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	79.75	1,250 – 1,410	32636	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 % 2.2% Acceptance Rate 79.8% SAT Score 1,250 – 1,410 Avg. Net Price $32,636 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $63,090
2	Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health	86	73.41	1,080 – 1,210	21634	61249	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Nebraska Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health Omaha, NE Based in Omaha, Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health’s acceptance rate is 73%. Undergraduates have to send in unknown to apply. About 94% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. 86% of students decide to stay at Nebraska Methodist College of......Read more First Year Retention Rate 86 % 10.3% Acceptance Rate 73.4% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,210 Avg. Net Price $21,634 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $61,249
3	University of Nebraska-Lincoln	86	87.49	1,110 – 1,320	18322	47692	#3 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 % 2.4% Acceptance Rate 87.5% SAT Score 1,110 – 1,320 Avg. Net Price $18,322 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $47,692
4	Union Adventist University	84	100	980 – 1,170	24844	43853	#4 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 84 % 5.0% Acceptance Rate 100.0% SAT Score 980 – 1,170 Avg. Net Price $24,844 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $43,853
5	College of Saint Mary	80	44.65	970 – 1,240	17078	59339	#5 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, $18,847 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 80 % 17.6% Acceptance Rate 44.7% SAT Score 970 – 1,240 Avg. Net Price $17,078 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $59,339
6	Concordia University-Nebraska	80	85.72	1,020 – 1,240	24158	44527	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Nebraska Concordia University-Nebraska Seward, NE Found in Seward, Concordia University-Nebraska accepts 86% of applicants. They charge unknown for undergraduate applications. Approximately 100% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid. On average, these students are given $26,584 each. The first year retention rate is 80%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 80 % 2.6% Acceptance Rate 85.7% SAT Score 1,020 – 1,240 Avg. Net Price $24,158 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $44,527
7	University of Nebraska at Kearney	80	89.49	1,010 – 1,240	16287	43241	#7 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 Elementary Education and Teaching, Business Administration and Management, and General. 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 1,010 – 1,240 Avg. Net Price $16,287 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $43,241
8	Doane University	79	98.01	1,040 – 1,210	26364	46009	#8 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 98% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 79 % 9.7% Acceptance Rate 98.0% SAT Score 1,040 – 1,210 Avg. Net Price $26,364 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $46,009
9	University of Nebraska at Omaha	78	86.98	1,010 – 1,240	13662	45494	#9 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 $50 to apply, but fee waivers may be available. About 65% of students attending the University of Nebraska at Omaha will receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 78 % 2.6% Acceptance Rate 87.0% SAT Score 1,010 – 1,240 Avg. Net Price $13,662 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,494
10	Nebraska Wesleyan University	75	79.82	1,110 – 1,290	21122	47667	#10 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 44 available majors and programs – Biology/Biological Sciences, 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 – 1,290 Avg. Net Price $21,122 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $47,667
11	Wayne State College	72	0	--	16060	40857	#11 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Nebraska Wayne State College Wayne, NE First Year Retention Rate 72 % 1.4% Acceptance Rate -- SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $16,060 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $40,857
12	Bryan College of Health Sciences	71	67.37	1,010 – 1,180	25822	66305	#12 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Nebraska Bryan College of Health Sciences Lincoln, NE Based in Lincoln, Bryan College of Health Sciences’s acceptance rate is 67%. They charge unknown for undergraduate applications and . Approximately 67% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 71 % 12.3% Acceptance Rate 67.4% SAT Score 1,010 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $25,822 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $66,305
13	Midland University	69	66.12	940 – 1,150	26643	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 66% and charges unknown for undergraduate applications. About 99% of attending students will receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 69 % 5.5% Acceptance Rate 66.1% SAT Score 940 – 1,150 Avg. Net Price $26,643 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,145
14	York University	69	51.88	890 – 1,130	21957	36447	#14 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Nebraska York University York, NE Found in York, York University accepted 52% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They request unknown for undergraduate applications, but some schools offer fee waivers. About 100% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 69 % 3.0% Acceptance Rate 51.9% SAT Score 890 – 1,130 Avg. Net Price $21,957 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $36,447
15	Hastings College	66	71.65	1,240 – 1,370	24406	45590	#15 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Nebraska Hastings College Hastings, NE Located in Hastings, Hastings College accepts 72% 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 71.7% SAT Score 1,240 – 1,370 Avg. Net Price $24,406 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,590
16	Peru State College	64	0	--	11915	39150	#16 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Nebraska Peru State College Peru, NE First Year Retention Rate 64 % 1.6% Acceptance Rate -- SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $11,915 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $39,150
17	Chadron State College	63	0	--	13292	39139	#17 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Nebraska Chadron State College Chadron, NE First Year Retention Rate 63 % 10.0% Acceptance Rate -- SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $13,292 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $39,139
18	Bellevue University	58	0	--	16210	57732	#18 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Nebraska Bellevue University Bellevue, NE First Year Retention Rate 58 % 13.7% Acceptance Rate -- SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $16,210 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $57,732