Lincoln, Nebraska Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)

Last updated: June 4, 2026 Source: College Scorecard

TL;DR

EDsmart Data analysis of 2024 College Scorecard data for Lincoln, Nebraska shows: median public in-state tuition $18,695 (+239.2% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $56,646 (+4.3% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 94.4% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $12,000 (-10.7% vs U.S.) 28,809 students enrolled statewide.

Key Facts

  • Institutions in this profile: 10 campuses
  • Total college enrollment: 28,809 students
  • Median public in-state tuition: $18,695 (+239.2% vs U.S.)
  • Median earnings 10 years after entry: $56,646 (+4.3% vs U.S.)
  • Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 94.4% (+6.5 pp vs U.S.)
  • Median net price: $17,840 (+79.0% vs U.S.)
  • Median student debt at graduation: $12,000 (-10.7% vs U.S. $13,432); regional median $17,500
  • Average completion rate (institutions in state): 66.5%
  • Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 79.3%

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Overview

EDsmart Data summarizes higher-education outcomes for campuses in Lincoln, Nebraska—costs, debt, enrollment, completion, earnings, and standout institutions—against Nebraska and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.

Lincoln vs Nebraska & national benchmarks

Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.

State versus regional and national education metrics
Geography In-state tuition Net price Median debt Completion rate Enrollment
Lincoln, Nebraska$18,695$17,840$12,00066.5%28,809
Nebraska (state median)$5,400$11,632$19,25052.2%89,648
United States$5,512$9,967$13,43250.3%14,484,370

Earnings & employment outcomes: Lincoln, Nebraska vs benchmarks

Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.

Earnings and employment outcome benchmarks
Geography Median earnings (10 yr) Working & not enrolled (8 yr) Retention (FT yr 1) 2-yr default 3-yr default 3-yr repayment progress Debt ÷ earnings
Lincoln, Nebraska$56,64694.4%79.3%2.2%—81.7%0.42
Nebraska (state median)$54,12493.8%75.0%3.0%—80.7%0.40
United States$54,32387.9%76.3%5.0%—73.7%0.41

Other cities in Nebraska (3+ campuses)

Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.

Peer comparison table
City In-state tuition Net price Median debt Completion Enrollment Earnings (10 yr) Working (8 yr)
Lincoln, Nebraska$18,695$17,840$12,00066.5%28,809$56,64694.4%
Omaha$13,963$16,590$17,00059.5%27,854$64,97495.7%
United States$5,512$9,967$13,43250.3%14,484,370$54,32387.9%

Outcomes by sector in Lincoln, Nebraska

Median campus-level metrics within each ownership type (public, private nonprofit, private for-profit).

Sector Campuses Median earnings (10 yr) Working share (8 yr) Retention 2-yr default 3-yr default 3-yr repayment
Private nonprofit3$56,40594.2%75.0%1.9%—81.2%

Top 10 colleges in Lincoln, Nebraska by graduation rate (150% time)

Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.

  1. Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 70.0%, Bryan College of Health Sciences

    Bryan College of Health Sciences

    Private nonprofit · 553 enrolled · Lincoln

  2. Rank 2, Graduation Rate, 67.0%, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

    University of Nebraska-Lincoln

    Public · 19,178 enrolled · Lincoln

  3. Rank 3, Graduation Rate, 66.1%, Nebraska Wesleyan University

    Nebraska Wesleyan University

    Private nonprofit · 1,453 enrolled · Lincoln

Top 10 colleges in Lincoln, Nebraska by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)

Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.

  1. Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 96.0%, Bryan College of Health Sciences

    Bryan College of Health Sciences

    Private nonprofit · 553 enrolled · Lincoln

  2. Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 94.7%, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

    University of Nebraska-Lincoln

    Public · 19,178 enrolled · Lincoln

  3. Rank 3, Employment Outcome, 94.2%, Nebraska Wesleyan University

    Nebraska Wesleyan University

    Private nonprofit · 1,453 enrolled · Lincoln

Top 10 most selective colleges in Lincoln, Nebraska (lowest admission rate)

Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.

