Best Value Biology Colleges in Nebraska

Peru State College delivers the lowest net cost for biology majors at $11,401, while private institutions push costs up to $32,380 at Creighton University. This $21,000 gap reflects Nebraska's sharp divide between public and private education costs. Bellevue University biology graduates earn the highest median salary at $41,025, nearly doubling Peru State's outcomes. The University of Nebraska system dominates with three campuses offering solid value propositions, particularly UNO at $12,791 net cost producing graduates earning $34,206. Nebraska's agriculture and biotechnology sectors, anchored by companies like Mutual of Omaha and the University of Nebraska Medical Center, create steady demand for biology graduates across research, quality control, and environmental monitoring roles. Graduation rates vary significantly from 37% to 81%, making program completion rates as important as costs when evaluating true value.

Programs

$11,401 – $32,380

Net Price Range

$31,463

Avg. Program Earnings

55.6%

Avg. Graduation Rate

17 Biology, General Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	Program Earnings	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	University of Nebraska at Omaha Omaha, Nebraska	$12,791	$34,206	$8,370	47.5%	85.9%
2	University of Nebraska at Kearney Kearney, Nebraska	$16,488	$33,993	$8,302	59.8%	86.0%
3	University of Nebraska-Lincoln Lincoln, Nebraska	$17,424	$29,685	$10,108	65.8%	78.6%
4	Bellevue University Bellevue, Nebraska	$28,345	$41,025	$8,886	55.9%
5	Concordia University-Nebraska Seward, Nebraska	$24,016	$29,685	$39,330	64.1%	90.8%
6	Doane University Crete, Nebraska	$28,071	$29,685	$40,491	55.9%	75.8%
7	Creighton University Omaha, Nebraska	$32,380	$21,964	$47,000	80.5%	75.7%
8	Midland University Fremont, Nebraska	$24,229		$40,270	43.2%	64.9%
9	York University York, Nebraska	$20,129		$21,600	37.4%	57.3%
10	Wayne State College Wayne, Nebraska	$15,108		$7,970	55.7%
11	Union Adventist University Lincoln, Nebraska	$20,884		$27,990	45.9%	98.8%
12	College of Saint Mary Omaha, Nebraska	$14,986		$23,340	59.4%	64.6%
13	Peru State College Peru, Nebraska	$11,401		$8,280	37.7%
14	Nebraska Wesleyan University Lincoln, Nebraska	$23,140		$41,658	68.9%	81.5%
15	Hastings College Hastings, Nebraska	$21,554		$36,130	53.3%	71.3%
16	Chadron State College Chadron, Nebraska	$13,308		$8,078	38.1%
17	Bryan College of Health Sciences Lincoln, Nebraska	$25,884		$20,070	75.5%	67.6%

Frequently Asked Questions

What accounts for the $21,000 cost difference between the cheapest and most expensive biology programs?

Peru State College charges just $11,401 net cost while Creighton University reaches $32,380, primarily due to public versus private funding models. Public institutions like Peru State and the University of Nebraska campuses receive state subsidies that significantly reduce student costs. Private colleges must rely on tuition revenue and endowments to fund operations. However, higher costs don't always correlate with better outcomes, as evidenced by varying graduation rates across price points.

How do biology graduate earnings compare across Nebraska institutions?

Bellevue University biology graduates earn the highest median salary at $41,025, while Creighton University graduates surprisingly earn just $21,964 despite the school's higher costs. The University of Nebraska at Omaha produces graduates earning $34,206 at a much lower net cost of $12,791. This earnings spread of nearly $20,000 suggests that factors beyond institutional reputation influence graduate outcomes in Nebraska's job market.

Is graduation rate a reliable indicator of program value for biology majors?

Graduation rates range from 37% at York University to 81% at Creighton University, but higher rates don't guarantee better value. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln achieves a solid 66% graduation rate at $17,424 net cost, while College of Saint Mary reaches 59% at just $14,986. Peru State's 38% rate raises concerns despite its low $11,401 cost, as students who don't graduate receive no return on investment.

Where do Nebraska biology graduates typically find employment?

Nebraska's agriculture, biotechnology, and healthcare sectors employ most biology graduates through companies like Mutual of Omaha, Berkshire Hathaway's subsidiaries, and the University of Nebraska Medical Center. The state's strong agricultural base creates opportunities in crop research, environmental monitoring, and food safety testing. Insurance companies also hire biology graduates for actuarial roles involving health and environmental risk assessment. Many graduates pursue additional education at UNMC or work in quality control for the state's growing biotechnology industry.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.