Top 10 Best Nursing Schools in Nebraska
While nurses need to become licensed as a registered nurse (RN) to work in Nebraska, many hospitals prefer to hire nurses that have at least a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
Not only does a BSN improve your resume when applying to nursing positions, but BSN holders earn roughly $30,000 more per year than the average non-BSN RN.
Whether you're an RN looking to continue your education or a new student without any previous nursing experience, Nebraska has plenty of high-quality education options to choose from.
Top 10 Nursing Schools in Nebraska
This is a panel-reviewed selection based on a number of factors, including,
- Reputation
- NCLEX pass rate
- Tuition
- Acceptance rate, when available
- Only ACEN or CCNE-accredited schools are eligible
Our selection panel includes 4 Registered Nurses with over 55 years of combined nursing experience and 7 nursing degrees.
- Tracy Everhart, MSN, RN, CNS
- Tyler Faust, MSN, RN
- Kathleen Gaines MSN, RN, BA, CBC
- Leah Helmbrecht, BSN, RN
Because nursing careers take different forms, the top 10 Nebraska nursing schools are ranked in no particular order.
1. Doane University
Annual Tuition: $39,336 | NCLEX Pass Rate: N/A
Traditional: No
Online: Yes
Accelerated: No
Bridge: No
For nearly 150 years, Doane University has educated Nebraskans who want to advance their careers. While Doane University doesn't have a traditional nursing program, it does have an RN-BSN option. Available online or at the Grand Island, Lincoln, or Omaha campuses, the RN-BSN program takes several semesters to complete and leads to higher-paying nursing jobs. Students need to have an RN license in Nebraska before applying, but the skills learned help nurses with their careers.
2. Bryan College of Health Sciences
Annual Tuition: $20,604 | NCLEX Pass Rate: 96.47%
Traditional: Yes
Online: Yes
Accelerated: No
Bridge: No
Based in Lincoln, Bryan College of Health Sciences focuses solely on degrees that lead to healthcare professions. Most degrees offered by Bryan Health College are in nursing, including a traditional BSN with excellent outcomes. Students in the BSN earn more clinical experience hours than students in any other Nebraska BSN, part of the reason graduates do so well on the NCLEX. Other nursing degrees at Bryan Health College include an RN-BSN completion program, a traditional Master's of Science in Nursing (MSN), an RN-MSN, a Ph.D., and a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP).
3. Union College-Nebraska
Annual Tuition:$25,920 | NCLEX Pass Rate: 97.50%
Traditional: Yes
Online: Yes
Accelerated: No
Bridge: Yes
Union College-Nebraska was founded in 1891 by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Despite being a private and religious school, U College "encourages students from all faith backgrounds" to find their calling and develop their skills. Undergraduate students have three BSN options: a traditional BSN, an RN-BSN, and an LPN-BSN. Students can complete some or all of the courses in these programs online. Union College boosts small class sizes which gives students more personal attention leading to high NCLEX pass rates. In addition to running a monthly foot clinic at a local homeless shelter, nursing students also travel to a developing nation (it varies) each year to run medical clinics in remote areas of the country that receive little modern medical care.
4. Creighton University
Annual BSN Tuition: $45,000 | NCLEX Pass Rate: 91.47%
Traditional: Yes
Online: Yes
Accelerated: Yes
Bridge: No
Often considered one of the best private schools in the region, Creighton University comes from a Jesuit-Catholic background. Creighton is home to just over 4,000 undergraduate students and 4,300 graduate students, 98% of whom find a job or enroll in graduate school within six months of graduating. Of course, most BSN graduates will find a position as an RN after completing their degree and passing the NCLEX. Along with a traditional BSN, Creighton offers an accelerated second-degree BSN, and an MSN and DNP that can be completed partially online. BSN students can complete a four-year degree in Omaha or Hastings, giving students a little more flexibility than in other schools.
5. Nebraska Methodist College
Annual Tuition: $16,207 | NCLEX Pass Rate: 95.27%
Traditional: Yes
Online: Yes
Accelerated: Yes
Bridge: Yes
With just over 1,100 students, Nebraska Methodist College is one of the smallest schools to offer nursing degrees. NMC offers plenty of degree options for students, including four different BSNs (including a 3-4 year traditional BSN), eight different MSN options, five DNP choices, and various certificates. The are countless programs available to students and it is a great college to continue your education at a higher level. Also, NMC is part of the larger Methodist Health System, meaning students can expect to gain experience at a related healthcare facility.
6. University of Nebraska Medical Center
Annual In-State Tuition: $7,770 (based on per-credit tuition rate) | Annual Out-of-State Tuition: $24,450 (based on per-credit tuition rate) | NCLEX Pass Rate: 89.43%
Traditional: Yes
Online: Yes
Accelerated: Yes
Bridge: Yes
The University of Nebraska Medical Center is the only public health sciences college in the state, meaning Nebraska residents can take advantage of a lower in-state tuition rate. Founded as the Omaha Medical College in 1881, UNMC provides Nebraska with roughly half of its dentists, pharmacists, physicians, and BSN-educated nurses. The College of Nursing offers a traditional, accelerated, and RN-BSN option for undergraduate nurses across five campuses and online. UNMC College of Nursing BSN program was ranked 15th (tie) by the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges 2022-2023.
7. Nebraska Wesleyan University
Annual Tuition: $38,898 | NCLEX Pass Rate: 70.83%
Traditional: Yes
Online: No
Accelerated: No
Bridge: No
Nebraska Wesleyan University is a private school based in Lincoln and Omaha with Methodist roots. While Nebraska Wesleyan still maintains a close relationship with the Methodist church, nursing students receive a holistic education that doesn't emphasize religion. The main nursing degree -- the traditional BSN -- offers accelerated eight-week courses and requires over 900 clinical hours. In addition, students will first complete prerequisite coursework totaling 34-36 credits before admission to the program. Other nursing degree options include an RN-BSN and three different MSN degrees.
