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Emerald, NEPhoto: Jared Winkler · CC BY-SA 4.0
Colleges in and near Emerald

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is 7.1 miles from Emerald

No college sits inside Emerald’s boundary, but the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s campus in Lincoln, with 22,418 students on campus, is 7.1 miles from the center of town, and Southeast Community College Area is 12.2 miles away in Lincoln. About 0% of Emerald’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Nebraska (7%).

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Emerald. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
7
37,185 students on campus
Nearest college
7.1 mi
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Residents in college
0%
About the same as NE (7%)
Nearest community college
12.2 mi
Southeast Community College Area · $3,690 tuition
Nearest public university
7.1 mi
University of Nebraska-Lincoln · $10,434 in-state
Median household income
—
prices below start here

What stands out about college from Emerald

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

A university 7.1 miles awayThe University of Nebraska-Lincoln has 22,418 students on campus in Lincoln, 67% of whom graduate within six years.In-state price at University of Nebraska-LincolnLiving in Nebraska, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln charges $10,434 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $28,584. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.A community college 12.2 miles awaySoutheast Community College Area in Lincoln: tuition and fees $3,690 a year for Nebraska residents.Students are 0% of residentsAbout the same as Nebraska (7%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Emerald

Five private colleges within 15 miles, one public college within 7.1 miles, and Southeast Community College Area 12.2 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of Nebraska-LincolnSoutheast Community College AreaConcordia University-NebraskaEmerald
University or collegeCommunity college
University of Nebraska-LincolnUniversity or college · Public · 22,418 on campus · 7.1 mi · Lincoln87%admitted$18knet price67%graduate$57kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.Bryan College of Health SciencesUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 701 on campus · 9.7 mi · Lincoln67%admitted$27knet price70%graduate$71kearningsNebraska Wesleyan UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,599 on campus · 9.9 mi · Lincoln80%admitted$18knet price66%graduate$56kearningsUnion Adventist UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 635 on campus · 10 mi · Lincoln100%admitted$24knet price52%graduate$55kearningsSoutheast Community College AreaCommunity college · Public · 6,951 on campus · 12.2 mi · Lincoln$9knet price38%graduate$43kearningsTuition and fees: $3,690 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Doane UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,948 on campus · 14.5 mi · Crete98%admitted$26knet price57%graduate$53kearningsConcordia University-NebraskaUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,933 on campus · 15 mi · Seward86%admitted$24knet price65%graduate$52kearnings

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at Under $30k; the Census has no median household income for Emerald.

Southeast Community College Area12.2 mi · Lincoln · sticker $13,186 · tuition $3,690$6,687a year
University of Nebraska-Lincoln7.1 mi · Lincoln · sticker $26,697$12,751a year
Nebraska Wesleyan University9.9 mi · Lincoln · sticker $53,569$14,925a year
Concordia University-Nebraska15 mi · Seward · sticker $53,292$19,107a year
Union Adventist University10 mi · Lincoln · sticker $42,099$19,477a year
Doane University14.5 mi · Crete · sticker $57,836$21,129a year
Bryan College of Health Sciences9.7 mi · Lincoln · sticker $32,845$23,196a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Emerald: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →University of Nebraska-LincolnBryan College of Health SciencesSoutheast Community College AreaDoane UniversityConcordia University-Nebraska
University of Nebraska-Lincoln67% graduate$57k earnings*$21k typical debt
Southeast Community College Area38% graduate$43k earnings$11k typical debt
Concordia University-Nebraska65% graduate$52k earnings$26k typical debt
Doane University57% graduate$53k earnings$25k typical debt
Nebraska Wesleyan University66% graduate$56k earnings$27k typical debt
Bryan College of Health Sciences70% graduate$71k earnings$25k typical debt
Union Adventist University52% graduate$55k earnings$27k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: University of Nebraska-Lincoln (2).

Questions about college near Emerald

Is Emerald a college town?

No. About 0 of every 100 Emerald residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Nebraska (7). The nearest campus, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, is 7.1 miles away in Lincoln.

What colleges are near Emerald?

7 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (7.1 miles, 22,418 students on campus), Southeast Community College Area (12.2 miles, 6,951) and Concordia University-Nebraska (15 miles, 2,933).

What is the closest community college to Emerald, and what does it cost?

Southeast Community College Area in Lincoln, 12.2 miles away. Tuition and fees are $3,690 a year for Nebraska residents; the federal net price, $9,171, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does the University of Nebraska-Lincoln cost if we live in Nebraska?

Tuition and fees are $10,434 a year in-state and $28,584 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $12,751 (under $30,000 income) to $22,346 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Emerald. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →