Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Nebraska Wesleyan University #825 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $2,945 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Nebraska Wesleyan University in the 69.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Nebraska Wesleyan University #482 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. ---
Azimuth ranks Nebraska Wesleyan University #825 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private master's university in Lincoln, Nebraska, Nebraska Wesleyan University enrolls roughly 1,453 undergraduates. Retention is 75.0% and the six-year graduation rate is 66.1%, reflecting solid completion outcomes for a residential liberal arts–focused institution. Where Nebraska Wesleyan University performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Nebraska Wesleyan University #482 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $2,945 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Nebraska Wesleyan University in the 69.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's business-focused program portfolio — with Business as the dominant field — aligns well with regional employer demand and supports strong early-career outcomes for graduates entering the Midwest labor market. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Nebraska Wesleyan University enrolls 33.6% Pell-eligible students and 26.2% first-generation undergraduates, reflecting a more traditional residential college demographic than many peer institutions. Azimuth ranks Nebraska Wesleyan University in the 28.9 percentile for access and the 45.0 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. For families evaluating Nebraska Wesleyan University, the value proposition centers on the strength of return — graduates see earnings outcomes that exceed expectations relative to similar institutions — paired with a residential campus experience in Nebraska's capital city.
Published cost of attendance is $53,569. After need-based aid, low-income families pay approximately $14,925, middle-income families pay around $14,594, higher-income families pay approximately $23,652. Azimuth ranks Nebraska Wesleyan University #784 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, in the 45.0 percentile. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,970; families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $28,640. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $61,753, median federal debt projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios, use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Nebraska Wesleyan University is a strong fit for students interested in Business and related fields who want a private university experience in NE, Midwest. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $61,753, placing Nebraska Wesleyan University in the 51.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They earn about $2,945 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 69.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a meaningful share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 33.6% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 26.2% are first-generation — and delivers mobility outcomes that place Nebraska Wesleyan University in the 71.3 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 79.8% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors Business and related fields. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find the earnings trajectory and aid package among the strongest in the region.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Nebraska Wesleyan University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Published cost of attendance is $53,569. After need-based aid, low-income families pay approximately $14,925, middle-income families pay around $14,594, higher-income families pay approximately $23,652.
Azimuth ranks Nebraska Wesleyan University #784 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, in the 45.0 percentile. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,970; families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $28,640.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $61,753, median federal debt projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios, use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Graduates of Nebraska Wesleyan University earn median 4-year earnings of $61,753, placing Nebraska Wesleyan University in the 51.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $2,945 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Nebraska Wesleyan University in the 69.8 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Nebraska Wesleyan University #482 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects strength in business and professional fields.
Business/Commerce, General is the largest program with 51 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $70,281, performing at 1.0x the national benchmark for the field. The Biology, General program graduates 50 students earning $54,566, while Kinesiology with 43 graduates reaches $58,770.
Nursing and Psychology, General round out the top programs, with 34 and 30 graduates respectively earning $93,116 and $50,320. The concentration in Business — the institution's dominant program family — aligns with the strong four-year earnings outcomes across the graduate cohort.
Adult Health Nurse/Nursing
34 graduates
Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping
9 graduates
Business/Commerce, General
51 graduates
Exercise Science and Kinesiology
43 graduates
Communication and Media Studies, Other
14 graduates
Nebraska Wesleyan University's program mix centers on Business, reflecting the institution's identity as a private liberal arts university with professional-pathway emphasis. Business/Commerce, General is the largest program with 51 graduates, followed by Biology, General, Kinesiology, Nursing, and Psychology, General.
Across 24 total programs, 0 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, with strength concentrated in applied business and professional fields aligned to the institution's regional labor market. The earnings pattern reflects Business's dominance in the degree portfolio.
Nursing leads with median earnings of $93,116 four years after enrollment, followed by Business/Commerce, General at $70,281, Kinesiology at $58,770, Communication and Media Studies at $57,937, and Biology, General at $54,566. The concentration of graduates in Business/Commerce, General (earning $70,281) and Biology, General (earning $54,566) anchors the institution's overall earnings profile and demonstrates how program scale and earnings outcomes align in the portfolio.
Nebraska Wesleyan University graduates a cohort of roughly 442 students annually across its program portfolio, creating meaningful employer visibility in the Lincoln and broader Midwest labor markets. The program mix emphasizes direct-to-workforce pathways where four-year earnings reflect immediate labor-market outcomes rather than graduate-school-dependent trajectories.
For context on how these fields align with national labor-market demand, see the [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/).
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alvernia University Similar quality tier (#22598 ranked) | PA | 58% | $55,055 | #22598 | Compare |
Niagara University Similar quality tier (#22593 ranked) | NY | 87% | $56,196 | #22593 | Compare |
Le Moyne College Similar quality tier (#22606 ranked) | NY | 83% | $62,731 | #22606 | Compare |
The University Of The South Similar quality tier (#22610 ranked) | TN | 57% | $64,911 | #22610 | Compare |
Siena Heights University Similar quality tier in Midwest (#22618 ranked) | MI | 69% | $57,529 | #22618 | Compare |
