Nebraska Trade Schools: Cost, Completion & Earnings (2026 stats)
Executive Summary (TL;DR)
Trade schools in Nebraska: 15 trade and vocational campuses (8 trade schools, 7 community colleges) median net price $10,125 (-24.7% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $38,751 (+10.4% vs U.S.) median completion rate 57.9% employment-outcome proxy 86.0% working & not enrolled at 8 years.
Overview
Trade schools and vocational programs in Nebraska include certificate-focused campuses and community colleges with career and technical education pathways. 15 campuses in this profile (8 trade schools, 7 community colleges), with about 24,495 students enrolled, and median net price near $10,125. Programs span healthcare, skilled trades, manufacturing, and other workforce credentials—tables below compare completion, earnings, and employment outcomes with U.S. and Plains medians.
Nebraska vs regional & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska (NE) | — | $10,125 | $9,995 | 57.9% | 24,495 |
| Plains (region median) | — | $13,332 | $10,250 | 57.9% | 276,411 |
| United States | — | $13,448 | $9,792 | 61.5% | 5,468,807 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: 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.
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska (NE) | $38,751 | 86.0% | N/A | 7.3% | — | 67.2% | 0.25 |
| United States | $35,086 | 81.0% | 65.2% | 11.1% | — | 50.5% | 0.28 |
Nebraska vs peer states (Plains region)
Peer states are other campuses in the same Scorecard region, chosen by similar total enrollment.
| State | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska (NE) | N/A | $10,125 | $9,995 | 57.9% | 24,495 | $38,751 | 86.0% |
| South Dakota (SD) | N/A | $13,840 | $12,000 | 76.3% | 7,950 | $31,694 | 85.8% |
| North Dakota (ND) | N/A | $10,766 | $10,507 | 57.4% | 7,940 | $31,788 | 86.3% |
| Iowa (IA) | N/A | $13,566 | $10,250 | 62.8% | 45,016 | $39,060 | 87.5% |
| Kansas (KS) | N/A | $11,070 | $9,339 | 55.1% | 47,115 | $40,059 | 87.3% |
| United States | N/A | $13,448 | $9,792 | 61.5% | 5,468,807 | $35,086 | 81.0% |
Outcomes by sector in 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 for-profit | 5 | $28,664 | 85.9% | N/A | 3.8% | — | 55.6% |
| Public | 9 | $39,744 | 88.3% | N/A | 9.9% | — | 69.8% |
Top 10 trade schools in Nebraska by completion rate (150% time, certificate programs)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate among trade schools and community colleges in this profile (enrollment ≥ 50). Source: College Scorecard.
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Rank 1, Completion Rate, 87.5%, Joseph's College Cosmetology
Joseph's College Cosmetology
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Rank 2, Completion Rate, 87.2%, Capitol Beauty School
Capitol Beauty School
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Rank 3, Completion Rate, 83.0%, College of Hair Design-Downtown
College of Hair Design-Downtown
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Rank 4, Completion Rate, 82.2%, Xenon A Stephanie Moss Academy
Xenon A Stephanie Moss Academy
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Rank 5, Completion Rate, 60.8%, Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture
Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture
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Rank 6, Completion Rate, 60.0%, Entourage Institute of Beauty and Esthetics
Entourage Institute of Beauty and Esthetics
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Rank 7, Completion Rate, 55.8%, Northeast Community College
Northeast Community College
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Rank 8, Completion Rate, 53.8%, Mid-Plains Community College
Mid-Plains Community College
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Rank 9, Completion Rate, 48.1%, Central Community College
Central Community College
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Rank 10, Completion Rate, 37.8%, Southeast Community College Area
Southeast Community College Area
Top 10 trade schools in Nebraska by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 94.7%, Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture
Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 91.7%, Northeast Community College
Northeast Community College
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Rank 3, Employment Outcome, 90.2%, Entourage Institute of Beauty and Esthetics
Entourage Institute of Beauty and Esthetics
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Rank 4, Employment Outcome, 89.4%, Southeast Community College Area
Southeast Community College Area
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Rank 5, Employment Outcome, 89.1%, Central Community College
Central Community College
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Rank 6, Employment Outcome, 88.3%, Mid-Plains Community College
Mid-Plains Community College
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Rank 7, Employment Outcome, 86.0%, Joseph's College Cosmetology
Joseph's College Cosmetology
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Rank 8, Employment Outcome, 85.9%, Xenon A Stephanie Moss Academy
Xenon A Stephanie Moss Academy
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Rank 9, Employment Outcome, 85.2%, Western Nebraska Community College
Western Nebraska Community College
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Rank 10, Employment Outcome, 85.2%, College of Hair Design-Downtown
College of Hair Design-Downtown
Top 10 trade schools in Nebraska by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
None
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $47,692, Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture
Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $39,950, Northeast Community College
Northeast Community College
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Rank 3, Mid-Career Earnings, $39,103, Southeast Community College Area
Southeast Community College Area
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Rank 4, Mid-Career Earnings, $36,158, Central Community College
Central Community College
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Rank 5, Mid-Career Earnings, $35,437, Metropolitan Community College Area
Metropolitan Community College Area
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Rank 6, Mid-Career Earnings, $34,852, Mid-Plains Community College
Mid-Plains Community College
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Rank 7, Mid-Career Earnings, $33,557, Western Nebraska Community College
Western Nebraska Community College
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Rank 8, Mid-Career Earnings, $28,276, Capitol Beauty School
