2026 Best Value Teaching Schools in Nebraska
Looking for the best-value Teaching degree programs in Nebraska? This list ranks 41 colleges by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To arm you with the information you need, Teaching Degree Search evaluated 14 schools to compile this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Teaching Degree Schools in Nebraska
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
Northeast Community College tops our 2026 ranking of the best-value Teaching degree schools in Nebraska. Set in Norfolk, NE, Northeast Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,840 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,130. Northeast Community College Teaching students take on a median of $11,937 in debt. Northeast Community College alumni report median earnings of $42,634 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read the full report on Northeast Community College
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Wayne State College earned it the #2 place in Nebraska. Set in Wayne, NE, Wayne State College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,171 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,974 to complete their Teaching program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $47,075. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read more about Wayne State College
You'll get strong value at Chadron State College, which ranked #3 this year. Chadron State College is a public school based in Chadron, NE. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,294. Chadron State College Teaching students take on a median of $22,912 in debt. Median earnings reach $47,002 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read more about Chadron State College
You'll get strong value at University Of Nebraska Lincoln, which ranked #4 this year. Located in Lincoln, NE, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,434, with out-of-state students paying around $28,584. The median Teaching program debt is $22,386. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $56,887. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted. Get the full University Of Nebraska Lincoln report
You'll get strong value at University Of Nebraska At Kearney, which ranked #5 this year. Located in Kearney, NE, University Of Nebraska At Kearney is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,564, with out-of-state students paying around $16,484. The median Teaching program debt is $22,173. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,105 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%. Read more about University Of Nebraska At Kearney
University Of Nebraska At Omaha landed the #6 spot for value in Nebraska this year. Set in Omaha, NE, University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,718, while out-of-state students pay about $23,206. The median Teaching program debt is $21,783. Median earnings reach $53,909 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Nebraska At Omaha admits about 87% of applicants. More on University Of Nebraska At Omaha
Doane College Crete ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. Doane College Crete is a private not-for-profit school based in Crete, NE. Students from in state pay about $41,985 in tuition and fees. Doane College Crete Teaching students take on a median of $28,802 in debt. Doane College Crete alumni report median earnings of $53,316 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $28,802 median debt. Doane College Crete has an acceptance rate of 98%. More on Doane College Crete
Concordia University Seward ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. Based in Seward, NE, Concordia University Seward is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $40,640. Typical Teaching student debt is $26,726. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $52,415. That is a strong return on a $26,726 median debt. Concordia University Seward has an acceptance rate of 86%. See the full Concordia University Seward profile
Peru State College offered strong value this year, earning the #9 position. Peru State College is a public school based in Peru, NE. In-state tuition and fees average $8,433. Typical Teaching student debt is $26,254. Median earnings reach $47,071 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $26,254 median debt. Read more about Peru State College
Midland University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. Based in Fremont, NE, Midland University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $42,050. Graduates carry a median of $27,536 in student loans. Median earnings reach $52,163 ten years out. Set against $27,536 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 66% of those who apply are admitted. Read more about Midland University
Creighton University placed #11 among the best-value Teaching schools in Nebraska. This private not-for-profit school is set in Omaha, NE. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $48,856. The median Teaching program debt is $25,831. Median earnings reach $73,911 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $25,831 median debt. Creighton University admits about 80% of applicants. Read more about Creighton University
Nebraska Wesleyan University placed #12 among the best-value Teaching schools in Nebraska. This private not-for-profit school is set in Lincoln, NE. In-state tuition and fees average $43,572. Typical Teaching student debt is $27,667. Graduates go on to earn a median of $56,405 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Nebraska Wesleyan University admits about 80% of applicants. More on Nebraska Wesleyan University
College Of Saint Mary placed #13 among the best-value Teaching schools in Nebraska. College Of Saint Mary is a private not-for-profit school based in Omaha, NE. In-state tuition and fees average $24,510. Graduates carry a median of $25,539 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $54,338. Set against $25,539 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 45% of those who apply are admitted. Read more about College Of Saint Mary
Hastings College landed the #14 spot for value in Nebraska this year. Hastings College is a private not-for-profit school based in Hastings, NE. Students from in state pay about $37,770 in tuition and fees. Graduates carry a median of $24,125 in student loans. Hastings College alumni report median earnings of $51,303 a decade after entry. Set against $24,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Hastings College admits about 72% of applicants. See the full Hastings College profile
Ricketts Great Books College came in at #15 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Ricketts Great Books College report
Clarkson College
Clarkson College landed the #16 spot for value in Nebraska this year. Read more about Clarkson College
Summit Christian College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. Get the full Summit Christian College report
Southeast Community College Area landed the #18 spot for value in Nebraska this year. Read more about Southeast Community College Area
Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. More on Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health
Myotherapy Institute landed the #20 spot for value in Nebraska this year. See the full Myotherapy Institute profile
Alegent Health School Of Radiologic Technology offered strong value this year, earning the #21 position. See the full Alegent Health School Of Radiologic Technology profile
Wisconsin Academy A Paul Mitchell Partner Group Pmts Lincoln placed #22 among the best-value Teaching schools in Nebraska. See the full Wisconsin Academy A Paul Mitchell Partner Group Pmts Lincoln profile
Nebraska Indian Community College placed #23 among the best-value Teaching schools in Nebraska. Read more about Nebraska Indian Community College
College Of Hair Design Downtown landed the #24 spot for value in Nebraska this year. Get the full College Of Hair Design Downtown report
University Of Nebraska Central Administration System Office came in at #25 in this year's value ranking. See the full University Of Nebraska Central Administration System Office profile
Rest of the Top 15% Best-Value Teaching Degree Schools in Nebraska
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
Bellevue University placed #26 among the best-value Teaching schools in Nebraska. Get the full Bellevue University report
Western Nebraska Community College came in at #27 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Western Nebraska Community College
York College Nebraska came in at #28 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on York College Nebraska
College Of Hair Design East Campus came in at #29 in this year's value ranking. More on College Of Hair Design East Campus
Nebraska College Of Technical Agriculture placed #30 among the best-value Teaching schools in Nebraska. More on Nebraska College Of Technical Agriculture
Xenon International Academy Omaha placed #31 among the best-value Teaching schools in Nebraska. Read the full report on Xenon International Academy Omaha
Metropolitan Community College Area came in at #32 in this year's value ranking. See the full Metropolitan Community College Area profile
Universal College Of Healing Arts landed the #33 spot for value in Nebraska this year. More on Universal College Of Healing Arts
Bryan College Of Health Sciences ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. More on Bryan College Of Health Sciences
University Of Nebraska Medical Center came in at #35 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on University Of Nebraska Medical Center
Josephs College Cosmetology ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. More on Josephs College Cosmetology
Capitol School Of Hairstyling And Esthetics landed the #37 spot for value in Nebraska this year. Read more about Capitol School Of Hairstyling And Esthetics
Mid Plains Community College landed the #38 spot for value in Nebraska this year. More on Mid Plains Community College
Central Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #39 position. Read more about Central Community College
Union College Nebraska came in at #40 in this year's value ranking. See the full Union College Nebraska profile
Little Priest Tribal College came in at #41 in this year's value ranking. More on Little Priest Tribal College
More Teaching Value Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Teaching Degree Search (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs 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 Best Colleges For Money · Scope: State · 14 schools evaluated. *Averages shown above reflect the top 41 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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