2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Nebraska

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First-year retention rates measure the percentage of first-year students who come back to campus for a second year. This is an indicator of how happy students are generally with their decision to attend that institution as less students decide to drop out or transfer to another school.

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Rank	Institution	First Year Retention Rate	Acceptance Rate	SAT Score	Your Est. Net Price Avg. Net Price	Median Starting Salary	Save
1	Creighton University	94.15	79.75	1,250 – 1,410	33364	63090	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Nebraska Creighton University Omaha, NE Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse is the most popular area of study for undergraduates attending Creighton University. The school has an impressive 94% first year retention rate and 11 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio....Read more First Year Retention Rate 94 % 2.1% Acceptance Rate 79.8% SAT Score 1,250 – 1,410 Avg. Net Price $33,364 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $63,090
2	University of Nebraska-Lincoln	86.3	87.49	1,110 – 1,320	18029	47692	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Nebraska University of Nebraska-Lincoln Lincoln, NE Located in Lincoln, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln accepted 87% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They charge $45 for undergraduate applications, but some schools offer fee waivers. About 92% of attending students currently receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 86 % 1.5% Acceptance Rate 87.5% SAT Score 1,110 – 1,320 Avg. Net Price $18,029 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $47,692
3	Clarkson College	85	64.29	1,040 – 1,180	13814	62339	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Nebraska Clarkson College Omaha, NE Based in Omaha, Clarkson College’s acceptance rate is 64% and requests $25 to apply, but fee waivers may be available. About 68% of students attending Clarkson College currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 85 % Acceptance Rate 64.3% SAT Score 1,040 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $13,814 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $62,339
4	University of Nebraska at Kearney	80	89.49	970 – 1,210	16249	43241	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Nebraska University of Nebraska at Kearney Kearney, NE University of Nebraska at Kearney is a non selective school, and many who enroll pursue Bachelor’s degrees in Business Administration and Management, General, and Elementary Education and Teaching. UNK also has a student-to-faculty ratio of 14 to 1 and first year retention rate of 80%. First Year Retention Rate 80 % 3.9% Acceptance Rate 89.5% SAT Score 970 – 1,210 Avg. Net Price $16,249 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $43,241
5	Doane University	79	98.01	1,040 – 1,210	26112	46009	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Nebraska Doane University Crete, NE Located in Crete, Doane University accepts 98% of applicants and requests unknown to apply, but fee waivers may be available. Approximately 100% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 79 % 9.1% Acceptance Rate 98.0% SAT Score 1,040 – 1,210 Avg. Net Price $26,112 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $46,009
6	University of Nebraska at Omaha	77.9	87.27	1,010 – 1,240	13284	45494	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Nebraska University of Nebraska at Omaha Omaha, NE Found in Omaha, the University of Nebraska at Omaha accepted 87% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and requests $45 to apply, but fee waivers may be available. About 74% of students attending the University of Nebraska at Omaha will receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 78 % 0.0% Acceptance Rate 87.3% SAT Score 1,010 – 1,240 Avg. Net Price $13,284 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,494
7	Union Adventist University	77.3	99.89	940 – 1,220	23602	43853	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Nebraska Union Adventist University Lincoln, NE Located in Lincoln, Union Adventist University accepts 100% of applicants and charges unknown for undergraduate applications. Approximately 100% of students attending Union Adventist University will receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 77 % Acceptance Rate 99.9% SAT Score 940 – 1,220 Avg. Net Price $23,602 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $43,853
8	Nebraska Wesleyan University	75	79.82	1,110 – 1,280	24863	47667	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Nebraska Nebraska Wesleyan University Lincoln, NE Nebraska Wesleyan University is a private school, associated with the United Methodists. It has 40 available majors and programs – Business/Commerce, General is the most popular. Competing in the American Rivers Conference, the 538 Prairie Wolves wear black and gold. First Year Retention Rate 75 % Acceptance Rate 79.8% SAT Score 1,110 – 1,280 Avg. Net Price $24,863 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $47,667
9	Concordia University-Nebraska	74	90.04	1,070 – 1,250	24099	44527	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Nebraska Concordia University-Nebraska Seward, NE Found in Seward, Concordia University-Nebraska accepts 90% of applicants. They charge unknown for undergraduate applications. Approximately 100% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid. On average, these students are given $25,326 each. The first year retention rate is 74%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 74 % Acceptance Rate 90.0% SAT Score 1,070 – 1,250 Avg. Net Price $24,099 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $44,527