  1. Rank 1, Admission Rate, 67.4%, Bryan College of Health Sciences

    Bryan College of Health Sciences

    Private nonprofit · 553 enrolled · Lincoln

  2. Rank 2, Admission Rate, 79.8%, Nebraska Wesleyan University

    Nebraska Wesleyan University

    Private nonprofit · 1,453 enrolled · Lincoln

  3. Rank 3, Admission Rate, 87.5%, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

    University of Nebraska-Lincoln

    Public · 19,178 enrolled · Lincoln

Top 10 colleges in Lincoln, Nebraska by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)

Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.

  1. Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $82,398, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

    University of Nebraska-Lincoln

    Public · 19,178 enrolled · Lincoln

  2. Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $76,333, Nebraska Wesleyan University

    Nebraska Wesleyan University

    Private nonprofit · 1,453 enrolled · Lincoln

  3. Rank 3, Entry-Level Earnings, $75,244, Union Adventist University

    Union Adventist University

    Private nonprofit · 471 enrolled · Lincoln

  4. Rank 4, Entry-Level Earnings, $73,124, Bryan College of Health Sciences

    Bryan College of Health Sciences

    Private nonprofit · 553 enrolled · Lincoln

Top 10 colleges in Lincoln, Nebraska by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)

Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.

  1. Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $116,221, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

    University of Nebraska-Lincoln

    Public · 19,178 enrolled · Lincoln

  2. Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $93,116, Nebraska Wesleyan University

    Nebraska Wesleyan University

    Private nonprofit · 1,453 enrolled · Lincoln

  3. Rank 3, Early-Career Earnings, $79,420, Union Adventist University

    Union Adventist University

    Private nonprofit · 471 enrolled · Lincoln

  4. Rank 4, Early-Career Earnings, $75,490, Bryan College of Health Sciences

    Bryan College of Health Sciences

    Private nonprofit · 553 enrolled · Lincoln

Top 10 colleges in Lincoln, Nebraska by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)

Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.

  1. Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $66,305, Bryan College of Health Sciences

    Bryan College of Health Sciences

    Private nonprofit · 553 enrolled · Lincoln

  2. Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $47,692, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

    University of Nebraska-Lincoln

    Public · 19,178 enrolled · Lincoln

  3. Rank 3, Mid-Career Earnings, $47,667, Nebraska Wesleyan University

    Nebraska Wesleyan University

    Private nonprofit · 1,453 enrolled · Lincoln

Top 10 colleges in Lincoln, Nebraska by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)

Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.

  1. Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $65,885, Bryan College of Health Sciences

    Bryan College of Health Sciences

    Private nonprofit · 553 enrolled · Lincoln

  2. Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $53,022, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

    University of Nebraska-Lincoln

    Public · 19,178 enrolled · Lincoln

  3. Rank 3, 8-Yr Earnings, $52,815, Nebraska Wesleyan University

    Nebraska Wesleyan University

    Private nonprofit · 1,453 enrolled · Lincoln

Top 10 colleges in Lincoln, Nebraska by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)

Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.

  1. Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $70,845, Bryan College of Health Sciences

    Bryan College of Health Sciences

    Private nonprofit · 553 enrolled · Lincoln

  2. Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $56,887, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

    University of Nebraska-Lincoln

    Public · 19,178 enrolled · Lincoln

  3. Rank 3, 10-Yr Earnings, $56,405, Nebraska Wesleyan University

    Nebraska Wesleyan University

    Private nonprofit · 1,453 enrolled · Lincoln

Top 10 colleges in Lincoln, Nebraska by 10-year ROI

Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.

  1. Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $208,075, Bryan College of Health Sciences

    Bryan College of Health Sciences

    Private nonprofit · 553 enrolled · Lincoln

  2. Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $175,792, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

    University of Nebraska-Lincoln

    Public · 19,178 enrolled · Lincoln

  3. Rank 3, 10-Yr ROI, $148,823, Union Adventist University

    Union Adventist University

    Private nonprofit · 471 enrolled · Lincoln

  4. Rank 4, 10-Yr ROI, $146,038, Nebraska Wesleyan University

    Nebraska Wesleyan University

    Private nonprofit · 1,453 enrolled · Lincoln

Top 10 most affordable colleges in Lincoln, Nebraska (net price)

Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.

