State cost ranking · DOE College Scorecard

Cheapest Colleges in Nebraska

Name: Nebraska College Net Price Rankings
Creator: PlainCampus

Private campuses outnumber public ones on this Nebraska list (20 vs 15); Metropolitan Community College Area still leads on average net price at $4,982.

Compiled by PlainCampus , Independent campus-safety data publisher

$4,982
Cheapest net price: $16,590
Nebraska median: 35
Schools ranked

Metropolitan Community College Area has the lowest average net price in Nebraska among Scorecard reporters

According to the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, Metropolitan Community College Area posts the lowest average net price in Nebraska at $4,982 among 35 ranked schools, with the state median 3% below the $17,124 national median. Net price is what students paid after grant aid, not sticker tuition, and can reflect a narrow enrollment mix at specialty schools.

Data source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard

Cheapest net price: $4,982
Nebraska median: $16,590
Schools ranked: 35
National median: $17,124

Data updated August 2026 · IPEDS 2022–23 vintage

The list in one line

Metropolitan Community College Area has the lowest average net price in Nebraska at $4,982/year, and the state's median net price is 3% below the $17,124 national median across 4,965 schools.

$4,982
cheapest ranked net price: $16,590
Nebraska median net price: 15 public / 20 private
schools in this ranking: $14,040
avg net price, <$30K income families

Average net price blends every income bracket; families under $30k average $14,040 here. Loans are excluded, open a school profile for the bracket table before treating one average as a personal cost.

Sticker tuition and real net price diverge most at Nebraska Wesleyan University, where in-state published tuition of $43,572 falls to an average net price of $18,327 after aid, a $25,245 gap, the widest sticker-to-net gap among ranked Nebraska schools.

Private campuses outnumber public ones here (20 vs 15). A low figure at a small religious or specialty school can reflect a narrow enrollment mix, check sector and enrollment beside the price.

The bar to make this top-25 list is $21,658. Here is where that cutoff sits among all 35 Scorecard-reporting Nebraska schools:

The bar to make Nebraska's top-25 cheapest list

Average net price after aid · 35 Scorecard-reporting schools

$21,658 more affordable than 29% of 35 Nebraska colleges

Show national distribution

Each bar is a $4K-wide band; taller bars hold more Nebraska colleges. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard · 2022–23

Nebraska's 25 cheapest colleges by real net price

Metropolitan Community College Area Omaha, NE · Public

Avg net price: $4,982
Net price (<$30K income): $4,151
Median debt: $8,217
Median earnings, 6yr: $35,437
Enrollment: 16,642

Mid-Plains Community College North Platte, NE · Public

Avg net price: $5,235
Net price (<$30K income): $4,853
Median debt: $9,995
Median earnings, 6yr: $34,852
Enrollment: 2,140

Western Nebraska Community College Scottsbluff, NE · Public

Avg net price: $5,474
Net price (<$30K income): $4,420
Median debt: $9,000
Median earnings, 6yr: $33,557
Enrollment: 1,569

Central Community College Grand Island, NE · Public

Avg net price: $7,024
Net price (<$30K income): $5,609
Median debt: $7,992
Median earnings, 6yr: $36,158
Enrollment: 6,927

Northeast Community College Norfolk, NE · Public

Avg net price: $8,544
Net price (<$30K income): $5,505
Median debt: $11,000
Median earnings, 6yr: $39,950
Enrollment: 5,720

Southeast Community College Area Lincoln, NE · Public

Avg net price: $9,171
Net price (<$30K income): $6,687
Median debt: $11,000
Median earnings, 6yr: $39,103
Enrollment: 10,816

Little Priest Tribal College Winnebago, NE · Public

Avg net price: $9,303
Net price (<$30K income): $9,010
Median debt: -
Median earnings, 6yr: $25,225
Enrollment: 218

Joseph's College Cosmetology Lincoln, NE · Private for-profit

Avg net price: $10,125
Net price (<$30K income): $7,099
Median debt: $12,000
Median earnings, 6yr: $23,617
Enrollment: 92

