Over the past few decades, the presence of online higher education has grown significantly. Prospective distance learners can now choose from multiple institutions that offer thousands of programs and concentrations areas. While program diversity offers perks, many students struggle to identify which programs meet their educational and professional goals. In fact, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Nebraskan students can choose from 42 higher education institutions, including 14 two-year programs, 15 public schools, 18 nonprofit schools, and nine for-profit schools.
To assist Nebraskan students with their search, this guide provides general data regarding the state of higher education and online higher education in Nebraska. This guide also includes information regarding tuition breaks for out-of-state students, the best online colleges in Nebraska, the most affordable state programs, job outlook for graduates, and tuition assistance options.
But before we dive into our list of the best online colleges in Nebraska for 2018, let's start with the state of higher education and online education in Nebraska today.
Recommended Reading
Overview of Online Colleges in Nebraska
A Brief Overview of Higher Education in Nebraska
According to the NCES, Nebraskan students can choose from 42 higher education institutions. During the 2015-2016 academic school year, 19,841,014 students took classes at degree-granting postsecondary institutions across the U.S. Out of this population, 136,102 students were enrolled at accredited Nebraskan colleges and universities, which includes students attending on campus or online.[dataviz-stats public="15" non-profit="18" for-profit="10"]While schools in Nebraska often provide affordable education compared to other states, students should understand how residency impacts tuition rates. According to CollegeBoard, average tuition for residents hovers around $8,510 per year at four-year universities and $3,180 at two-year institutions. The presence of online colleges in Nebraska often attracts out-of-state students, who pay tuition that ranges from just under $10,000 to more than $20,000 per year. Even at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the state's flagship school, residents can attend for $9,154 per year, while out-of-state students pay $24,949.Students who wish to receive financial assistance and plan to attend an online school in Nebraska should also examine Nebraska's need and non-need-based grant allowance to gauge assistance availability. According to the National Association of State Student Grant and Aid Programs, Nebraska provided undergraduate students $16,833,918 in need-based grants during the 2015-2016 school year. Additionally, the state allocated $6,451,459 toward special-purpose programs, which include early college access, vocational rehabilitation, military benefits, and Rural Health Opportunities Program.
Higher Education in Nebraska
Featured Online Programs
The State of Online Higher Education in Nebraska
As the best online colleges in Nebraska continue to improve and offer additional specialized program options, more students complete their education from a distance. According to the 2015 Online Learning Survey data, 25% of graduates and 69% of undergraduate students complete at least one distance course, representing 40.4% of all students.[dataviz-nces online="16.9" undergrad="69" in-state="61.3"]Many distance learners do not take any on-campus courses. In fact, 15,753 undergraduate and 10,728 graduate students in Nebraska choose to complete all coursework online. Of this population, 61.3% live in Nebraska. Furthermore, nearly 110,000 students take a mixture of on-campus and online courses throughout their program.
Tuition Breaks for Out-of-State Students
Since 1994, the Midwestern Higher Education Compact has worked to provide out-of-state students access to affordable programs through modified tuition rates across multiple states, including Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. As the largest multi-state reciprocity initiative, the Midwest Student Exchange Program (MSEP) agrees to charge out-of-state students no more than 150% of in-state tuition rates at public institutions, while private schools offer a 10% tuition reduction. While savings vary by institution, students save $500-$5,000 on average.To apply, students should contact their preferred accredited online colleges in Nebraska and request a copy of the application. Deadline dates and application requirements vary by school. While some schools only require students to apply once, other programs ask students to apply at the beginning of each school year. Additionally, MSEP rules for online schools in Nebraska differ from on-campus programs. Students should contact the school's MSEP representative to verify availability. To qualify in Nebraska, students must live in another state and enroll as an MSEP campus student. Students should also note that online schools in Nebraska hold discretionary rights to limit admission.
Best Online Colleges in Nebraska
See below for our rankings of the best online four-year programs in Nebraska. Our profiles look at how schools approach online education and then list their services for distance students and their popular, fully online degrees. After reviewing the best online schools in Nebraska, explore our state resources, such as a database of every college and university in Nebraska or our index of popular in-state scholarships.
Ranking Methodology
To determine the best online colleges in each state, we examined the factors most important to prospective students: Academic quality and reputation, online program strength, and cost and student aid. At the most basic level, we use the following formula to determine the best online colleges: Academic Quality + Online Offerings + Cost and Student Aid = Final Score. Of course, there's more to these calculations than meets the eye. Visit our methodology page to discover the data points that shape our formula and to learn more about the process we use to rank schools.
Most Affordable Online Colleges in Nebraska
See below for all of the online schools in Nebraska, sorted by tuition rates.
Affordability Methodology
Our list of the most affordable online colleges in Nebraska is based on in-state yearly tuition, or annual tuition rates if a school does not differentiate between in-state and out-of-state students. Tuition rates are based on a full course load each semester or term. All colleges on the list offer at least one bachelor's degree completion program available entirely online.The online schools in NE with the lowest tuition are ranked highest, providing prospective students with a true list of the most affordable online colleges in their state.
College Graduate Outlook in Nebraska
Job Outlook for College Graduates in Nebraska
While many students think deeply about what degree best suits their career goals, learners should also consider general state job outlook data and specific data regarding their chosen industry. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Nebraska currently holds a 2.8% overall unemployment rate, while the nationwide unemployment rests at 3.7%. This suggests graduates stand a good chance for career opportunities within relevant industries. For instance, Nebraska offers many agricultural programs. As one of the top five ranked states for product disbursements, agriculture remains a key industry in Nebraska. However, other notable industries include healthcare, technology, education and training, manufacturing, production, and management. Nebraskan graduates may also want to consider the state's regional layout to determine where job opportunities might arise more frequently.On average, Nebraska employees earn $45,530 per year. Data provided by NEworks, Nebraska's official government website, estimates that employment opportunities should increase by 100,493 by 2026.