
Source: National Center for Educational Statistics. This is the most recent data available as of January 2020
Questions & Answers
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What do all these numbers mean?
All costs are the average net cost paid by families in each income bracket. Net cost is the total cost of attendance minus government grants and institutional scholarships. Loans of any kind are not included. Figures are based on data from the 2017-18 school year, which is the latest available as of January 2020.
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What is “Total Cost” on the chart?
Total cost is the total cost of attendance for that particular college. It includes:
- Tuition and fees (in-state tuition for public schools)
- Room and board (on campus)
- Books and supplies
- Other expenses (travel and personal)
There are detailed chart below for each school that shows these expenses. Click here to go to the individual cost breakdown for schools.
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How can I use this information?
This information is useful for building a realistic college budget. It's a good place to start until you better understand your specific circumstances. For example, let's say your income is $100,000 per year. This chart shows that the average state school would run $17,753 and the average private school would be $23,594. You can also get information on specific Nebraska schools in the chart above or the tables below.
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Will my family pay the amount on this chart?
Probably not. The numbers are averages. You may be below average or above average. However, there are two key points we can learn from this data:
- Families with higher incomes ($75,000-$110,000 and $110,000+) will most likely pay close to full price at the public schools.
- Private colleges have a higher list price but offer more discounts. This brings their net price much closer to the cost of state-funded schools.
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Where did this information come from?
As part of federal financial aid, colleges are required to provide detailed cost information to the U.S. government. This data is made available to the public through the National Center for Education Statistics. For more details, click here.
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What about athletes, merit aid or minority students?
Athletes, high achieving students, and those with minority status are averaged in with everyone else. Within each income bracket, there are families that pay more than average and families that pay less than average.
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The costs on this chart seemed large, how can families afford to pay it?
For many families paying for college is not easy, but in the end they figure out. Most families will pay their net cost of college with some combination of:
- college savings and investments
- payments from current income
- loans
- outside scholarships (check out our Scholarship Guide For Busy Parents, which describes how you and your student can win scholarships for college and save money!)
- tax planning
- student work

Net Price:
Net price is the total cost of attendance minus the average amount of government grants and institutional scholarships awarded. This is an average, so you may pay above the average or below the average. Your exact net price is likely to be different and sometimes drastically different.
Most families will pay the net price with some combination of savings and investments, current income and various loans. Some students will also receive scholarships from sources other than the federal or state government or the college. Any scholarships and grants from these outside sources are not included in the data. However, government grants and institutional scholarships are included in the averages.
Total Cost at University of Nebraska-Lincoln (2017-18) | |
---|---|
Tuition and Fees | $8,978 |
Room and Board | $11,044 |
Books | $1,070 |
Other Expenses | $3,970 |
Total | $25,062 |
Total Cost:
Total cost is the total cost of attendance for that particular institution for the 2017-18 school year. This is the latest data available as of January 2020. Total costs include:
- Tuition and fees (in-state tuition for public schools)
- Room and board (on campus)
- Books and supplies
- Other expenses (travel and personal)
College Total Cost | ||
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Family Income | NE Public $21,467 | NE Private $37,722 |
$0 - $30k | $11,850 | $18,074 |
$30,001 – $48k | $12,731 | $18,592 |
$48,001 – $75k | $15,055 | $20,521 |
$75,001 – $110k | $17,753 | $23,594 |
$110,001+ | $18,571 | $22,994 |
Public vs. Private Averages
This table shows the average total cost of attendance for the Nebraska public and private colleges we have included in our analysis. The costs include a breakdown of the average net price paid by family income. Notice that the average private college is $5,000-$7,000 more than the average public school, depending on your income bracket. It is important to stress that these are averages. Most families will not be average, and their individual circumstances could be drastically different. I encourage all families to work with their preferred colleges to get information specific to their family.
Below are similar charts for each individual private and public college in Nebraska. Click a school to view its complete chart.
