There are 40 colleges in Nebraska - 16 public and 24 private schools. At Nebraska colleges, the Cost of Attendance (COA), which includes tuition, mandatory fees, books and supplies, housing, meals, and personal expenses, has consistently increased over the last decade, driving up the overall cost of college.
The total Cost of Attendance has increased substantially at Nebraska colleges:
Tuition and fees saw dramatic increases across institution types:
| Institution Type | 10-Year Increase (2016-2025) | 2025 Average Tuition & Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Public, In-State | 7.18% (from $8,905 to $9,544) | $9,544 |
| Public, Out-of-State | 17.02% (from $14,944 to $17,488) | $17,488 |
| Private Colleges | 39.01% (from $20,151 to $28,011) | $28,011 |
Note on Degrees: Undergraduate tuition & fees increased by 17.02%, while graduate program tuition & fees increased by 20.46% over the same period.
Over the past 10 years, the COA has increased 26.54% when living on campus and 35.83% when living off campus at Nebraska Colleges.
In private Nebraska Colleges, the COA has increase by 38.63% (on-campus) and 46.41% (off-camus). The COA includes tuition, fees, books & supplies, room & board, and other personal expenses.
For the academic year 2024-2025, the total cost of attendance is $34,597 when a student lives on campus and $37,223 when living off campus at Nebraska Colleges. The following table and chart illustrate the changes of COA for Nebraska Colleges over the past 10 years.
| Year | Living On Campus | Living Off Campus | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-State | Out-of-State | Private Schools | In-State | Out-of-State | Private Schools | |
| 2015-16 | $21,302 | $27,341 | $32,548 | $21,366 | $27,405 | $32,612 |
| 2016-17 | $21,692 1.83% | $27,879 1.97% | $33,734 3.64% | $21,869 2.35% | $28,056 2.38% | $33,911 3.98% |
| 2017-18 | $22,506 3.75% | $28,955 3.86% | $34,509 2.30% | $22,468 2.74% | $28,917 3.07% | $34,471 1.65% |
| 2018-19 | $22,927 1.87% | $29,511 1.92% | $35,638 3.27% | $23,021 2.46% | $29,605 2.38% | $35,732 3.66% |
| 2019-20 | $21,970 -4.17% | $30,689 3.99% | $37,138 4.21% | $22,533 -2.12% | $31,252 5.56% | $37,701 5.51% |
| 2020-21 | $22,234 1.20% | $31,216 1.72% | $38,877 4.68% | $23,320 3.49% | $32,302 3.36% | $39,963 6.00% |
| 2021-22 | $23,085 3.83% | $31,273 0.18% | $40,274 3.59% | $24,247 3.98% | $32,435 0.41% | $41,436 3.69% |
| 2022-23 | $27,715 20.06% | $35,030 12.01% | $41,570 3.22% | $28,831 18.91% | $36,146 11.44% | $42,686 3.02% |
| 2023-24 | $28,464 2.70% | $35,963 2.66% | $41,922 0.85% | $30,012 4.10% | $37,511 3.78% | $43,470 1.84% |
| 2024-25 | $26,653 -6.36% | $34,597 -3.80% | $45,120 7.63% | $29,279 -2.44% | $37,223 -0.77% | $47,746 9.84% |
For the current year (2025), the average tuition & fees for Nebraska Colleges is $12,234 for Nebraska residents and $20,178 out-of-state students. In private schools, the average tuition & fees is $29,203.
For graduate programs, the 2025 average graduate tuition & fees is $10,761 for Nebraska residents and $17,644 out-of-state students. In private schools, the average graduate program tuition & fees is $17,633.
The tuition & fees has increased 17.02% for undergraduate programs and 20.46% for graduate programs at Nebraska Colleges. The following table and chart illustrate the changes of tuition & fees by tuition rates and degrees.
| Year | Undergraduate | Graduate | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-State | Out-of-State | Private Schools | In-State | Out-of-State | Private Schools | |
| 2015-16 | $8,905 | $14,944 | $20,151 | $7,431 | $12,861 | $13,389 |
| 2016-17 | $9,114 2.35% | $15,301 2.39% | $21,156 4.99% | $7,650 2.95% | $13,241 2.95% | $13,447 0.43% |
| 2017-18 | $9,537 4.64% | $15,986 4.48% | $21,540 1.82% | $8,236 7.66% | $14,296 7.97% | $13,660 1.58% |
| 2018-19 | $9,529 -0.08% | $16,113 0.79% | $22,240 3.25% | $8,187 -0.59% | $13,872 -2.97% | $12,896 -5.59% |
| 2019-20 | $8,364 -12.23% | $17,083 6.02% | $23,532 5.81% | $7,494 -8.46% | $14,968 7.90% | $13,744 6.58% |
| 2020-21 | $8,561 2.36% | $17,543 2.69% | $25,204 7.11% | $7,694 2.67% | $15,321 2.36% | $14,173 3.12% |
| 2021-22 | $8,573 0.14% | $16,761 -4.46% | $25,762 2.21% | $7,820 1.64% | $15,514 1.26% | $14,644 3.32% |
| 2022-23 | $12,713 48.29% | $20,028 19.49% | $26,568 3.13% | $7,423 -5.08% | $13,674 -11.86% | $14,977 2.27% |
| 2023-24 | $12,910 1.55% | $20,409 1.90% | $26,368 -0.75% | $7,637 2.88% | $15,952 16.66% | $15,360 2.56% |
| 2024-25 | $9,544 -26.07% | $17,488 -14.31% | $28,011 6.23% | $8,610 12.74% | $15,493 -2.88% | $16,463 7.18% |
For the current year (2025), the average book & supplies costs is $1,161 for Nebraska Colleges. The following table shows the changes of book & supplies costs from year 2016 to 2025.
| Year | Books & Supplies |
|---|---|
| 2015-16 | $1,314 |
| 2016-17 | $1,254 -4.57% |
| 2017-18 | $1,252 -0.16% |
| 2018-19 | $1,268 1.28% |
| 2019-20 | $1,202 -5.21% |
| 2020-21 | $1,175 -2.25% |
| 2021-22 | $1,024 -12.85% |
| 2022-23 | $997 -2.64% |
| 2023-24 | $1,011 1.40% |
| 2024-25 | $1,161 14.84% |
For Nebraska Colleges, the living have increased 25.94% when a student lives on campus facilities and 31.25% when living off campus from year 2016 to 2025. The living costs includes costs for room & board, and other living expenses.
| Year | Living On Campus | Living Off Campus |
|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | $11,083 | $11,050 |
| 2016-17 | $11,324 3.29% | $11,348 3.96% |
| 2017-18 | $11,717 3.43% | $11,593 2.56% |
| 2018-19 | $12,130 4.05% | $12,173 3.60% |
| 2019-20 | $12,404 2.91% | $12,387 8.96% |
| 2020-21 | $12,498 1.86% | $12,746 4.46% |
| 2021-22 | $13,488 2.64% | $14,007 0.45% |
| 2022-23 | $14,005 3.44% | $14,431 3.69% |
| 2023-24 | $14,543 6.65% | $15,257 7.59% |
| 2024-25 | $15,948 7.68% | $17,340 10.70% |