2026 Best Value Social Work Schools in Nebraska

[Social Work](/majors/social-services-public-administration/social-work/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 9 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value social work schools.
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2026 Best Value Social Work Schools in Nebraska
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in social work, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Social Work Schools
University Of Nebraska At Omaha earned the #1 spot for value among social work schools in Nebraska. University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a large public school located in the city of Omaha. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,718, with out-of-state students paying around $23,206. Students borrow a median of $19,930 to complete the social work program here. Early-career social work graduates make about $45,149. That is a strong return on a $19,930 median debt. The acceptance rate is 87%.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Nebraska At Kearney one of the best values for social work. Set in the town of Kearney, University Of Nebraska At Kearney is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,564, compared with $16,484 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for social work graduates is $24,000. Early-career social work graduates make about $39,218. That is a strong return on a $24,000 median debt. University Of Nebraska At Kearney admits about 90% of applicants.
Nebraska Wesleyan University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in social work, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Lincoln, Nebraska Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $43,572. Typical student debt for social work graduates is $34,750. Social Work graduates of Nebraska Wesleyan University earn a median of $40,080 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.