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2026 Best Trade Schools in Nebraska
Looking for the best Trade degree programs in Nebraska? This list ranks 41 institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, Trade College analyzed 35 schools to build this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Trade Degree Schools in Nebraska
Here are the top-ranked schools:
University Of Nebraska Lincoln earned the #1 spot in this year's ranking in Nebraska. Based in Lincoln, NE, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,434, while out-of-state students pay about $28,584. University Of Nebraska Lincoln Trade students take on a median of $22,386 in debt. Read the full report on University Of Nebraska Lincoln
A rank of #2 makes Bellevue University one of the top choices in Nebraska. Located in Bellevue, NE, Bellevue University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 33% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,873. Graduates carry a median of $27,852 in student loans. See the full Bellevue University profile
A rank of #3 makes Creighton University one of the top choices in Nebraska. Located in Omaha, NE, Creighton University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $48,856. Typical Trade student debt is $25,831. Read more about Creighton University
The strong Trade programs at Nebraska Wesleyan University earned it the #4 place in Nebraska. Set in Lincoln, NE, Nebraska Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $43,572. Typical Trade student debt is $27,667. Read more about Nebraska Wesleyan University
A rank of #5 makes College Of Saint Mary one of the top choices in Nebraska. College Of Saint Mary is a private not-for-profit school based in Omaha, NE. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $24,510. College Of Saint Mary Trade students take on a median of $25,539 in debt. Get the full College Of Saint Mary report
Midland University placed #6 among Trade schools in Nebraska. Set in Fremont, NE, Midland University is a private not-for-profit institution. Midland University posts a six-year graduation rate of 42%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,050. The median Trade program debt is $27,536. Get the full Midland University report
Southeast Community College Area landed the #7 spot in Nebraska this year. Set in Lincoln, NE, Southeast Community College Area is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,444 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,032. The median Trade program debt is $14,935. Read more about Southeast Community College Area
Wayne State College landed the #8 spot in Nebraska this year. Located in Wayne, NE, Wayne State College is a public institution. Wayne State College posts a six-year graduation rate of 52%. Students from in state pay about $8,171 in tuition and fees. Typical Trade student debt is $22,974. Read the full report on Wayne State College
Northeast Community College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Located in Norfolk, NE, Northeast Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,840, while out-of-state students pay about $5,130. Typical Trade student debt is $11,937. Read more about Northeast Community College
University Of Nebraska At Kearney placed #10 among Trade schools in Nebraska. Based in Kearney, NE, University Of Nebraska At Kearney is a public institution. About 57% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $8,564 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $16,484. Students borrow a median of $22,173 to complete their Trade program here. Read the full report on University Of Nebraska At Kearney
Union College Nebraska ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Located in Lincoln, NE, Union College Nebraska is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $29,334. Graduates carry a median of $30,938 in student loans. Read the full report on Union College Nebraska
Metropolitan Community College Area ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Set in Omaha, NE, Metropolitan Community College Area is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,375, compared with $4,950 for out-of-state students. The median Trade program debt is $12,799. See the full Metropolitan Community College Area profile
Central Community College placed #13 among Trade schools in Nebraska. Set in Grand Island, NE, Central Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,360, with out-of-state students paying around $4,800. Students borrow a median of $10,277 to complete their Trade program here. See the full Central Community College profile
University Of Nebraska At Omaha ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. This public school is set in Omaha, NE. University Of Nebraska At Omaha posts a six-year graduation rate of 49%. In-state tuition and fees average $8,718, with out-of-state students paying around $23,206. Graduates carry a median of $21,783 in student loans. Read the full report on University Of Nebraska At Omaha
Mid Plains Community College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. This public school is set in North Platte, NE. Students from in state pay about $3,600 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $4,530. Mid Plains Community College Trade students take on a median of $14,596 in debt. More on Mid Plains Community College
York College Nebraska came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Read more about York College Nebraska
Western Nebraska Community College came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Read more about Western Nebraska Community College
Hastings College
Hastings College placed #18 among Trade schools in Nebraska. Get the full Hastings College report
Peru State College did well this year, earning the #19 position. Read the full report on Peru State College
Josephs College Cosmetology did well this year, earning the #20 position. See the full Josephs College Cosmetology profile
Xenon International Academy Omaha landed the #21 spot in Nebraska this year. Read more about Xenon International Academy Omaha
Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. See the full Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health profile
Universal College Of Healing Arts came in at #23 in this year's ranking. More on Universal College Of Healing Arts
Bryan College Of Health Sciences ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Get the full Bryan College Of Health Sciences report
Nebraska College Of Technical Agriculture came in at #25 in this year's ranking. More on Nebraska College Of Technical Agriculture
Rest of the Top 15% Best Trade Degree Schools in Nebraska
These schools also placed among the very best this year:
Clarkson College
Clarkson College did well this year, earning the #26 position. Get the full Clarkson College report
Alegent Health School Of Radiologic Technology placed #27 among Trade schools in Nebraska. Get the full Alegent Health School Of Radiologic Technology report
Myotherapy Institute landed the #28 spot in Nebraska this year. Read more about Myotherapy Institute
Concordia University Seward landed the #29 spot in Nebraska this year. More on Concordia University Seward
University Of Nebraska Medical Center placed #30 among Trade schools in Nebraska. Read the full report on University Of Nebraska Medical Center
University Of Nebraska Central Administration System Office placed #31 among Trade schools in Nebraska. Read the full report on University Of Nebraska Central Administration System Office
Doane College Crete came in at #32 in this year's ranking. More on Doane College Crete
Nebraska Indian Community College landed the #33 spot in Nebraska this year. More on Nebraska Indian Community College
College Of Hair Design Downtown ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. See the full College Of Hair Design Downtown profile
Summit Christian College did well this year, earning the #35 position. More on Summit Christian College
Wisconsin Academy A Paul Mitchell Partner Group Pmts Lincoln ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. See the full Wisconsin Academy A Paul Mitchell Partner Group Pmts Lincoln profile
Chadron State College landed the #37 spot in Nebraska this year. Get the full Chadron State College report
College Of Hair Design East Campus ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. See the full College Of Hair Design East Campus profile
Little Priest Tribal College landed the #39 spot in Nebraska this year. More on Little Priest Tribal College
Capitol School Of Hairstyling And Esthetics came in at #40 in this year's ranking. More on Capitol School Of Hairstyling And Esthetics
Ricketts Great Books College landed the #41 spot in Nebraska this year. Read more about Ricketts Great Books College
More Trade Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Trade College (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: State · 35 schools evaluated. *Averages shown above reflect the top 41 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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