Public NE Schools Cost Breakdown
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Chadron State College
Chadron Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $7,122 $7,384 Room and Board $7,072 $7,446 Books $1,680 $1,800 Other Expenses $4,794 $5,032 Total $20,668 $21,662 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $11,364 $11,911 $30,001 - $48k $13,092 $13,722 $48,001 - $75k $14,627 $15,330 $75,001 - $110k $16,386 $17,174 $110,001+ $17,098 $17,920 -
University of Nebraska at Kearney
Kearney Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $7,294 $7,512 Room and Board $10,050 $10,208 Books $908 $928 Other Expenses $4,334 $4,392 Total $22,586 $23,040 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $13,659 $13,934 $30,001 - $48k $13,862 $14,141 $48,001 - $75k $16,102 $16,426 $75,001 - $110k $19,452 $19,843 $110,001+ $20,806 $21,224 -
University of Nebraska at Omaha
Omaha Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $7,630 $7,790 Room and Board $9,406 $9,690 Books $1,148 $1,140 Other Expenses $3,648 $3,680 Total $21,832 $22,300 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $10,211 $10,430 $30,001 - $48k $10,868 $11,101 $48,001 - $75k $13,415 $13,703 $75,001 - $110k $17,232 $17,601 $110,001+ $18,797 $19,200
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University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Lincoln Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $8,978 $9,242 Room and Board $11,044 $11,430 Books $1,070 $1,016 Other Expenses $3,970 $3,248 Total $25,062 $24,936 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $13,161 $13,095 $30,001 - $48k $14,111 $14,040 $48,001 - $75k $17,296 $17,209 $75,001 - $110k $20,513 $20,410 $110,001+ $22,149 $22,038 -
Peru State College
Peru Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $7,512 $7,512 Room and Board $8,640 $8,640 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $2,880 $2,880 Total $20,232 $20,232 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $12,711 $12,711 $30,001 - $48k $13,439 $13,439 $48,001 - $75k $15,474 $15,474 $75,001 - $110k $17,565 $17,565 $110,001+ $16,918 $16,918 -
Wayne State College
Wayne Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $6,848 $7,172 Room and Board $7,430 $7,800 Books $1,192 $1,200 Other Expenses $2,952 $3,006 Total $18,422 $19,178 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $9,992 $10,402 $30,001 - $48k $11,016 $11,468 $48,001 - $75k $13,414 $13,964 $75,001 - $110k $15,371 $16,002 $110,001+ $15,658 $16,301
Private NE Schools Cost Breakdown
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Bellevue University
Bellevue Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $7,752 $7,827 Room and Board $8,532 $8,724 Books $1,350 $1,350 Other Expenses $2,700 $3,069 Total $20,334 $20,970 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $12,411 $12,799 $30,001 - $48k $13,177 $13,589 $48,001 - $75k $11,515 $11,875 $75,001 - $110k $18,574 $19,155 $110,001+ $9,880 $10,189 -
Clarkson College
Omaha Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $16,290 $13,392 Room and Board $7,800 $7,800 Books $1,400 $1,400 Other Expenses $4,370 $4,250 Total $29,860 $26,842 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $19,184 $17,245 $30,001 - $48k $18,961 $17,045 $48,001 - $75k $27,869 $25,052 $75,001 - $110k $25,397 $22,830 $110,001+ $27,023 $24,292 -
Concordia University-Nebraska
Seward Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $31,000 $32,220 Room and Board $8,100 $8,470 Books $1,000 $1,000 Other Expenses $2,420 $2,420 Total $42,520 $44,110 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $16,754 $17,381 $30,001 - $48k $19,119 $19,834 $48,001 - $75k $19,884 $20,628 $75,001 - $110k $21,354 $22,153 $110,001+ $22,672 $23,520 -
Creighton University