Peru State College Peru, NE · Public

Avg net price: $11,632
Net price (<$30K income): $9,986
Median debt: $21,875
Median earnings, 6yr: $39,150
Enrollment: 1,492

Chadron State College Chadron, NE · Public

Avg net price: $12,549
Net price (<$30K income): $10,047
Median debt: $18,875
Median earnings, 6yr: $39,139
Enrollment: 2,098

University of Nebraska at Omaha Omaha, NE · Public

Avg net price: $13,441
Net price (<$30K income): $10,534
Median debt: $19,000
Median earnings, 6yr: $45,494
Enrollment: 14,972

Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture Curtis, NE · Public

Avg net price: $14,639
Net price (<$30K income): $11,603
Median debt: $21,000
Median earnings, 6yr: $47,692
Enrollment: 222

Capitol Beauty School Omaha, NE · Private for-profit

Avg net price: $14,886
Net price (<$30K income): $14,395
Median debt: $6,650
Median earnings, 6yr: $28,276
Enrollment: 161

Wayne State College Wayne, NE · Public

Avg net price: $15,360
Net price (<$30K income): $12,844
Median debt: $19,000
Median earnings, 6yr: $40,857
Enrollment: 4,666

Entourage Institute of Beauty and Esthetics Lincoln, NE · Private for-profit

Avg net price: $15,787
Net price (<$30K income): $15,787
Median debt: $9,955
Median earnings, 6yr: $23,293
Enrollment: 99

Xenon A Stephanie Moss Academy Omaha, NE · Private for-profit

Avg net price: $15,965
Net price (<$30K income): $13,979
Median debt: $6,867
Median earnings, 6yr: $28,093
Enrollment: 241

University of Nebraska at Kearney Kearney, NE · Public

Avg net price: $16,242
Net price (<$30K income): $13,066
Median debt: $19,500
Median earnings, 6yr: $43,241
Enrollment: 5,881

College of Saint Mary Omaha, NE · Private nonprofit

Avg net price: $16,590
Net price (<$30K income): $14,090
Median debt: $24,250
Median earnings, 6yr: $59,339
Enrollment: 786

Bellevue University Bellevue, NE · Private nonprofit

Avg net price: $17,550
Net price (<$30K income): $17,561
Median debt: $20,000
Median earnings, 6yr: $57,732
Enrollment: 14,667

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Lincoln, NE · Public

Avg net price: $17,747
Net price (<$30K income): $12,751
Median debt: $21,000
Median earnings, 6yr: $47,692
Enrollment: 24,393

College of Hair Design-Downtown Lincoln, NE · Private for-profit

Avg net price: $17,934
Net price (<$30K income): $17,075
Median debt: $12,000
Median earnings, 6yr: $24,991
Enrollment: 53

Nebraska Wesleyan University Lincoln, NE · Private nonprofit

Avg net price: $18,327
Net price (<$30K income): $14,925
Median debt: $26,970
Median earnings, 6yr: $47,667
Enrollment: 1,654

Clarkson College Omaha, NE · Private nonprofit

Avg net price: $19,241
Net price (<$30K income): -
Median debt: $23,716
Median earnings, 6yr: $62,339
Enrollment: 1,121

York University York, NE · Private nonprofit

Avg net price: $20,951
Net price (<$30K income): $19,343
Median debt: $21,500
Median earnings, 6yr: $36,447
Enrollment: 532

Universal College of Healing Arts Omaha, NE · Private for-profit

Avg net price: $21,658
Net price (<$30K income): $21,658
Median debt: $14,768
Median earnings, 6yr: $23,162
Enrollment: 26

