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.
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.
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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.
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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.
Tuition + fees
$7K
Graduation
39%
Student body
2K
Chadron State College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$34K
Acceptance
71%
Graduation
49%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
1070/22
Hastings College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$38K
Acceptance
82%
Graduation
66%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1120/25
Nebraska Wesleyan University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$37K
Acceptance
64%
Graduation
45%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1010/21
Midland University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$38K
Acceptance
77%
Graduation
59%
Student body
2K
Doane University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$8K
Graduation
50%
Student body
4K
Wayne State College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$8K
Graduation
40%
Student body
2K
Peru State College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$26K
Acceptance
98%
Graduation
60%
Student body
<1K
Median SAT/ACT
1025/21
Union College, Nebraska’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$36K
Acceptance
85%
Graduation
58%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1090/23
Concordia University Nebraska’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$20K
Acceptance
62%
Graduation
42%
Student body
<1K
Median SAT/ACT
1005/20
York University ’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$22K
Acceptance
38%
Graduation
60%
Student body
<1K
College of Saint Mary’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Many of our 2022 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2021. That’s because we took a fundamentally different apporach. For 2021 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.