2026 Best Value Nursing Schools in Nebraska

[Nursing](/majors/health-care-professions/nursing/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 16 schools to find the best return on investment for nursing students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Nursing Schools in Nebraska
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the nursing degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Nursing Schools
Metropolitan Community College Area tops our 2026 list of the best value nursing schools in Nebraska. Located in the city of Omaha, Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,375 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,950. Students borrow a median of $17,882 to complete the nursing program here. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Metropolitan Community College Area generally make around $68,874. Set against $17,882 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes Western Nebraska Community College one of the best values for nursing. Located in the town of Scottsbluff, Western Nebraska Community College is a small public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,840, while out-of-state students pay about $4,410. Nursing graduates carry a median of $16,249 in student loans. Early-career nursing graduates make about $62,413. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Central Community College one of the best values for nursing. Central Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Grand Island. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,360, with out-of-state students paying around $4,800. Nursing graduates carry a median of $14,805 in student loans. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Central Community College generally make around $64,945. Set against $14,805 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in nursing will find it at Mid Plains Community College, which ranked #4. Set in the rural area of North Platte, Mid Plains Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,600, while out-of-state students pay about $4,530. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $20,376. Early-career nursing graduates make about $59,746. That is a strong return on a $20,376 median debt.
Southeast Community College Area came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value nursing schools. Southeast Community College Area is a large public school located in the city of Lincoln. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,444, while out-of-state students pay about $4,032. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $25,814. Nursing graduates of Southeast Community College Area earn a median of $71,239 early in their careers. Set against $25,814 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northeast Community College earned the #6 position for value in nursing this year. Set in the town of Norfolk, Northeast Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,840 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,130 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $19,053. Nursing graduates of Northeast Community College earn a median of $62,930 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,053 median debt.
College Of Saint Mary earned the #7 position for value in nursing this year. Set in the city of Omaha, College Of Saint Mary is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $24,510. Students borrow a median of $37,668 to complete the nursing program here. Early-career nursing graduates make about $72,738. That is a strong return on a $37,668 median debt. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
Clarkson College landed the #8 spot for nursing value this year. 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 $31,289 to complete the nursing program here. Nursing graduates of Clarkson College earn a median of $99,917 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $31,289 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health earned the #9 position for value in nursing this year. Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Omaha. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,934. Nursing graduates carry a median of $35,362 in student loans. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health generally make around $80,755. Set against $35,362 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health admits about 73% of applicants.
Union College Nebraska earned the #10 position for value in nursing this year. Located in the city of Lincoln, Union College Nebraska is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $29,334. Nursing graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Union College Nebraska generally make around $75,244. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
Nebraska Wesleyan University landed the #11 spot for nursing value this year. Nebraska Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lincoln. In-state tuition and fees average $43,572. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $27,000. Early-career nursing graduates make about $86,680. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Nebraska Wesleyan University admits about 80% of applicants.
Midland University came in at #12 for value in nursing this year. Midland University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Fremont. In-state tuition and fees average $42,050. Students borrow a median of $30,750 to complete the nursing program here. Early-career nursing graduates make about $74,515. That is a strong return on a $30,750 median debt. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
Bryan College Of Health Sciences earned the #13 position for value in nursing this year. Bryan College Of Health Sciences is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lincoln. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,640. Nursing graduates carry a median of $30,125 in student loans. Nursing graduates of Bryan College Of Health Sciences earn a median of $133,424 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $30,125 median debt. Bryan College Of Health Sciences admits about 67% of applicants.
Bellevue University came in at #14 for value in nursing this year. Bellevue University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bellevue. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,873. Nursing graduates carry a median of $27,852 in student loans. Nursing graduates of Bellevue University earn a median of $61,548 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Creighton University earned the #15 position for value in nursing this year. Creighton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Omaha. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $48,856. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $27,000. Nursing graduates of Creighton University earn a median of $96,152 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Creighton University admits about 80% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 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.