2026 Best Value Education Schools in Nebraska
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Education Schools
Northeast Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value education schools in Nebraska. Located in the town of Norfolk, Northeast Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,840 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,130. Students borrow a median of $11,799 to complete the education program here. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Northeast Community College generally make around $24,710. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in education will find it at Southeast Community College Area, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Lincoln, Southeast Community College Area is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,444, compared with $4,032 for out-of-state students. Education graduates carry a median of $14,935 in student loans. Early-career education graduates make about $44,877. That is a strong return on a $14,935 median debt.
Western Nebraska Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value education schools. Set in the town of Scottsbluff, Western Nebraska Community College is a small public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,840 in tuition and fees, compared with $4,410 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,507 to complete the education program here. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Western Nebraska Community College generally make around $62,413. Set against $14,507 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in education will find it at University Of Nebraska At Omaha, which ranked #4. University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a large public school located in the city of Omaha. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,718, while out-of-state students pay about $23,206. Students borrow a median of $23,290 to complete the education program here. Education graduates of University Of Nebraska At Omaha earn a median of $47,720 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Nebraska At Omaha admits about 87% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Chadron State College one of the best values for education. Located in the town of Chadron, Chadron State College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,294. Typical student debt for education graduates is $24,561. Early-career education graduates make about $47,914. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Peru State College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value education schools. Peru State College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Peru. In-state tuition and fees average $8,433. Students borrow a median of $26,117 to complete the education program here. Early-career education graduates make about $37,372. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Clarkson College placed #7 among the best values for education. Set in the city of Omaha, Clarkson College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,104. Students borrow a median of $30,052 to complete the education program here. Education graduates of Clarkson College earn a median of $77,377 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Clarkson College admits about 78% of applicants.
Wayne State College landed the #8 spot for education value this year. Set in the town of Wayne, Wayne State College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,171. Typical student debt for education graduates is $25,185. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Wayne State College generally make around $45,087. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Nebraska At Kearney placed #9 among the best values for education. Set in the town of Kearney, University Of Nebraska At Kearney is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,564, compared with $16,484 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,938 to complete the education program here. Education graduates of University Of Nebraska At Kearney earn a median of $50,371 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,938 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value education schools. Set in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,434, compared with $28,584 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,673 to complete the education program here. Early-career education graduates make about $47,649. Set against $23,673 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Nebraska Lincoln admits about 88% of applicants.
Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value education schools. Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Omaha. In-state tuition and fees average $18,934. Education graduates carry a median of $31,121 in student loans. Education graduates of Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health earn a median of $64,158 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 73%.
York College Nebraska came in at #12 for value in education this year. York College Nebraska is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,000. Education graduates carry a median of $28,370 in student loans. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from York College Nebraska generally make around $34,170. That is a strong return on a $28,370 median debt. The acceptance rate is 52%.
Hastings College placed #13 among the best values for education. Located in the town of Hastings, Hastings College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $37,770. Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Hastings College generally make around $40,406. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Nebraska Wesleyan University earned the #14 position for value in education this year. Nebraska Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lincoln. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $43,572. Typical student debt for education graduates is $27,000. Education graduates of Nebraska Wesleyan University earn a median of $42,988 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Concordia University Seward placed #15 among the best values for education. Located in the town of Seward, Concordia University Seward is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $40,640. Education graduates carry a median of $24,068 in student loans. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Concordia University Seward generally make around $52,130. Set against $24,068 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Concordia University Seward admits about 86% of applicants.
Midland University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value education schools. Set in the town of Fremont, Midland University is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $42,050. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the education program here. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Midland University generally make around $53,074. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
Doane College Crete ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value education schools. Located in the town of Crete, Doane College Crete is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $41,985. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the education program here. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Doane College Crete generally make around $62,196. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Bellevue University placed #18 among the best values for education. Located in the suburb of Bellevue, Bellevue University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,873. Students borrow a median of $26,556 to complete the education program here. Early-career education graduates make about $68,730. Set against $26,556 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Creighton University came in at #19 for value in education this year. Set in the city of Omaha, Creighton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $48,856. Education graduates carry a median of $25,831 in student loans. Early-career education graduates make about $76,914. Set against $25,831 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Creighton University admits about 80% of applicants.
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 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 Major Best Value · 27 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
[Education](/majors/education/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