Capitol Beauty School
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Rank 9, Mid-Career Earnings, $28,093, Xenon A Stephanie Moss Academy
Xenon A Stephanie Moss Academy
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Rank 10, Mid-Career Earnings, $25,591, Nebraska Indian Community College
Nebraska Indian Community College
Top 10 trade schools in Nebraska by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
None
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $53,022, Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture
Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $41,041, Southeast Community College Area
Southeast Community College Area
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Rank 3, 8-Yr Earnings, $40,804, Northeast Community College
Northeast Community College
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Rank 4, 8-Yr Earnings, $39,316, Metropolitan Community College Area
Metropolitan Community College Area
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Rank 5, 8-Yr Earnings, $38,405, Central Community College
Central Community College
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Rank 6, 8-Yr Earnings, $37,587, Mid-Plains Community College
Mid-Plains Community College
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Rank 7, 8-Yr Earnings, $36,228, Western Nebraska Community College
Western Nebraska Community College
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Rank 8, 8-Yr Earnings, $30,724, Little Priest Tribal College
Little Priest Tribal College
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Rank 9, 8-Yr Earnings, $29,307, College of Hair Design-Downtown
College of Hair Design-Downtown
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Rank 10, 8-Yr Earnings, $28,804, Capitol Beauty School
Capitol Beauty School
Top 10 trade schools in Nebraska by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
None
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $56,887, Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture
Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $43,405, Southeast Community College Area
Southeast Community College Area
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Rank 3, 10-Yr Earnings, $42,634, Northeast Community College
Northeast Community College
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Rank 4, 10-Yr Earnings, $40,059, Mid-Plains Community College
Mid-Plains Community College
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Rank 5, 10-Yr Earnings, $39,429, Central Community College
Central Community College
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Rank 6, 10-Yr Earnings, $38,773, Metropolitan Community College Area
Metropolitan Community College Area
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Rank 7, 10-Yr Earnings, $38,729, Western Nebraska Community College
Western Nebraska Community College
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Rank 8, 10-Yr Earnings, $31,458, Nebraska Indian Community College
Nebraska Indian Community College
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Rank 9, 10-Yr Earnings, $31,349, Capitol Beauty School
Capitol Beauty School
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Rank 10, 10-Yr Earnings, $28,953, Xenon A Stephanie Moss Academy
Xenon A Stephanie Moss Academy
Top 10 trade schools in Nebraska by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year ROI among trade schools and community colleges with enrollment ≥ 50.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $218,996, Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture
Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $196,673, Southeast Community College Area
Southeast Community College Area
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Rank 3, 10-Yr ROI, $183,166, Central Community College
Central Community College
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Rank 4, 10-Yr ROI, $179,852, Northeast Community College
Northeast Community College
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Rank 5, 10-Yr ROI, $175,001, Metropolitan Community College Area
Metropolitan Community College Area
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Rank 6, 10-Yr ROI, $171,836, Mid-Plains Community College
Mid-Plains Community College
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Rank 7, 10-Yr ROI, $164,463, Western Nebraska Community College
Western Nebraska Community College
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Rank 8, 10-Yr ROI, $132,160, Capitol Beauty School
Capitol Beauty School
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Rank 9, 10-Yr ROI, $124,860, Xenon A Stephanie Moss Academy
Xenon A Stephanie Moss Academy
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Rank 10, 10-Yr ROI, $120,730, College of Hair Design-Downtown
College of Hair Design-Downtown
Top 10 most affordable trade schools in Nebraska (net price)
Lowest median net price among trade schools and community colleges with enrollment ≥ 50.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $5,235, Mid-Plains Community College
Mid-Plains Community College
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Rank 2, Net Price, $4,982, Metropolitan Community College Area
Metropolitan Community College Area
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Rank 3, Net Price, $7,024, Central Community College
Central Community College
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Rank 4, Net Price, $5,474, Western Nebraska Community College
Western Nebraska Community College
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Rank 5, Net Price, $8,544, Northeast Community College
Northeast Community College
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Rank 6, Net Price, $9,171, Southeast Community College Area
Southeast Community College Area
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Rank 7, Net Price, $10,125, Joseph's College Cosmetology
Joseph's College Cosmetology
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Rank 8, Net Price, $9,303, Little Priest Tribal College
Little Priest Tribal College
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Rank 9, Net Price, $14,886, Capitol Beauty School
Capitol Beauty School
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Rank 10, Net Price, $14,639, Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture
Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture
Student debt: Nebraska vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Nebraska is $9,995 (+2.1% vs U.S. median $9,792). Regional median: $10,250. Rank: #32 nationally of 58 (lower debt = better rank); #3 in Plains of 7.
