Best Small Colleges in Nebraska 2024

Badge for BEST IN NEBRASKA SMALL COLLEGES

Published: Apr 20, 2021
Updated: Mar 25, 2024

Small colleges in Nebraska are a great option for students interested in a more intimate campus experience, more personal attention from excellent professors, and more immediate access to support services. Whether the focus is on the technical or on the liberal arts, small colleges give you the chance to pursue a well-rounded education while working closely with classmates and professors in a dynamic community atmosphere.

Nebraska Wesleyan University
Chadron State College
Midland University
Doane University
Peru State College
Wayne State College
Hastings College
College of Saint Mary
Union College
Concordia University Nebraska

Union College 99%
Concordia University Nebraska 91%
Nebraska Wesleyan University 81%
Doane University 76%
Hastings College 71%
Midland University 65%
College of Saint Mary 65%
York University 57%

Wayne State College 22 to 1
Peru State College 20 to 1
Chadron State College 16 to 1
Midland University 14 to 1
Hastings College 12 to 1
Concordia University Nebraska 12 to 1
Nebraska Wesleyan University 11 to 1
York University 11 to 1
Doane University 10 to 1
College of Saint Mary 8 to 1

Nebraska Wesleyan University $39,868
Doane University $38,990
Midland University $38,300
Concordia University Nebraska $37,720
Hastings College $34,580
Union College $27,170
College of Saint Mary $22,450
York University $20,900
Peru State College $7,920
Chadron State College $7,834

Union College $28,896
College of Saint Mary $21,103
Midland University $13,668
Hastings College $10,920
Peru State College $9,120
Doane University $8,743
Nebraska Wesleyan University $8,050
Concordia University Nebraska $7,650
York University $5,100
Chadron State College $4,650

College of Saint Mary
York University
Concordia University Nebraska
Union College
Peru State College
Wayne State College
Doane University
Midland University
Nebraska Wesleyan University
Hastings College

York University
Concordia University Nebraska
Union College
College of Saint Mary
Hastings College
Wayne State College
Peru State College
Doane University
Midland University
Chadron State College

York University 57%
College of Saint Mary 65%
Midland University 65%
Hastings College 71%
Doane University 76%
Nebraska Wesleyan University 81%
Concordia University Nebraska 91%
Union College 99%

College of Saint Mary 8 to 1
Union College 8 to 1
Doane University 10 to 1
Nebraska Wesleyan University 11 to 1
York University 11 to 1
Hastings College 12 to 1
Concordia University Nebraska 12 to 1
Midland University 14 to 1
Chadron State College 16 to 1
Peru State College 20 to 1

Wayne State College $7,786
Chadron State College $7,834
Peru State College $7,920
York University $20,900
College of Saint Mary $22,450
Union College $27,170
Hastings College $34,580
Concordia University Nebraska $37,720
Midland University $38,300
Doane University $38,990

Wayne State College $4,185
Chadron State College $4,650
York University $5,100
Concordia University Nebraska $7,650
Nebraska Wesleyan University $8,050
Doane University $8,743
Peru State College $9,120
Hastings College $10,920
Midland University $13,668
College of Saint Mary $21,103

Table of Contents

Colleges and Universities in Nebraska

Students can choose from 29 higher learning institutions, including community colleges, technical institutes, religious colleges, and public universities. Of the 15 public campuses, the University of Nebraska - Lincoln is the largest, with over 22,000 students. Coming in under the national average, the university’s tuition rate is $9,000, and students can earn their degree in fields such as law, mathematics, communication, and sociology.

Find college admissions consultants in your state.

The most affordable schools in the state are its six community colleges with tuition ranging from $3,000 to $4,000. Nebraska also has 12 religiously affiliated institutions, including those with Methodist, Presbyterian, Catholic, and Lutheran influences. At $40,000 in tuition, Creighton University is both the largest and most expensive of these schools, and it boasts a 95% employment rate after graduation.

As one of the largest corn producers in the country, it’s no wonder Nebraska’s nickname is The Cornhusker State. The state is also home to an unusual monument - Carhenge. Replicating England’s famous Stonehenge, this structure is made out of vintage American automobiles that have been painted gray and lodged into the ground. With the Great Plains, over 20,000 square miles of sand dunes, and a portion of the Badlands, Nebraska offers a unique setting for students looking to earn their associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree.

Mental health, dental, and other health care professionals working in shortage areas can apply for loan repayment awards through the Nebraska Loan Repayment Program. Doctors and dentists may qualify for up to $200,000.

Come check out the top programs and earn your degree in Nebraska.

What are Nebraska’s Colleges & Universities?

Nebraska’s Best Overall

The following list of the best small colleges and universities in Nebraska is composed mainly of four-year undergraduate schools (though a handful also offer graduate programs). We’ve identified 11 small colleges in Nebraska. The list below of the best small colleges in Nebraska. To be included schools must fully accredited, and must have student body populations below 5,000 students.

How do we determine Nebraska's best small colleges and universities?

Methodology

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great! If you are serious about finding the best colleges and universities for a bachelor’s degree, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching and whether their graduates are themselves advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence in their fields of study.

Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Concentrated Influence provides a ranking that is freer from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

To rank the influence of schools, we first determine the influence of scholars and professionals based on the number of citations and publications they have had over the past 10 years. In addition to publications and citations, we consider the web links to and from these sources, and the page views of those sources. We then match the influential people to their alma maters and institutions of employment, so that their influence is attributed to those schools. Our machine-learning Influence Ranking algorithm produces a numerical score of academic achievements, merits, and citations across Wikipedia, wikidata, Crossref, Semantic Scholar and an ever-growing body of data. If you are interested in exploring how and why we rank by influence, explore our methodology in more depth.

Best Small Colleges in Nebraska 2023

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Nebraska’s Best Small College in Your Area of Interest

2021 Ranking Archive

Many of our 2024 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2023. That’s because we took a fundamentally different approach. For 2024 we utilized our Concentrated Influence algorithm, designed to take away the size advantage larger schools have when we rank their faculty and alumni’s academic influence. Concentrated influence highlights smaller schools that are proportionally as successful as larger universities at cultivating influential alumni and faculty.

Many states have great small colleges. If you’re interested in looking into what other states have to offer, check out the best small colleges in Oklahoma and Minnesota.

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Best Small Colleges in Nebraska 2024

10 Best Small Colleges in Nebraska 2024

Colleges and Universities in Nebraska

What are Nebraska’s Colleges & Universities?

Best Small Colleges in Nebraska 2023

Career Outlook for degree at Chadron State College

Most Influential Alumni

Chadron State College’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at Hastings College

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Nebraska Wesleyan University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Midland University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Doane University

Most Influential Alumni

Doane University’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at Wayne State College

Most Influential Alumni

Wayne State College’s Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Peru State College

Most Influential Alumni

Peru State College’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at Union College, Nebraska

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Concordia University Nebraska

Most Influential Alumni

Concordia University Nebraska’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at York University

Most Influential Alumni

York University ’s Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at College of Saint Mary

Nebraska’s Best Small College in Your Area of Interest