Best College ROI in Ne 2026
20 colleges in Ne analyzed for return on investment. Chadron State College leads with a ROI Score of 97/100 (STRONG BUY).
Ne has 20 colleges tracked in the Department of Education's College Scorecard, split between 6 public institutions and 14 private ones. Across the 20 schools with enough data to score, graduates of the top-paying major at each school carry a median federal debt of $25K and earn $82K in their first year out — the gap that determines whether a degree pays back.
95% of Ne colleges earn an A or B on the ROI Score, with the rest landing at C or below. First-year earnings top out at University of Nebraska at Kearney (median $95K on Computer and Information Sciences). The lowest median debt comes from Chadron State College at $17K.
All numbers come from the latest College Scorecard release, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients only — graduates who paid cash or used private loans aren't in this dataset, so actual median debt at high-income schools may be lower than shown. The ROI Score weights debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), BLS job outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%).
Top 3 Best ROI Colleges in Ne
Chadron State College
Public · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Tops Ne's ROI rankings on its Mathematics program. Graduates earn a median $78K in their first year against $17K in median debt.
University of Nebraska at Kearney
Public · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Second-best ROI in the state, driven by Computer and Information Sciences. Five-year median earnings: $147K.
University of Nebraska at Omaha
Public · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Third on the ROI Score with Computer Science. Graduation rate 10000%, debt $21K.
Top 20 Colleges by ROI in Ne
| # | School | Best Major | Median Debt | 1yr Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chadron State College(public) | Mathematics | $17K | $78K | A (97) |
| 2 | University of Nebraska at Kearney(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $20K | $95K | A (96) |
| 3 | University of Nebraska at Omaha(public) | Computer Science | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 4 | University of Nebraska-Lincoln(public) | Computer Science | $20K | $95K | A (96) |
| 5 | Wayne State College(public) | Information Science/Studies | $20K | $95K | A (96) |
| 6 | College of Saint Mary(private) | Mathematics | $23K | $78K | A (95) |
| 7 | Creighton University(private) | Computer Science | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 8 | Doane University(private) | Mathematics | $23K | $78K | A (95) |
| 9 | Hastings College(private) | Computer Science | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 10 | Peru State College(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 11 | Union Adventist University(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $21K | $95K | A (95) |
| 12 | Midland University(private) | Mathematics | $23K | $78K | A (95) |
| 13 | Bellevue University(private) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $31K | $95K | A (92) |
| 14 | Concordia University-Nebraska(private) | Computer Science | $29K | $95K | A (92) |
| 15 | York University(private) | Mathematics | $30K | $78K | A (91) |
| 16 | Nebraska Wesleyan University(private) | Business/Commerce | $26K | $65K | B (78) |
| 17 | Clarkson College(private) | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $33K | $62K | B (76) |
| 18 | Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health(private) | Health and Medical Administrative Services | $37K | $62K | B (75) |
| 19 | Bryan College of Health Sciences(private) | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $41K | $62K | B (73) |
| 20 | Summit Christian College(private) | Bible/Biblical Studies | $24K | $40K | C (60) |
College debt and earnings data for Ne is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Chadron State College has the best ROI in Ne with a score of 97/100 (STRONG BUY). The top major is Mathematics, with $78K in first-year median earnings against $17K in median debt.
Across 20 Ne colleges with ROI data, graduates carry a median debt of about $25K on the best-paying major at each school. First-year median earnings on those same programs average $82K.
University of Nebraska at Kearney graduates earn the most one year out, with median first-year pay of $95K on its top major (Computer and Information Sciences). After five years, those graduates earn a median of $147K.
Ne has 20 colleges in our database (6 public, 14 private). Of the 20 with reportable ROI, 95% earn an A or B grade.
The ROI Score (0-100) weighs debt-to-income ratio (35%), earnings premium over a high school graduate (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%). Scores are graded A-F with verdicts from "Strong Buy" to "Avoid." Data comes from the College Scorecard and BLS occupational projections.
ROI Score: debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), debt vs. national average (10%).