2027 Best Value Education Schools in Nebraska

[Education](/majors/education/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 17 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for education students.
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2027 Best Value Education Schools in Nebraska
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Education Schools
Leading the list is Northeast Community College, our #1 best value for education in Nebraska. Northeast Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Norfolk. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,840, compared with $5,130 for out-of-state students. Education graduates carry a median of $11,799 in student loans. Education graduates of Northeast Community College earn a median of $24,710 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,799 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Southeast Community College Area earned it the #2 place for education. Located in the city of Lincoln, Southeast Community College Area is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,444, while out-of-state students pay about $4,032. Students borrow a median of $14,935 to complete the education program here. Early-career education graduates make about $44,877. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in education will find it at Western Nebraska Community College, which ranked #3. Located in the town of Scottsbluff, Western Nebraska Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,840 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $4,410. Students borrow a median of $14,507 to complete the education program here. Education graduates of Western Nebraska Community College earn a median of $62,413 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,507 median debt.
Chadron State College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in education, landing the #4 spot this year. Chadron State College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Chadron. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,294. Typical student debt for education graduates is $24,561. Early-career education graduates make about $46,681. Set against $24,561 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 #5. Set in the city of Omaha, University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,718 in tuition and fees, compared with $23,206 for out-of-state students. 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 $47,810 early in their careers. Set against $23,290 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Nebraska At Omaha admits about 87% of applicants.
Peru State College earned the #6 position for value in education this year. Peru State College is a small public school located in the rural area of Peru. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,433. Students borrow a median of $26,117 to complete the education program here. Early-career education graduates make about $37,293. That is a strong return on a $26,117 median debt.
Wayne State College landed the #7 spot for education value this year. Set in the town of Wayne, Wayne State College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,171 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for education graduates is $25,185. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Wayne State College generally make around $44,273. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Nebraska At Kearney placed #8 among the best values for education. Located in the town of Kearney, University Of Nebraska At Kearney is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,564 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $16,484. Education graduates carry a median of $25,938 in student loans. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from University Of Nebraska At Kearney generally make around $50,763. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Nebraska At Kearney admits about 90% of applicants.
Bellevue University earned the #9 position for value in education this year. Set in the suburb of Bellevue, Bellevue University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $12,873 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for education graduates is $26,556. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Bellevue University generally make around $61,548. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln placed #10 among the best values for education. Set in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,434, while out-of-state students pay about $28,584. Typical student debt for education graduates is $23,673. Education graduates of University Of Nebraska Lincoln earn a median of $47,278 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,673 median debt. University Of Nebraska Lincoln admits about 88% of applicants.
Nebraska Wesleyan University earned the #11 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. Early-career education graduates make about $42,988. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Nebraska Wesleyan University admits about 80% of applicants.
Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health placed #12 among the best values for education. Located in the city of Omaha, Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $18,934. Education graduates carry a median of $31,121 in student loans. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health generally make around $64,158. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health admits about 73% of applicants.
York College Nebraska placed #13 among the best values for education. York College Nebraska is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of York. Students from in state pay about $23,000 in tuition and fees. Education graduates carry a median of $28,370 in student loans. Education graduates of York College Nebraska earn a median of $34,170 early in their careers. Set against $28,370 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 52% of applicants are accepted.
Concordia University Seward landed the #14 spot for education value this year. 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. Typical student debt for education graduates is $24,068. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Concordia University Seward generally make around $50,889. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Midland University landed the #15 spot for education value this year. 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 $53,109. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Midland University admits about 66% of applicants.
Doane College Crete ranked #16 on our 2027 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. Early-career education graduates make about $62,182. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Creighton University landed the #17 spot for education value this year. Located in the city of Omaha, Creighton University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $48,856. Education graduates carry a median of $25,831 in student loans. Education graduates of Creighton University earn a median of $76,815 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 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.