8. Clarkson College
Annual Tuition: $18,960 | NCLEX Pass Rate: 94.95%
Traditional: Yes
Online: Yes
Accelerated: No
Bridge: Yes
While Clarkson College has grown over the past 130 years, the school remembers how it began as a small school of nursing. Nursing remains the primary focus at Clarkson College, and nursing students have plenty of options to choose from. The main program, the traditional BSN, has excellent outcomes, and students perform well on the NCLEX. After completing the BSN and working for one year, students become eligible to immediately enroll in Clarkson's MSN to further their careers. Clarkson College’s online graduate nursing program is also ranked one of the top programs by U.S. News & World Report.
9. College of St. Mary
Annual Tuition: $22,450 | NCLEX Pass Rate: 85.19%
Traditional: Yes
Online: No
Accelerated: Yes
Bridge: No
Another small college with a religious background, College of St. Mary doesn't offer low in-state tuition rates to Nebraska residents. However, the College of St. Mary does have an excellent location in the middle of Omaha which gives nursing students access to some of the top hospitals for clinicals. The only nursing program offered by CSM is a traditional BSN. The BSN comes standard as a three-year degree, though students can choose to take four years to complete the program.
10. Aspen University
Annual Tuition: $11,880 | NCLEX Pass Rate: N/A
Traditional: No
Online: Yes
Accelerated: No
Bridge: No
Another school well-known for its online programs, Aspen University hosts one of the best online RN-BSN options. This quick program takes just 12 months to complete thanks to the implementation of accelerated eight-week courses. Aspen also has a traditional BSN program (not available in Wyoming) and other online nursing degrees, such as an MSN, an RN-MSN, and a DNP, all of which can come with different specializations. For nurses who completed their ADN, Aspen might be the fastest, most flexible, and most affordable route to completing a BSN.
>> Show Me Nebraska Nursing Programs
4 Key Factors That Affect Nursing School Tuition
Keep in mind that colleges and universities reserve the right to change tuition rates at any time. The yearly tuition rates listed here will vary for each student depending on various factors including,
- Transfer credits
- Completed competency exams
- Amount of credits taken per year
- Financial aid awards
Check with the specific school for current tuition rates.
Nurse Salary and Job Outlook
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS),
- Nebraska nurses earn a mean annual salary of $69,850, which is slightly lower than the national average.
- Nebraska employs 20,660 registered nurses.
Nebraska's mean wage for registered nurses is lower than the national average of $77,600 However, Nebraska RNs earn a higher mean wage than nurses in neighboring states such as South Dakota, Iowa, Kansas, and Oklahoma.
The BLS reports that Nebraska has a location quotient of 1.00, meaning it employs more nurses for every 1,000 workers than the national average. Nebraska also employs more RNs than Colorado, Oklahoma, and Wyoming,
Next Steps:
Take some time to look over the different nursing school options in Nebraska. After several colleges catch your eye, you should learn more about each college, including the nursing program and specific admissions process.
Here are the next steps broken down:
Contact each school’s admissions office. The admissions office is in charge of all things admissions. Every school has its own admissions process, so contact each school you're interested in to learn more.
Check to see if you meet the nursing school requirements. In addition to the college's admissions, you need to meet each nursing school's admission standards. Nursing schools usually require a higher GPA, extra courses, and personal essays.
Submit your application(s). After you've found out everything you need to apply to the college and nursing school, the final step is to send in your application! On your application, you'll likely be required to submit:
- High school transcript (GPA)
- ACT and/or SAT scores
- College entrance essay(s)
- Letter(s) of recommendation
>> Show Me Nebraska Nursing Programs
Important Considerations When Comparing Schools:
Every college and nursing school has specific benefits that only it can offer. As a result, no single college or nursing program might stick out to you as the "best" option, and that's alright. Instead of focusing on the best nursing school, try looking at the best nursing school for you.
When comparing schools, consider factors such as:
- Total program cost, including in-state or out-of-state tuition and fees
- Financial aid, scholarships, and grants offered
- Cost of living on-campus or in the area
- School and nursing program acceptance rate
- Commute to school/hospital for clinicals
- Program length
- Program type (on-campus, online, hybrid)
- Program outcomes (NCLEX pass rate and job placement)
- School Accreditation (regional and national)
Why you should care about the nursing program’s accreditation
When a school and/or program has accreditation, it means that the school/program meets the academic standards of a nationally-recognized accrediting body. In Nebraska, make sure any school you apply to is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Also, look for nursing programmatic accreditation.
The two nursing accreditation organizations to look for are
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
If you earn a degree from an unaccredited school, you may have trouble securing federal financial aid and finding work as a nurse after graduation.
Getting a License in Nebraska
Nebraska is part of the Enhanced Nursing Licensure Compact (eNLC), meaning an RN license earned in Nebraska easily transfers to most other states, and vice versa. Most RNs -- including all new RNs -- earn a Nebraska license via examination.
To get a license in Nebraska, you'll need to:
- Study at an accredited and approved nursing school
- Take and pass the NCLEX-RN
- Pass a criminal background check and submit fingerprints.
- Apply through the Nebraska Board of Nursing.
Next Steps
Nebraska is arguably one of the best states for nurses in the Midwest. Along with being an affordable place to earn a degree, Nebraska has many colleges that offer a quality education. After earning or completing a BSN program, nurses find work in one of the best employers per capita in the region. As part of the eNLC, these nurses can also easily find work in any other eNLC member state.
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