Best colleges for Registered Nursing in Nebraska
Ranked by graduate earnings
Creighton University, Nebraska Wesleyan University and Union Adventist University are the top bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in Nebraska by graduate earnings. Creighton University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $77,587, College Scorecard. University of Nebraska Medical Center, Creighton University and Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health award the most Registered Nursing degrees in Nebraska: 450, 337 and 247 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 16 Nebraska colleges offer Registered Nursing and award 1,765 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
Top 9 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Creighton University Omaha Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $77,587 | 337 | 83% | $27,353 | $27,000 |
| 2 | Nebraska Wesleyan University Lincoln Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $76,333 | 37 | 66% | $22,225 | $27,000 |
| 3 | Union Adventist University Lincoln Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $75,244 | 36 | 52% | $20,543 | $31,000 |
| 4 | Midland University Fremont Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $74,515 | 20 | 42% | $23,162 | $30,750 |
| 5 | Clarkson College Omaha Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $73,835 | 208 | 47% | $17,156 | $31,289 |
| 6 | University of Nebraska Medical Center Omaha Public · Bachelor's degree | $73,324 | 450 | — | — | $25,000 |
| 7 | Bryan College of Health Sciences Lincoln Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $73,124 | 127 | 70% | $25,346 | $30,125 |
| 8 | College of Saint Mary Omaha Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $72,738 | 40 | 61% | $14,629 | $37,668 |
| 9 | Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health Omaha Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $70,680 | 247 | 60% | $19,033 | $35,362 |
Top 6 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southeast Community College Area Lincoln Public · Associate degree | $71,239 | 24 | 38% | — | $25,814 |
| 2 | Central Community College Grand Island Public · Associate degree | $64,945 | 66 | 48% | — | $14,805 |
| 3 | Northeast Community College Norfolk Public · Associate degree | $62,930 | 32 | 56% | — | $19,053 |
| 4 | Western Nebraska Community College Scottsbluff Public · Associate degree | $62,413 | 26 | 37% | — | $16,249 |
| 5 | Metropolitan Community College Area Omaha Public · Associate degree | $68,874 | 89 | 29% | — | $17,882 |
| 6 | Mid-Plains Community College North Platte Public · Associate degree Small program | $59,746 | 19 | 54% | — | $20,376 |
Colleges awarding the most Registered Nursing degrees in Nebraska
Top 9 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Nebraska Medical Center Omaha Public | 450 | $73,324 |
| 2 | Creighton University Omaha Private not-for-profit | 337 | $77,587 |
| 3 | Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health Omaha Private not-for-profit | 247 | $70,680 |
| 4 | Clarkson College Omaha Private not-for-profit | 208 | $73,835 |
| 5 | Bryan College of Health Sciences Lincoln Private not-for-profit | 127 | $73,124 |
| 6 | College of Saint Mary Omaha Private not-for-profit | 40 | $72,738 |
| 7 | Nebraska Wesleyan University Lincoln Private not-for-profit | 37 | $76,333 |
| 8 | Union Adventist University Lincoln Private not-for-profit | 36 | $75,244 |
| 9 | Midland University Fremont Private not-for-profit | 20 | $74,515 |
ShowHide the other 7 Nebraska colleges offering Registered Nursing
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan Community College Area | Omaha | Public | 89 |
| Central Community College | Grand Island | Public | 66 |
| Northeast Community College | Norfolk | Public | 32 |
| Western Nebraska Community College | Scottsbluff | Public | 26 |
| Southeast Community College Area | Lincoln | Public | 24 |
| Mid-Plains Community College | North Platte | Public | 19 |
| Bellevue University (Online) | Bellevue | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141).
Top skills
What Registered Nurses earn in Nebraska
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Registered Nursing programs in Nebraska.
Which Nebraska colleges award the most Registered Nursing degrees?+
University of Nebraska Medical Center (450 graduates a year), Creighton University (337 graduates a year) and Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health (247 graduates a year) award the most Registered Nursing degrees in Nebraska, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 16 Nebraska colleges offer Registered Nursing.
What is the best college for Registered Nursing in Nebraska?+
By graduate earnings, Creighton University leads among bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in Nebraska, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $77,587, College Scorecard. Nebraska Wesleyan University and Union Adventist University follow. By degrees awarded, University of Nebraska Medical Center is the largest, with 450 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Registered Nursing program in Nebraska has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Creighton University tops the list at $77,587. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Registered Nurses earn in Nebraska?+
The average annual wage for Registered Nurses in Nebraska is $88,330 (median $84,730), across about 24,720 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Registered Nursing program?+
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, active listening, speaking, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Registered Nurses?+
The national job outlook is about +4.9% growth with around 189,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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