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# Hidden Gem Colleges in Nebraska (2026)

Updated October 1, 2026

This page lists 6 colleges in Nebraska. This list includes only colleges whose overall score is at or above the 50th percentile nationally and whose admission rate is above 50%; colleges without a reported admission rate are left out.

The colleges that qualify are ordered by overall score, highest first, as set out on Azimuth's methodology page. [University of Nebraska at Omaha](/school/university-of-nebraska-at-omaha/majors/) ranks 1st on this list, with median earnings of $60,448 for its graduates four years after completing. The group includes 3 public and 3 private nonprofit institutions.

The mix is evenly divided between 3 public and 3 private nonprofit colleges. University of Nebraska at Omaha posts the lowest average net price on the list at $13,441.

Creighton University holds the highest six-year completion rate in the group, graduating 83% within six years. University of Nebraska at Omaha ranks 186th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.

## The ranked list

6 schools in list order

| Rank | School | Median earnings, 4 years after completion | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | University of Nebraska at Omaha · Omaha, NE | $60,448 | $13,441 | $10,534 | 87.0% |
|  | [University of Nebraska at Omaha](/school/university-of-nebraska-at-omaha/majors/) ranks 1st on this list and holds the strongest Azimuth composite position in Nebraska, at 186th among nonprofit four-year institutions. |
| 2 | University of Nebraska-Lincoln · Lincoln, NE | $62,769 | $17,747 | $12,751 | 87.5% |
|  | Graduates of [University of Nebraska-Lincoln](/school/university-of-nebraska-lincoln/majors/) report [median earnings of $62,769](/school/university-of-nebraska-lincoln/outcomes/) four years after completing, and the school admits 87% of applicants. |
| 3 | University of Nebraska at Kearney · Kearney, NE | $56,647 | $16,242 | $13,066 | 89.5% |
|  | With a [six-year completion rate of 58%](/school/university-of-nebraska-at-kearney/outcomes/), [University of Nebraska at Kearney](/school/university-of-nebraska-at-kearney/majors/) posts an average net price of $16,242. |
| 4 | Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health · Omaha, NE | $74,574 | $21,863 | $17,272 | 73.4% |
|  | [Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health](/school/nebraska-methodist-college-of-nursing-allied-health/majors/), a private nonprofit institution in Omaha, shows [median earnings of $74,574](/school/nebraska-methodist-college-of-nursing-allied-health/outcomes/) four years after graduating. |
| 5 | Creighton University · Omaha, NE | $81,178 | $31,568 | $20,472 | 79.8% |
|  | [Creighton University](/school/creighton-university/majors/) carries an [average net price of $20,472](/school/creighton-university/cost/) for families earning under $30,000 and graduates 83% of its students within six years. |
| 6 | Bryan College of Health Sciences · Lincoln, NE | $77,318 | $26,919 | $23,196 | 67.4% |
|  | [Bryan College of Health Sciences](/school/bryan-college-of-health-sciences/majors/) [admits 67% of applicants](/school/bryan-college-of-health-sciences/admissions/) and reports median earnings of $77,318 four years after completing. |

## How this list is ordered

This list includes only colleges whose overall score is at or above the 50th percentile nationally and whose admission rate is above 50%; colleges without a reported admission rate are left out. The colleges that qualify are ordered by overall score, highest first, as set out on [Azimuth's methodology page](/methodology/#hidden-gem). The earnings figures cited are the median earnings of federally aided completers at each institution four years after completing, among those who were working and not enrolled. The list does not adjust for cost or for differences in who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The six listed schools split evenly between public and private institutions, with 3 public and 3 private nonprofit colleges represented.

## Related rankings

-   [Most Affordable Colleges in Nebraska](/rankings/most-affordable-colleges-in-nebraska/)
-   [Highest Paying Colleges in Nebraska](/rankings/highest-paying-colleges-in-nebraska/)
-   [Best Colleges for Social Mobility in Nebraska](/rankings/best-colleges-for-social-mobility-in-nebraska/)