Best Online Colleges in Nebraska 2023

Published: Jan 4, 2022
Updated: Sep 8, 2023

Find the best online colleges in Nebraska ranked by the academic success of faculty and alumni associated with the colleges and universities and their online degree programs.

Top 10 Online Colleges in Nebraska

University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Creighton University
University of Nebraska Omaha
University of Nebraska at Kearney
Chadron State College
Bellevue University
Doane University
Peru State College
Clarkson College
Wayne State College

Clarkson College 96%
University of Nebraska at Kearney 90%
University of Nebraska Omaha 87%
Nebraska Methodist College 84%
University of Nebraska–Lincoln 81%
Creighton University 78%
Doane University 77%
York University 62%

Peru State College 20 to 1
Wayne State College 20 to 1
Clarkson College 18 to 1
Chadron State College 17 to 1
Bellevue University 16 to 1
University of Nebraska–Lincoln 16 to 1
University of Nebraska Omaha 16 to 1
University of Nebraska at Kearney 13 to 1
Nebraska Methodist College 13 to 1
Creighton University 12 to 1

Creighton University $44,524
Doane University $37,880
York University $19,900
Nebraska Methodist College $16,207
Clarkson College $14,880
Bellevue University $8,310
University of Nebraska–Lincoln $7,770
Peru State College $7,680
Wayne State College $7,618
University of Nebraska Omaha $6,344

Creighton University $17,190
Clarkson College $12,294
Nebraska Methodist College $11,758
Bellevue University $10,980
Peru State College $9,120
Doane University $8,407
University of Nebraska at Kearney $6,216
University of Nebraska–Lincoln $6,138
University of Nebraska Omaha $6,138
York University $5,100

York University
Nebraska Methodist College
Wayne State College
Clarkson College
Peru State College
Doane University
Bellevue University
Chadron State College
University of Nebraska at Kearney
University of Nebraska Omaha

York University 62%
Doane University 77%
Creighton University 78%
University of Nebraska–Lincoln 81%
Nebraska Methodist College 84%
University of Nebraska Omaha 87%
University of Nebraska at Kearney 90%
Clarkson College 96%

Doane University 11 to 1
Creighton University 12 to 1
York University 12 to 1
University of Nebraska at Kearney 13 to 1
Nebraska Methodist College 13 to 1
Bellevue University 16 to 1
University of Nebraska–Lincoln 16 to 1
University of Nebraska Omaha 16 to 1
Chadron State College 17 to 1
Clarkson College 18 to 1

Chadron State College $5,208
University of Nebraska at Kearney $6,270
University of Nebraska Omaha $6,344
Wayne State College $7,618
Peru State College $7,680
University of Nebraska–Lincoln $7,770
Bellevue University $8,310
Clarkson College $14,880
Nebraska Methodist College $16,207
York University $19,900

Wayne State College $4,185
Chadron State College $4,650
York University $5,100
University of Nebraska–Lincoln $6,138
University of Nebraska Omaha $6,138
University of Nebraska at Kearney $6,216
Doane University $8,407
Peru State College $9,120
Bellevue University $10,980
Nebraska Methodist College $11,758

Table of Contents

Featured Programs

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.

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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.

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

What are Nebraska’s Colleges & Universities?

Nebraska’s Best Overall

Online education has grown dramatically in quality, credibility, and popularity over the last two decades. Today, more than a quarter of all college students are taking at least one online course. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there are more than 5 million college students who are pursuing their undergraduate degree fully online. And the number of online college and graduate students continues to grow as online technology and instructional methods improve.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, access to remote learning has proven an essential part of the educational ecosystem. Schools that offer primarily online degree programs saw an increase of 7% enrollment just between Fall 2020 and Spring 2021. The number of traditional institutions offering online courses and degrees is growing as well. This all paints a promising picture for the future of online education. But it also produces a dizzying array of options.

Frequently Asked Questions About Best Online Colleges 2022

Asynchronous learning means classes don’t meet at set times. This is the most flexible online learning experience, making when you cover your course material up to you. Most asynchronous online courses will still have deadlines throughout the semester for various assignments and tests. Some asynchronous classes may still ask for an occasional meeting, such as initial meet-and-greets, and in some cases there may be scheduled test times. The idea of asynchronous learning is to allow the student to manage their schedules as needed.