  1. Rank 1, Net Price, $17,747, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

    University of Nebraska-Lincoln

    Public · 19,178 enrolled · Lincoln

  2. Rank 2, Net Price, $18,327, Nebraska Wesleyan University

    Nebraska Wesleyan University

    Private nonprofit · 1,453 enrolled · Lincoln

  3. Rank 3, Net Price, $23,716, Union Adventist University

    Union Adventist University

    Private nonprofit · 471 enrolled · Lincoln

  4. Rank 4, Net Price, $26,919, Bryan College of Health Sciences

    Bryan College of Health Sciences

    Private nonprofit · 553 enrolled · Lincoln

Top 10 colleges in Lincoln, Nebraska by first-year retention (full-time)

Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.

  1. Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 86.0%, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

    University of Nebraska-Lincoln

    Public · 19,178 enrolled · Lincoln

  2. Rank 2, First-Year Retention, 75.0%, Nebraska Wesleyan University

    Nebraska Wesleyan University

    Private nonprofit · 1,453 enrolled · Lincoln

  3. Rank 3, First-Year Retention, 71.1%, Bryan College of Health Sciences

    Bryan College of Health Sciences

    Private nonprofit · 553 enrolled · Lincoln

In-state tuition: Lincoln, Nebraska vs benchmarks

Sticker price

Lincoln, Nebraska median in-state tuition is $18,695, +239.2% vs the U.S. median.

Student debt: Lincoln, Nebraska vs benchmarks

Borrowing

Median debt at graduation in Lincoln, Nebraska is $12,000 (-10.7% vs U.S. median $13,432). Regional median: $17,500.

Median earnings (10 years out): Lincoln, Nebraska vs benchmarks

Payoff

Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Lincoln, Nebraska center around $56,646 (+4.3% vs U.S.).

Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.

Employment outcome proxy: Lincoln, Nebraska vs benchmarks

Working & not enrolled

The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 94.4% at the median Lincoln, Nebraska campus (+6.5 pp vs U.S.).

Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).

Analysis & insights

EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.

Costs & borrowing

Lincoln, Nebraska median public in-state tuition is $18,695, about +239.2% vs the national median. Versus the Plains region, tuition is +200.3%.

Median graduate debt is $12,000 (-10.7% below the U.S. median of $13,432). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.

Earnings, employment & retention

Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Lincoln, Nebraska are $56,646, about +4.3% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,323).

The median campus reports 94.4% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 87.9% (+6.5 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.

First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 79.3% vs a U.S. median of 76.3%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.

Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 2.2% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 81.7% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.

Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Bryan College of Health Sciences (96.0%), University of Nebraska-Lincoln (94.7%), Nebraska Wesleyan University (94.2%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.

Completion & workforce context

Within Lincoln, Nebraska, sector medians diverge: Private nonprofit median 10-yr earnings $56,405 (3 campuses). Public campuses often dominate enrollment while private nonprofits can show higher earnings medians at selective institutions.

Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Lincoln, Nebraska is 66.5% (national institution average about 50.3%).

FAQ

How many colleges are in Lincoln?

EDsmart Data analysis: this city profile covers 10 campuses in Lincoln, Nebraska with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.

How much does college cost in Lincoln?

EDsmart Data analysis: median in-state tuition in Lincoln is $18,695 and median net price is $17,840. For Nebraska overall, medians are $5,400 and $11,632; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,967.

What do graduates earn in Lincoln?

EDsmart Data analysis: median 10-year earnings for campuses in Lincoln is $56,646 vs $54,124 for Nebraska and $54,323 nationally.

What is student debt like for Lincoln colleges?

EDsmart Data analysis: median completer debt in Lincoln is $12,000 vs $19,250 for Nebraska and $13,432 nationally.

What are the best colleges in Lincoln?

EDsmart Data analysis: top campuses on this page include Bryan College of Health Sciences (graduation) and Bryan College of Health Sciences (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.

Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Lincoln?

EDsmart Data analysis: among 10 campuses in Lincoln, Nebraska, 1 campus with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include College of Hair Design-Downtown; 2 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campuses (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: United Methodist (1), Seventh Day Adventist (1).

Sources & related