Every figure is for a student starting in fall 2027. We work each one out again whenever we update the site.
Paying for college in Nebraska
Where Nebraska families lose money
Three ways a family can lose money, and the income where how you pay stops mattering. Each figure comes from our Nebraska scenarios.
Paying every bill from a 529$9,900
$9,900 of tax credit given up over four years
The American Opportunity Tax Credit counts only tuition paid from outside a 529, up to $4,000 a year. You lose the credit if you pay 100% of that tuition from a 529.
That figure is the median of our Nebraska scenarios with $100,000 saved in a 529 and an income up to $150,000.
In 51 of those 70 scenarios, a family that paid from its 529 first kept none of the credit.
The income where how you pay stops mattering$180,000
For a married couple, the American Opportunity Tax Credit, the federal tax credit for college, starts to fall at $160,000 of income and is gone at $180,000. For a single parent, the credit starts to fall at $80,000 and is gone at $90,000.
At an income of $200,000 with enough savings set aside, how a family paid at Nebraska's public colleges changed nothing in 6 of our 12 scenarios.
Nebraska's 529 deduction$1,171
$1,171 off your state taxes over four years, even without funds in a 529
Nebraska lets you deduct up to $10,000 a year from your state taxable income for money you put into your own NEST account, even if it comes out for college that year.
Paying more interest than you need to$5,400
$5,400 more in interest and fees, when parents take a PLUS loan instead of a private one
A federal Parent PLUS loan charges 9.07% a year and takes a 4.228% fee from the loan.
With good credit, a private loan can cost less.
In 52 of our 66 scenarios with nothing in a 529, the parents borrowed a median of $21,541.
Paying every bill from a 529
$9,900
of tax credit given up over four years
The American Opportunity Tax Credit counts only tuition paid from outside a 529, up to $4,000 a year. You lose the credit if you pay 100% of that tuition from a 529.
That figure is the median of our Nebraska scenarios with $100,000 saved in a 529 and an income up to $150,000.
In 51 of those 70 scenarios, a family that paid from its 529 first kept none of the credit.
The income where how you pay stops mattering
$180,000
For a married couple, the American Opportunity Tax Credit, the federal tax credit for college, starts to fall at $160,000 of income and is gone at $180,000. For a single parent, the credit starts to fall at $80,000 and is gone at $90,000.
At an income of $200,000 with enough savings set aside, how a family paid at Nebraska's public colleges changed nothing in 6 of our 12 scenarios.
Nebraska's 529 deduction
$1,171
off your state taxes over four years, even without funds in a 529
Nebraska lets you deduct up to $10,000 a year from your state taxable income for money you put into your own NEST account, even if it comes out for college that year.
Paying more interest than you need to
$5,400
more in interest and fees, when parents take a PLUS loan instead of a private one
A federal Parent PLUS loan charges 9.07% a year and takes a 4.228% fee from the loan.
With good credit, a private loan can cost less.
In 52 of our 66 scenarios with nothing in a 529, the parents borrowed a median of $21,541.
What the state and its colleges give families, who gets it, and how to apply. See every Nebraska college priced for your income
From the state
Across state lines
From the colleges
Pay less for college
A SmartTuition plan shows what to pay from where, each semester.
In our Nebraska scenarios, with good parent credit, a SmartTuition plan saves a median of about $7,100 over four years. How we worked this out ↓
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From the state
Nebraska's programs. Most come through the FAFSA or the state's own aid application; a few have their own.
Nebraska Opportunity Grant
A grant for Nebraska residents at a Nebraska college whose Student Aid Index, from the FAFSA, is low enough to qualify. A student applies through the college. The average award in 2024-25 was $1,823.
Source: Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education
“Qualifications include being a Nebraska resident, attending a Nebraska postsecondary institution, and having a minimum Student Aid Index (SAI) as determined by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).”
“The NOG is awarded through postsecondary institutions within the state. Therefore, students must apply to the school to be considered for the grant.”
