Best Online Master’s Programs in Nebraska 2023

Published: May 11, 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. Faculty and alumni with influential ideas are the foundation of respectable online degree programs employers can trust.

Top 10 Online Master's Programs in Nebraska

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

University of Nebraska at Kearney 90%
University of Nebraska Omaha 87%
Concordia University Nebraska 85%
Nebraska Methodist College 84%
University of Nebraska–Lincoln 81%
Creighton University 78%
Doane University 77%
York University 62%
College of Saint Mary 38%

Peru State College 20 to 1
Wayne State College 20 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
Concordia University Nebraska 14 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
Concordia University Nebraska $36,310
College of Saint Mary $21,800
York University $19,900
Nebraska Methodist College $16,207
University of Nebraska Medical Center $11,340
Bellevue University $8,310
University of Nebraska–Lincoln $7,770
Peru State College $7,680

College of Saint Mary $17,638
Creighton University $17,190
Nebraska Methodist College $11,758
Bellevue University $10,980
University of Nebraska Medical Center $9,207
Peru State College $9,120
Concordia University Nebraska $8,650
Doane University $8,407
University of Nebraska at Kearney $6,216
University of Nebraska–Lincoln $6,138

York University
Nebraska Methodist College
Concordia University Nebraska
College of Saint Mary
Wayne State College
Peru State College
Doane University
Bellevue University
Chadron State College
University of Nebraska at Kearney

College of Saint Mary 38%
York University 62%
Doane University 77%
Creighton University 78%
University of Nebraska–Lincoln 81%
Nebraska Methodist College 84%
Concordia University Nebraska 85%
University of Nebraska Omaha 87%
University of Nebraska at Kearney 90%

University of Nebraska Medical Center 2 to 1
College of Saint Mary 9 to 1
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
Concordia University Nebraska 14 to 1
Bellevue University 16 to 1
University of Nebraska–Lincoln 16 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
University of Nebraska Medical Center $11,340
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
Concordia University Nebraska $8,650
Peru State College $9,120
University of Nebraska Medical Center $9,207

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.

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

Online master’s degrees offered by respected colleges and universities are generally respected by employers. The main thing to consider about your online master’s choices is whether the school name is well known and respected. In many cases, employers won’t know your degree was earned online. But even if they do, a degree from a respected college is automatically to your benefit.

We rank the colleges and universities in this list by the influence of their alumni and faculty. For master’s degree students, including online master’s degree students, having faculty who are influential in your field matters a lot. It’s a big indicator that you have the chance to get a quality education. And, knowing that you will join an alumni association with some impressive people is nice, too.

Frequently Asked Questions About Online Master’s Degrees

An online master’s degree costs about $40,000 for the average grad student. However, the cost of your online master’s degree will depend on the type of grad school you attend. In 2018-2019, the average cost for a year of tuition in a public grad school was $12,171. The average cost for a year of tuition in private, non-profit grad school was $27,776. An online master’s degree will usually cost about the same as a traditional master’s degree. Some schools will charge 5-10% more for online courses. This added cost pays for the technology and specialized training needed for online instruction. But getting a master’s degree online can also help you save money. The costs above don’t include expenses like housing, transportation, or certain campus fees. As an online grad student, you can save a lot of money by avoiding these added expenses. Many online master’s degree programs are also accelerated. Most master’s degree programs are designed to be completed in two years. But you may be able to earn your online master’s degree in as little as 12-18 months. Earning an accelerated online master’s degree can save you money on tuition.

If this is your first time taking an online course, the experience may require some adjustment. While you’ll generally learn the same content and take the same exams as your on-campus peers, the medium will likely require you to manage much of this experience independently. You’ll be accountable for your own time management, your ability to harness the technology at your fingertips, and your ability to focus on the lectures, lessons, and assignments at hand. This means you’ll need to create a suitable workspace for yourself, maintain a realistic schedule, and take it upon yourself to build relationships with your instructors and classmates. With online college, your goal is to find a balance between independence and engagement.

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.

If you are a student who thrives on the dynamic energy of in-person discussion, who requires the physical surroundings of a classroom to feel engaged, or who considers the social aspects of education to be of equal importance to the actual content of your courses, online education will require some adjustment.

While there is much that can be supplanted or simulated through the online medium, some students may find that there is nothing which can replace the conversation, collaboration, and motivation that occur in an actual classroom setting. As you make the adjustment to online education, one of the biggest challenges you will likely face is overcoming this difference in order to the get the most out of your classes. Fortunately, we’ve got some great Tips for Online Education Beginners.

How do we determine Nebraska's best online master's degree programs?

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.

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 Master’s Programs in Nebraska 2023

Top 10 Online Master's Programs in Nebraska

Featured Programs

Colleges and Universities in Nebraska

What are Nebraska’s Colleges & Universities?

Median Salaries of Top Careers in Nebraska

Best Online Master’s Program in Nebraska 2022

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Nebraska’s Best Grad Programs in Your Area Interest