska? We have ranked 41 institutions by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To help you make your decision, Grad Degree reviewed 13 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 Graduate Degrees Degree Schools in Nebraska
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
Leading the list is Wayne State College, our #1 best-value Graduate Degrees school in Nebraska. Based in Wayne, NE, Wayne State College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,171. Graduates carry a median of $22,974 in student loans. Median earnings reach $47,075 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $22,974 median debt. Read more about Wayne State College
You'll get strong value at University Of Nebraska Lincoln, which ranked #2 this year. Based in Lincoln, NE, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a public institution. 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. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $56,887. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Nebraska Lincoln admits about 88% of applicants. Get the full University Of Nebraska Lincoln report
Chadron State College came in at #3 on this year's best-value Graduate Degrees ranking in Nebraska. Located in Chadron, NE, Chadron State College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,294. Graduates carry a median of $22,912 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $47,002 ten years after entry. Set against $22,912 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. See the full Chadron State College profile
University Of Nebraska At Kearney came in at #4 on this year's best-value Graduate Degrees ranking in Nebraska. Set in Kearney, NE, University Of Nebraska At Kearney is a public institution. 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. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $50,105. That is a strong return on a $22,173 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted. Get the full University Of Nebraska At Kearney report
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Nebraska Wesleyan University earned it the #5 place in Nebraska. 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. Students borrow a median of $27,667 to complete their Graduate Degrees program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $56,405 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 80% of those who apply are admitted. More on Nebraska Wesleyan University
University Of Nebraska At Omaha came in at #6 in this year's value ranking. Located in Omaha, NE, University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a public institution. 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. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $53,909. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 87% of those who apply are admitted. Read the full report on University Of Nebraska At Omaha
Doane College Crete came in at #7 in this year's value ranking. Doane College Crete is a private not-for-profit school based in Crete, NE. Students from in state pay about $41,985 in tuition and fees. Graduates carry a median of $28,802 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $53,316. Set against $28,802 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 98%. More on Doane College Crete
Concordia University Seward ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. Based in Seward, NE, Concordia University Seward is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $40,640. Students borrow a median of $26,726 to complete their Graduate Degrees program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $52,415 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $26,726 median debt. Concordia University Seward has an acceptance rate of 86%. Read more about Concordia University Seward
Hastings College offered strong value this year, earning the #9 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Hastings, NE. In-state tuition and fees average $37,770. Students borrow a median of $24,125 to complete their Graduate Degrees program here. Hastings College alumni report median earnings of $51,303 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $24,125 median debt. Hastings College has an acceptance rate of 72%. See the full Hastings College profile
Bellevue University landed the #10 spot for value in Nebraska this year. Based in Bellevue, NE, Bellevue University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,873. Graduates carry a median of $27,852 in student loans. Bellevue University alumni report median earnings of $61,289 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. More on Bellevue University
Midland University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. Set in Fremont, NE, Midland University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $42,050. Students borrow a median of $27,536 to complete their Graduate Degrees program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $52,163. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 66%. Get the full Midland University report
College Of Saint Mary placed #12 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in Nebraska. Set in Omaha, NE, College Of Saint Mary is a private not-for-profit institution. 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. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $54,338. Set against $25,539 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. College Of Saint Mary admits about 45% of applicants. Read more about College Of Saint Mary
Creighton University placed #13 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in Nebraska. This private not-for-profit school is set in Omaha, NE. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $48,856. The median Graduate Degrees program debt is $25,831. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $73,911. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Creighton University has an acceptance rate of 80%. See the full Creighton University profile
Clarkson College
Clarkson College offered strong value this year, earning the #14 position. See the full Clarkson College profile
Mid Plains Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #15 position. Get the full Mid Plains Community College report
University Of Nebraska Medical Center ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. Read the full report on University Of Nebraska Medical Center
York College Nebraska ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. Read the full report on York College Nebraska
Universal College Of Healing Arts landed the #18 spot for value in Nebraska this year. See the full Universal College Of Healing Arts profile
College Of Hair Design East Campus came in at #19 in this year's value ranking. Get the full College Of Hair Design East Campus report
Alegent Health School Of Radiologic Technology ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. More on Alegent Health School Of Radiologic Technology
Western Nebraska Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #21 position. More on Western Nebraska Community College
Nebraska College Of Technical Agriculture came in at #22 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Nebraska College Of Technical Agriculture
Southeast Community College Area came in at #23 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Southeast Community College Area
Wisconsin Academy A Paul Mitchell Partner Group Pmts Lincoln placed #24 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in Nebraska. Read the full report on Wisconsin Academy A Paul Mitchell Partner Group Pmts Lincoln
Northeast Community College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. Get the full Northeast Community College report
Rest of the Top 15% Best-Value Graduate Degrees Degree Schools in Nebraska
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
Bryan College Of Health Sciences came in at #26 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Bryan College Of Health Sciences
Peru State College placed #27 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in Nebraska. Get the full Peru State College report
College Of Hair Design Downtown came in at #28 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on College Of Hair Design Downtown
Union College Nebraska offered strong value this year, earning the #29 position. Read the full report on Union College Nebraska
Nebraska Indian Community College came in at #30 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Nebraska Indian Community College
Josephs College Cosmetology landed the #31 spot for value in Nebraska this year. Read more about Josephs College Cosmetology
Little Priest Tribal College offered strong value this year, earning the #32 position. Get the full Little Priest Tribal College report
Metropolitan Community College Area landed the #33 spot for value in Nebraska this year. Read more about Metropolitan Community College Area
University Of Nebraska Central Administration System Office landed the #34 spot for value in Nebraska this year. See the full University Of Nebraska Central Administration System Office profile
Summit Christian College landed the #35 spot for value in Nebraska this year. Read the full report on Summit Christian College
Myotherapy Institute offered strong value this year, earning the #36 position. Read the full report on Myotherapy Institute
Ricketts Great Books College placed #37 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in Nebraska. See the full Ricketts Great Books College profile
Central Community College landed the #38 spot for value in Nebraska this year. See the full Central Community College profile
Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health offered strong value this year, earning the #39 position. See the full Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health profile
Xenon International Academy Omaha landed the #40 spot for value in Nebraska this year. More on Xenon International Academy Omaha
Capitol School Of Hairstyling And Esthetics ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. Read more about Capitol School Of Hairstyling And Esthetics
More Graduate Degrees Value Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Grad Degree (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider 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 · 13 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).
GradDegree.com provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© GradDegree.com – All Rights Reserved.