“Nebraska Opportunity Grant — By the Numbers (2024-25) Amount awarded: $24,405,784 Recipients: 13,386 students Recipients by sector: 46% - University of Nebraska 25% - Community Colleges 19% - Independents 8% - State Colleges 2% - Private Career Schools Average grant: $1,823”
Nebraska's 529 tax deduction
Money you put into your own NEST account comes off your Nebraska taxable income, up to $10,000 a year ($5,000 if married filing separately). Take money out for anything other than school costs and Nebraska can take the deduction back.
Source: NEST 529, Tax Benefits
“Account owners are eligible to receive a Nebraska state income tax deduction of up to $10,000 ($5,000 if married, filing separately) for contributions made to their own NEST accounts.”
“it will be treated as a Nebraska Non-Qualified Withdrawal and may result in the recapture of a previously claimed Nebraska state income tax deduction, and the earnings portion will be subject to Nebraska state income tax.”
Nebraska Career Scholarship
Renewable scholarships from the state for students in programs that lead to high-demand careers, at Nebraska's public and private colleges. Awards are limited. Private colleges pay up to $10,000 a year; at public campuses amounts vary, such as at least $8,000 a year at Lincoln and $8,500 at Peru State.
Sources: Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education, University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Peru State College
“NE Career Scholarship at Private Colleges - Provides renewable scholarships of up to $10,000 per year for tuition, fees, required tools and equipment (including books), room, and board to students pursuing degrees in programs of study leading to high-wage, high-skill, and high-demand careers.”
“The Nebraska Career Scholarships Program is funded by the State of Nebraska.”
“Recipients are awarded a minimum of $8,000 for the academic year ($4,000/semester) for up to four years, excluding summers. This is a highly selective scholarship since the number of awards is limited due to available funding appropriated by the State of Nebraska to the University of Nebraska System and allocated to the campuses.”
“Inquire now about the Nebraska Career Scholarships at Peru State. Award Amount: $8,500”
Access College Early
Pays tuition and mandatory fees for a low-income high school student taking college courses from a Nebraska college, through dual enrollment or early enrollment. A family qualifies through free or reduced-price school lunch or another federal need-based program, or an extreme hardship.
Source: Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education
“The Access College Early (ACE) Scholarship Program pays tuition and mandatory fees for qualified, low-income high school students to enroll in college courses from Nebraska colleges or universities, either through dual-enrollment or early enrollment agreements with these institutions.”
“the student or student’s family must be approved to participate in one of the federal need-based government programs listed below, have experienced an extreme hardship that affects family income, or be participating in a designated Career Education program as established by the Nebraska Department of Education.”
“Free or Reduced Price Lunch Program”
Waiver of Tuition for veterans' families
Waives 100% of tuition and tuition-related fees at the University of Nebraska, the state colleges and the community colleges. It is for a Nebraska resident whose parent or spouse, a veteran, was rated totally disabled by service or died of a service-connected cause. It does not cover housing, food or books.
Source: Nebraska Department of Veterans' Affairs
“Waiver of Tuition is a state program ( NE R.S.S. 80-411 ) available to dependents of an eligible veteran that may be used to waive 100% of a student’s tuition charges and tuition-related fees to the University of Nebraska campuses, Nebraska state colleges, and Nebraska community colleges.”
“be rated 100% permanently and totally disabled as a result of military service; or have died of a service connected disability;”
“The student must be a Nebraska resident and enrolled in one of the participating schools, meeting that school’s residency requirements 1 for paying in-state tuition.”
“Waiver of Tuition does not cover non-tuition-related fees, housing or food costs, parking fees, etc.”
“The student is also responsible for purchasing any necessary books and materials needed for their courses.”
Nebraska National Guard tuition assistance
Pays 100% of resident tuition toward a bachelor's degree for a member of the Nebraska National Guard at a Nebraska public college or an accredited nonprofit private college, up to Lincoln's rate. The member agrees to serve three years after the last course.
Source: Nebraska National Guard, State Tuition Assistance Information
“Any member of the Nebraska National Guard who enrolls in any state-supported university, college, or community college, or any independent, not-for-profit, regionally accredited college or university in Nebraska shall be entitled to a credit of 100% of the resident tuition charges of such school for a diploma, certificate, associate degree, or baccalaureate degree program”
“except that any member who attends an independent, not-for-profit, regionally accredited college or university in Nebraska shall receive a credit In an amount no higher than such member would receive if attending the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.”