10	Wayne State College	72	100	970 – 1,180	15458	40857	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Nebraska Wayne State College Wayne, NE Based in Wayne, Wayne State College accepted 100% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and requests unknown to apply, but fee waivers may be available. About 54% of students attending Wayne State College currently receive grant aid from the school. At Wayne State College, there is a 72% first year......Read more First Year Retention Rate 72 % 1.4% Acceptance Rate 100.0% SAT Score 970 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $15,458 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $40,857
11	Hastings College	66	65.4	970 – 1,270	21821	45590	#11 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Nebraska Hastings College Hastings, NE Located in Hastings, Hastings College accepts 65% of applicants. They request unknown for undergraduate applications, but fee waivers may be available. About 100% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 66 % 2.9% Acceptance Rate 65.4% SAT Score 970 – 1,270 Avg. Net Price $21,821 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,590
12	Chadron State College	64	0	--	13852	39139	#12 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Nebraska Chadron State College Chadron, NE First Year Retention Rate 64 % Acceptance Rate -- SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $13,852 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $39,139
13	Midland University	60	66.92	950 – 1,210	24143	45145	#13 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Nebraska Midland University Fremont, NE Located in Fremont, Midland University’s acceptance rate is 67% and charges unknown for undergraduate applications. About 99% of attending students will receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 60 % Acceptance Rate 66.9% SAT Score 950 – 1,210 Avg. Net Price $24,143 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,145
14	York University	58	47.63	850 – 1,170	20163	36447	#14 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Nebraska York University York, NE Found in York, York University accepted 48% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They request $20 for undergraduate applications, but some schools offer fee waivers. About 97% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 58 % Acceptance Rate 47.6% SAT Score 850 – 1,170 Avg. Net Price $20,163 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $36,447
15	Bellevue University	50	99.5	--	25735	57732	#15 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Nebraska Bellevue University Bellevue, NE Found in Bellevue, Bellevue University accepts 100% of applicants and charges $50 for undergraduate applications. Approximately 30% of students attending Bellevue University currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 50 % Acceptance Rate 99.5% SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $25,735 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $57,732
16	Bryan College of Health Sciences	0	62.91	1,010 – 1,180	21834	66305	#16 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Nebraska Bryan College of Health Sciences Lincoln, NE First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 62.9% SAT Score 1,010 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $21,834 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $66,305
17	College of Saint Mary	0	37.72	890 – 1,150	14265	59339	#17 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Nebraska College of Saint Mary Omaha, NE The College of Saint Mary is the only Catholic university for women in the Great Plains region. Of attending students, 100% receive grant aid, $19,829 on average. Student athletes at the College of Saint Mary are known as the Flames and they compete in the Great Plains Athletic Conference as members of the NAIA....Read more First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 37.7% SAT Score 890 – 1,150 Avg. Net Price $14,265 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $59,339
18	Nebraska Indian Community College	0	86.9	--	22666	25591	#18 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Nebraska Nebraska Indian Community College Macy, NE First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 86.9% SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $22,666 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $25,591
19	Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health	0	73.41	1,010 – 1,110	20650	61249	#19 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Nebraska Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health Omaha, NE First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 73.4% SAT Score 1,010 – 1,110 Avg. Net Price $20,650 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $61,249
20	Peru State College	0	77.08	--	11855	39150	#20 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Nebraska Peru State College Peru, NE First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 77.1% SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $11,855 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $39,150
21	University of Nebraska Medical Center	0	86.9	--	0	70417	#21 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Nebraska University of Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, NE First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 86.9% SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $0 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $70,417