Synchronous learning means you will have scheduled meeting times for your online classes. Synchronous learning gives online students the flexibility of location while also giving students a chance to engage with each other and their professors. For many online students, the structured class schedules and ability to see and hear from peers in real-time helps create the learning experience they want.

Accreditation is especially important when it comes to online college. This is because the online education landscape is a mix of highly-reputable institutions and less-than-reputable for-profit schools. Accreditation gives you the power to differentiate between the two. Accreditation is a stamp of approval from an independent accrediting agency which indicates that a college or university is meeting standards of quality, credibility, and currency. School-wide accreditation falls into two major categories: regional and national accreditation. Regional accreditors generally hold jurisdiction only over schools in the states comprising their region, whereas national accreditors hold jurisdiction over schools in all states. Regional accreditation is widely regarded as a more rigorous standard of quality and credibility than national accreditation.

Attending a college or university which is not regionally accredited could limit your opportunities. When seeking an online education, we strongly recommend that students opt for regionally accredited schools. Regional accreditation ensures eligibility for federal loans and grants, ensures your college credits can be transferred between schools, and ensures that your degree credits can be accepted if you wish to earn an advanced degree.

As long as your online college degree is regionally accredited, you should have little difficulty transferring most of your credits or credentials to another regionally accredited undergraduate school. Every school carries its own standards and procedures for granting a transfer. In many cases, you will be required to navigate a bureaucracy in which some of your credits will be transferred and others will be jettisoned. However, provided that you have attended an online school with the proper regional accreditation, you should have plenty of options for transfer.

In most cases, as long you graduate from a well-regarded, regionally-accredited online college, prospective employers won’t look sideways at your degree. In fact, unless you attend an exclusively online college or university, there will likely be no specific indicator on your degree, transcript or resume differentiating your school from its brick-and-mortar counterpart. This means that your employer will likely only differentiate between an online and in-person degree if you mention this distinction.

While some employers may express concern about making the adjustment from online education to in-person workplace collaboration, many other employers will view your online degree as evidence of valuable 21st Century professional skills such as independence, self-motivation, time management, and tech savvy.

The advantages of online classes are many. First and foremost, online courses give you the freedom and flexibility to attend class from anywhere that works for you, whether you’re at home, in a coffee shop, or in a quiet conference room at work. In many cases, you’ll also enjoy the convenience of asynchronous learning opportunities—educational experiences that you can complete on your own schedule. This may include pre-taped lectures, ongoing chat-board discussions, and 24/7 access to digital materials. And of course, just as there are some learners who prefer the energy of a live classroom, there are those who learn best when working in their own personal space, free from distractions. If this sounds like you, you might find the solitude of online learning to be a major advantage.

How do we determine the best online colleges for undergrads?

Methodology

Pursuing your degree online doesn’t mean you need to settle for an inferior school. Today, most universities and colleges offer online degrees, and many respected schools are seeing significant growth in their numbers of online students.

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great. This is why influence — i.e., the academic impact of faculty and alumni associated with a school — gets at the heart of what is truly best in education. The combined influence score of a college or university’s top academic influencers is the best indicator of academic excellence. For our online degree rankings, we focus on the academic influence of faculty and alumni in the specific disciplines we’re ranking.

If you are serious about finding the best online colleges, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching, and whether their graduates themselves are advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence. Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Influence, as measured by our InfluenceRanking engine, provides a ranking that is free from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

Median Salaries of Top Careers in Nebraska

The following graph depicts the average salaries of top occupations in different industries in Nebraska.

Source: U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS

Annual Salary

93490Biochemists and Biophysicists

109360Personal Financial Advisors

117350Actuaries

149860Aerospace Engineers

224420Chief Executives

Best Online Colleges in Nebraska 2023

Top 10 Online Colleges in Nebraska

Featured Programs

Colleges and Universities in Nebraska

What are Nebraska’s Colleges & Universities?

Median Salaries of Top Careers in Nebraska

Best Online Colleges in Nebraska 2022

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