“Members who utilize State Tuition Assistance will agree to serve in the Nebraska National Guard for 3 years after the completion of the course for which assistance was received.”
Nebraska also has programs for community college students and future teachers. See the Coordinating Commission's full list.
From the colleges
What each college gives for grades, what it promises on aid, and its full price.
| College | Merit scholarships | Promise on aid | Full price a year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chadron State College public |
| — | $20,554 |
| Concordia University-Nebraska private |
| — | $59,170 |
| Creighton University private |
| — | $71,793 |
| Midland University private |
| — | $60,206 |
| Nebraska Wesleyan University private |
| — | $64,592 |
| Peru State College public |
| — | $20,662 |
| University of Nebraska at Kearney public |
| The Nebraska Promise: undergraduate tuition for Nebraska residents with a family income of $65,000 or less or a Pell Grant | $23,289 |
| University of Nebraska at Omaha public |
| The Nebraska Promise: undergraduate tuition for Nebraska residents with a family income of $65,000 or less or a Pell Grant | $25,432 |
| University of Nebraska-Lincoln public |
| The Nebraska Promise: undergraduate tuition for Nebraska residents with a family income of $65,000 or less or a Pell Grant | $27,347 |
| Wayne State College public |
| — | $20,682 |
* The finder and our college comparison show this scholarship when you enter your student's GPA.
Each college's page has a promise's conditions, in the college's own words. “Worth asking about” marks a program the college describes in words that stop short of a promise.
Full price: tuition and fees, housing and food, and books; in state at a public university. What your family would pay after grants depends on your income: the finder shows it.
1 more Nebraska college has no page here. For 0 of them, the federal data has no cost or no price by income. The rest mainly teach graduate students or run online programs. Show it
- Bellevue University
Across state lines
The Midwest Student Exchange Program, run by the Midwestern Higher Education Compact.
Coming to Nebraska from another Midwest exchange state
Students from Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio and Wisconsin can pay no more than 150% of resident tuition at the public colleges that take part, for the programs each chooses. Private colleges take 10% off.
A student applies to the college, not to the exchange.
In Nebraska, University of Nebraska at Kearney and Wayne State College take part.
Going from Nebraska to another Midwest exchange state
A Nebraska student can use it the other way, at the colleges that take part in the other seven states. Each college's exchange contact explains how to apply.
Source: Midwestern Higher Education Compact, Midwest Student Exchange Program
“Through the MSEP, participating public institutions agree to charge students no more than 150% of the in-state resident tuition rate for selected programs, and private institutions offer a 10% reduction on their tuition rates.”
“Eight of MHEC’s member states participate in this voluntary program: Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, and Wisconsin.”
“You must be a legal resident of one of these eight states and enrolling as a non-resident at a participating institution in one of the other participating states.”
“You apply directly to the school, not to the MSEP.”
Paying the rest
Your SmartTuition plan uses your savings, your 529, your loans and your award letter.
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How we worked these out
What a SmartTuition plan saves
The $7,100 in the “Pay less for college” box near the top of this page is the median saving over our Nebraska scenarios. Each scenario is a household in Nebraska at one of its colleges. Its income is one of 8 from $45,000 to $200,000, and its savings are none, $40,000 or $100,000 in a 529. We price each college at the aid it reports for the income.
Every scenario has parents with good credit and $500 a month toward college. A saving is the difference, over four years, between a SmartTuition plan and the standard approach: savings first, then loans for the rest. It counts loan interest, the federal tax credit and Nebraska's tax deduction for money you put through its 529 plan. Credit matters: parents with fair credit borrow at a higher rate, which changes the saving.
A scenario where the parents would borrow more than $65,000 is left out, as is one at a college that reports no aid for the income. The figure is for a household that lives in Nebraska.
Where Nebraska families lose money
The figures at the top of this page come from these same scenarios, with the same ones left out: 17 of 240. Each is a median or a count of the scenarios its card names, over four years.
Costs: each college's own published price where it has one, otherwise the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, carried forward to fall 2027. Grants: each program’s own page. Scholarships: each college's own page, read by us and checked against it. SmartTuition.ai is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any institution named here.