Omaha Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $38,750 $39,916 Room and Board $10,702 $11,036 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $2,800 $2,800 Total $53,452 $54,952 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $25,429 $26,143 $30,001 - $48k $23,949 $24,621 $48,001 - $75k $25,879 $26,605 $75,001 - $110k $29,321 $30,144 $110,001+ $33,152 $34,082 -
Doane University-Arts & Sciences
Crete Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $32,250 $33,800 Room and Board $9,090 $9,400 Books $1,000 $1,000 Other Expenses $4,370 $4,370 Total $46,710 $48,570 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $20,072 $20,871 $30,001 - $48k $20,336 $21,146 $48,001 - $75k $23,036 $23,953 $75,001 - $110k $27,004 $28,079 $110,001+ $25,945 $26,978 -
Grace University
Omaha Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $32,250 $33,800 Room and Board $9,090 $9,400 Books $1,000 $1,000 Other Expenses $4,370 $4,370 Total $46,710 $48,570 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $20,072 $20,871 $30,001 - $48k $20,336 $21,146 $48,001 - $75k $23,036 $23,953 $75,001 - $110k $27,004 $28,079 $110,001+ $25,945 $26,978
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Hastings College
Hastings Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $29,200 $30,050 Room and Board $9,400 $9,700 Books $1,134 $1,134 Other Expenses $3,793 $3,794 Total $43,527 $44,678 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $17,664 $18,131 $30,001 - $48k $20,649 $21,195 $48,001 - $75k $21,529 $22,098 $75,001 - $110k $23,757 $24,385 $110,001+ $23,428 $24,048 -
Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health
Omaha Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $16,308 $16,308 Room and Board $9,568 $9,586 Books $1,300 $1,300 Other Expenses $4,922 $4,922 Total $32,098 $32,116 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $22,703 $22,716 $30,001 - $48k $20,423 $20,434 $48,001 - $75k $21,680 $21,692 $75,001 - $110k $25,588 $25,602 $110,001+ $24,805 $24,819 -
Midland University
Fremont Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $31,630 $32,598 Room and Board $8,274 $8,600 Books $1,020 $1,020 Other Expenses $2,476 $2,060 Total $43,400 $44,278 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $21,413 $21,846 $30,001 - $48k $22,955 $23,419 $48,001 - $75k $23,727 $24,207 $75,001 - $110k $24,941 $25,446 $110,001+ $20,443 $20,857 -
Nebraska Wesleyan University
Lincoln Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $32,894 $34,202 Room and Board $9,150 $9,622 Books $1,000 $1,000 Other Expenses $3,500 $3,500 Total $46,544 $48,324 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $18,404 $19,108 $30,001 - $48k $18,841 $19,562 $48,001 - $75k $21,759 $22,591 $75,001 - $110k $25,115 $26,075 $110,001+ $26,701 $27,722 -
College of Saint Mary
Omaha Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $19,950 $20,350 Room and Board $7,550 $7,700 Books $952 $972 Other Expenses $2,518 $2,568 Total $30,970 $31,590 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $8,295 $8,461 $30,001 - $48k $8,696 $8,870 $48,001 - $75k $11,120 $11,343 $75,001 - $110k $20,234 $20,639 $110,001+ $20,246 $20,651 -
Union College
Lincoln Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $23,070 $23,780 Room and Board $7,100 $7,300 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $3,620 $3,620 Total $34,990 $35,900 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $18,610 $19,094 $30,001 - $48k $22,081 $22,655 $48,001 - $75k $22,136 $22,712 $75,001 - $110k $24,446 $25,082 $110,001+ $25,010 $25,660 -
York College
York Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $18,760 $19,310 Room and Board $7,000 $7,220 Books $300 $300 Other Expenses $2,200 $2,750 Total $28,260 $29,580 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $15,952 $16,697 $30,001 - $48k $13,916 $14,566 $48,001 - $75k $16,121 $16,874 $75,001 - $110k $17,401 $18,214 $110,001+ $16,621 $17,397
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