Chadron State College
Chadron, NE 69337-2690
About Chadron State College
Chadron State College is a public research university in Chadron, Nebraska, enrolling about 1,540 students. Chadron State College awards degrees and certificates tracked in federal College Scorecard and IPEDS reporting. Published tuition for full-time study is about $8,290 per year before aid; net price varies by family income. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $47,002 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Chadron State College charges 50% above the national public median tuition ($8,290).
- Versus the Nebraska median, sticker tuition is 16% below.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 50.41%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $47,002.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Chadron State College is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 836% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chadron State College | $8,290 | $12,549 | 1 |
| Public (national median) | $5,512 | — | 1,688 |
| Nebraska (state median) | $9,903 | $11,632 | 31 |
| Town (locale median) | $9,600 | $14,971 | 1,517 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
How expensive is Chadron State College really?
Key findings
- Chadron State College charges 50% above the national public median tuition ($8,290).
- Versus the Nebraska median, sticker tuition is 16% below.
Chadron State College tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $8,290
Finding Chadron State College charges 50% above the national public median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $8,290. That is 50% above the national public median ($5,512). Versus the Nebraska median ($9,903), sticker tuition is 16% below. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is 30% below.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to public and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Chadron State College versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Chadron State College versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Chadron State College is $12,549.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $12,549 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $917 above the Nebraska median net price. Versus town campuses, net price runs $2,422 below the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway At Chadron State College, average net price exceeds published tuition alone because net price uses a fuller cost-of-attendance base.
Chadron State College: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Chadron State College—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
Annual tuition
$8,290
Avg. net price
$12,549
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $10,047 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $10,090 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $12,561 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $14,674 |
| $110,001+ | $16,047 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $33,160. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Chadron State College is known for
Top program completions
- Business Administration and Management, General138
- Elementary Education and Teaching49
- Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services33
- Special Education and Teaching, General30
- Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other28
See earnings & programs for more.
Is Chadron State College a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Chadron State College is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Chadron State College.
Campus
Location
Chadron, NE
City / state
- ZIP
- 69337-2690
- NCES locale
- Town remote
Compared with Town campuses nationally, net price is 16% below the median for Town campuses ($14,971 median).
Control
Institution type
Public
Control
- Region
- Plains
- Carnegie
- Master's Colleges and Universities: Small Programs
Size
Enrollment
1,540
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 1,989
- Graduate
- 408
- Full-time share
- 89%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$18,875
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 37.59%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Chadron State College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Chadron State College was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Chadron State College in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $5,600 | $5,630 | $10,544 |
| 2014 | $5,668 | $5,698 | $11,060 |
| 2015 | $6,220 | $6,250 | $10,992 |
| 2016 | $6,510 | $6,540 | $13,267 |
| 2017 | $7,122 | $7,152 | $14,567 |
| 2018 | $7,384 | $7,414 | $14,234 |
| 2019 | $7,556 | $7,586 | $14,268 |
| 2020 | $7,634 | $7,664 | $15,097 |
| 2021 | $7,844 | $7,874 | $15,260 |
| 2022 | $7,834 | $7,834 | $15,684 |
| 2023 | $8,078 | $8,078 | $13,308 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Admissions funnel data is not available for this institution.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Score distribution is not available for this institution.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA range is not available for this institution.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Chadron State College reported total enrollment of about 1,540 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 35% male and 65% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (76.6%), Hispanic or Latino (11.6%), and Two or More Races (3.9%). About 37.59% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 39.3% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
88.9% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Chadron State College in 2024 is 1,540 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 1,989 students. Graduate enrollment is about 408 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
63.2%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
34.33% 100% Completion Time
50.41% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 34.33% of students graduating from Chadron State College completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Business Administration and Management, General: 46% male / 54% female
- Elementary Education and Teaching: 6% male / 94% female
- Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services: 24% male / 76% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Chadron State College graduates earn a median of $47,002 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Chadron State College.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $47,002. Median federal loan debt: $18,875. Average net price used in cost models: $12,549.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Chadron State College graduates report median earnings of $47,002 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Chadron State College.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (37 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Chadron State College.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Chadron State College graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Chadron State College—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$27.9M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- Nebraska median near the median ($27.4M)
- Plains median 1.2× the median ($24.1M)
- U.S. median 1.1× the median ($26.4M)
- Nebraska median near the median ($14,089)
- Plains median near the median ($15,020)
- U.S. median 1.2× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 54.8%
- Nebraska median 4.9 pp below median (59.7%)
- Plains median 9.9 pp below median (64.7%)
- U.S. median 3.2 pp below median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $8,175
- Nebraska median 1.2× the median ($7,042)
- Plains median 1.1× the median ($7,194)
- U.S. median 1.1× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $7,796
- Nebraska median 0.78× the median ($9,991)
- Plains median near the median ($8,150)
- U.S. median 1.1× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Chadron State College at a glance
Chadron State College
Chadron State College is a public institution in Chadron, NE, classified as Master's Colleges and Universities: Small Programs.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Business Administration and Management, GeneralElementary Education and TeachingCounselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian76.6%Hispanic or Latino11.6%Two or More Races3.9%
Schools near Chadron State College
Other campuses in Chadron, NE when available, plus nearby institutions in Nebraska.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade C-) within Nebraska, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Chadron State College located?
Chadron State College is located in Chadron, NE.
What is Chadron State College's tuition?
Chadron State College tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $8,290 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $12,549 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Chadron State College cost?
Reported tuition is $8,290 and average net price is $12,549 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $9,984 annually.
What explains Chadron State College's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($12,549), completion (50.4% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($47,002). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Chadron State College?
Chadron State College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 1,989 students, White (76.6%), Hispanic or Latino (11.6%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Chadron State College?
About 39.3% of students at Chadron State College are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Chadron State College earn?
Median earnings are $39,139 six years after entry and $47,002 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Chadron State College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 50.4% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Chadron State College students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $18,875.
Is Chadron State College public or private?
Chadron State College is a public institution located in Chadron, NE.
Is Chadron State College an HBCU?
No. Chadron State College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Chadron State College a tribal college?
No. Chadron State College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.