#	College	Avg net price	Net price (<$30K income)	Median debt	Median earnings, 6yr	Enrollment
1	Metropolitan Community College Area Omaha, NE · Public	$4,982	$4,151	$8,217	$35,437	16,642
2	Mid-Plains Community College North Platte, NE · Public	$5,235	$4,853	$9,995	$34,852	2,140
3	Western Nebraska Community College Scottsbluff, NE · Public	$5,474	$4,420	$9,000	$33,557	1,569
4	Central Community College Grand Island, NE · Public	$7,024	$5,609	$7,992	$36,158	6,927
5	Northeast Community College Norfolk, NE · Public	$8,544	$5,505	$11,000	$39,950	5,720
6	Southeast Community College Area Lincoln, NE · Public	$9,171	$6,687	$11,000	$39,103	10,816
7	Little Priest Tribal College Winnebago, NE · Public	$9,303	$9,010	-	$25,225	218
8	Joseph's College Cosmetology Lincoln, NE · Private for-profit	$10,125	$7,099	$12,000	$23,617	92
9	Peru State College Peru, NE · Public	$11,632	$9,986	$21,875	$39,150	1,492
10	Chadron State College Chadron, NE · Public	$12,549	$10,047	$18,875	$39,139	2,098
11	University of Nebraska at Omaha Omaha, NE · Public	$13,441	$10,534	$19,000	$45,494	14,972
12	Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture Curtis, NE · Public	$14,639	$11,603	$21,000	$47,692	222
13	Capitol Beauty School Omaha, NE · Private for-profit	$14,886	$14,395	$6,650	$28,276	161
14	Wayne State College Wayne, NE · Public	$15,360	$12,844	$19,000	$40,857	4,666
15	Entourage Institute of Beauty and Esthetics Lincoln, NE · Private for-profit	$15,787	$15,787	$9,955	$23,293	99
16	Xenon A Stephanie Moss Academy Omaha, NE · Private for-profit	$15,965	$13,979	$6,867	$28,093	241
17	University of Nebraska at Kearney Kearney, NE · Public	$16,242	$13,066	$19,500	$43,241	5,881
18	College of Saint Mary Omaha, NE · Private nonprofit	$16,590	$14,090	$24,250	$59,339	786
19	Bellevue University Bellevue, NE · Private nonprofit	$17,550	$17,561	$20,000	$57,732	14,667
20	University of Nebraska-Lincoln Lincoln, NE · Public	$17,747	$12,751	$21,000	$47,692	24,393
21	College of Hair Design-Downtown Lincoln, NE · Private for-profit	$17,934	$17,075	$12,000	$24,991	53
22	Nebraska Wesleyan University Lincoln, NE · Private nonprofit	$18,327	$14,925	$26,970	$47,667	1,654
23	Clarkson College Omaha, NE · Private nonprofit	$19,241	-	$23,716	$62,339	1,121
24	York University York, NE · Private nonprofit	$20,951	$19,343	$21,500	$36,447	532
25	Universal College of Healing Arts Omaha, NE · Private for-profit	$21,658	$21,658	$14,768	$23,162	26

Showing the 25 cheapest of 35 Scorecard-reporting Nebraska schools. The remaining 10 are ranked in the same net-price order but omitted from this HTML table so the page stays crawlable.

Look up any institution's exact rank via My School Profile, or open its school page for income-bracket net price, debt, and earnings.

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What this means for you

Use Nebraska's ranking as a starting point, real net price depends on your specific financial-aid package.

Metropolitan Community College Area reports the lowest average net price in Nebraska, but "average" blends every income bracket, check your bracket's figure before assuming it applies to you. View Metropolitan Community College
See your specific school's in-state cost rank and nearest-price peers. My School Profile
Compare campus safety alongside cost before deciding. Nebraska safety

Figures reflect the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard IPEDS 2022–23 release.

Average net price = the institution-reported average amount students actually paid after all grant and scholarship aid, excluding loans. Only schools with a reported average net price in the DOE College Scorecard dataset are ranked. This page lists the 25 cheapest; the title count is the full Scorecard-reporting cohort for Nebraska. Schools with fewer than 10 net-price-reporting institutions in a state or territory are not given a dedicated ranking page.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard IPEDS 2022–23

Every figure on PlainCampus is rendered directly from federal Clery Act source data, no number is typed in by an editor. Every ranked figure on this page is queried directly from the DOE College Scorecard dataset at request time; no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

PlainCampus is for informational purposes only and does not constitute safety, security, legal, or enrollment advice; the data describes reported on-campus activity, it is not a complete picture of safety at any campus and cannot predict any individual student's experience. See our appropriate use guidance.

Nebraska's 25 cheapest colleges by real net price

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