Median earnings (10 years out): Nebraska vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Nebraska center around $38,751 (+10.4% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Nebraska vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 86.0% at the median Nebraska campus (+5.0 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
Median graduate debt is $9,995 (+2.1% above the U.S. median of $9,792, and -2.5% vs the Plains regional median of $10,250). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Student debt rank: #32 nationally of 58 (lower debt = better rank); #3 in Plains of 7 (1 = lowest median debt).
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Nebraska are $38,751, about +10.4% vs the U.S. campus median ($35,086).
The median campus reports 86.0% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 81.0% (+5.0 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 7.3% (U.S. 11.1%); 3-yr repayment progress 67.2% (U.S. 50.5%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Nationally, Nebraska ranks earnings #13 and employment proxy #6 on these outcome medians (1 = best).
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture (94.7%), Northeast Community College (91.7%), Entourage Institute of Beauty and Esthetics (90.2%), Southeast Community College Area (89.4%), Central Community College (89.1%), Mid-Plains Community College (88.3%), Joseph's College Cosmetology (86.0%), Xenon A Stephanie Moss Academy (85.9%), Western Nebraska Community College (85.2%), College of Hair Design-Downtown (85.2%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Within Nebraska, sector medians diverge: Private for-profit median 10-yr earnings $28,664 (5 campuses); Public median 10-yr earnings $39,744 (9 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 Nebraska is 57.9% (national institution average about 61.5%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do trade schools cost in Nebraska?
Among trade schools and community colleges in Nebraska, median net price is $10,125 vs $13,448 nationally (-24.7% vs U.S.).
What is typical student debt at Nebraska trade schools?
Median federal loan debt among completers at trade and vocational campuses in Nebraska is $9,995 vs a U.S. median of $9,792 (Nebraska ranks #32 nationally for median debt among states.)
What do trade school graduates earn in Nebraska?
Median earnings 10 years after entry for Nebraska trade schools and community colleges reporting to the College Scorecard is $38,751 vs $35,086 nationally. Six-year medians are $30,916.
What share of Nebraska trade school students are working after completion?
The federal employment-outcome proxy on this site (8-year cohort working and not enrolled) has a median of 86.0% in Nebraska vs 81.0% nationally.
How many trade schools are in Nebraska?
This profile covers 8 trade schools and 7 community colleges (15 total) in Nebraska with roughly 24,495 total reported enrollment.
How many public vs. private trade schools are in Nebraska?
Among trade schools and community colleges with outcomes in the College Scorecard extract: 9 public, 0 private nonprofit, and 5 private for-profit institutions.
What are the top trade schools in Nebraska?
Rankings on this page use College Scorecard medians for trade schools and community colleges; standouts include highest completion rate: Joseph's College Cosmetology; highest 10-year earnings: Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture; lowest net price among large campuses: Mid-Plains Community College. See the ranked lists below for full details.
Are there Hispanic-serving or other designated trade schools in Nebraska?
Among 40 campuses in Nebraska, 2 tribal colleges (IPEDS TRIBAL flag), including Nebraska Indian Community College and Little Priest Tribal College; 3 campuses with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include Central Community College, College of Hair Design-Downtown, and Western Nebraska Community College; 12 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campuses (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Roman Catholic (3), United Methodist (2), Churches of Christ (2).
How does Nebraska compare to its Census region for trade schools?
Nebraska is in the Plains region. Regional median net price is $13,332 and median 10-year earnings are $38,729 vs $10,125 net price and $38,751 earnings in Nebraska.
Sources & related
- All trade school profiles
- Nebraska college profile
- Trade school costs by state
- Trade schools and public community colleges (College Scorecard)
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON