Cost of college in Nebraska
In-state tuition at a public 4-year college in Nebraska averages $9,429 a year, or $15,889 as a real net price after aid. Graduates earn a median $54,318 and owe about $19,958. The net price pays back in about 5.1 years.
How Nebraska compares to the US
Nebraska ranks #32 of 51 for public in-state tuition (#1 is the most expensive), and #28 of 51 for graduate earnings. It ranks #31 of 51 for payback, where #1 is the fastest.
| Metric | Nebraska | US average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition | $9,429 | $9,518 | -$89 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $22,727 | $23,652 | -$925 |
| Net price after aid | $15,889 | $13,788 | +$2,101 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs out | $54,318 | $56,427 | -$2,109 |
| Median debt at graduation | $19,958 | $17,856 | +$2,102 |
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, 2026 release. Public 4-year institutions, aggregated to the state level and enrollment-weighted.
Does a degree in Nebraska pay for itself?
Payback is the ROI figure this index adds: the years the college earnings premium takes to recoup the net price. A public 4-year degree in Nebraska costs about $63,556 over four years at net price, and recoups in about 5.1 years from the roughly $12,518-a-year premium graduates earn over a high-school graduate (a $41,800 baseline). That ranks #31 of 51 states and DC for payback. See the methodology for how it is built.
Private nonprofit 4-year colleges in Nebraska list about $26,408 in tuition and net out to about $22,150 after aid.
Frequently asked questions
How much does college cost in Nebraska?
At a public 4-year college in Nebraska, in-state tuition and fees average about $9,429 a year and out-of-state runs about $22,727. The net price after grants and scholarships, which also covers living costs, averages about $15,889. The national figures are $9,518 in-state and $13,788 net price.
What do college graduates in Nebraska earn and owe?
Ten years after starting, students from Nebraska's public 4-year colleges earn a median of about $54,318 a year and carry a median federal debt of about $19,958 at graduation, against a national median of $56,427 earnings and $17,856 debt.
Is college worth it in Nebraska?
A public 4-year degree in Nebraska costs about $63,556 over four years at net price and recoups in about 5.1 years from the roughly $12,518-a-year premium graduates earn over a high-school graduate (a $41,800 baseline). Nationally the payback is about 3.8 years.