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Aerial view of the old Haymarket and West Haymarket, Lincoln, Nebraska, USAPhoto: Hanyou23 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Colleges in and near Lincoln

Lincoln is home to five colleges, with about 32,000 students on campus

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln (22,418 students on campus) and Southeast Community College Area (6,951) are inside the city. About 12% of Lincoln’s residents are enrolled in college, above Nebraska (7%).

University of Nebraska-LincolnNebraska Wesleyan UniversitySoutheast Community College Area

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 Lincoln. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
5
32,304 students on campus
Nearest college
1.4 mi
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Residents in college
12%
Above NE (7%)
Nearest community college
3.8 mi
Southeast Community College Area · $3,690 tuition
Nearest public university
1.4 mi
University of Nebraska-Lincoln · $10,434 in-state
Median household income
$72K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Lincoln

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

Three colleges within 3.8 milesUniversity of Nebraska-Lincoln admits 87% of applicants; Nebraska Wesleyan University admits 80%. Together they have 30,968 students on campus.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 3.8 miles awaySoutheast Community College Area in Lincoln: tuition and fees $3,690 a year for Nebraska residents.Students are 12% of residentsAbove Nebraska (7%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Lincoln

Three private colleges within 2.8 miles, one public college within 1.4 miles, and Southeast Community College Area 3.8 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of Nebraska-LincolnSoutheast Community College AreaNebraska Wesleyan UniversityLincoln
University or collegeCommunity college
University of Nebraska-LincolnUniversity or college · Public · 22,418 on campus · In 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 · In Lincoln67%admitted$27knet price70%graduate$71kearningsNebraska Wesleyan UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,599 on campus · In Lincoln80%admitted$18knet price66%graduate$56kearningsUnion Adventist UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 635 on campus · In Lincoln100%admitted$24knet price52%graduate$55kearningsSoutheast Community College AreaCommunity college · Public · 6,951 on campus · In Lincoln$9knet price38%graduate$43kearningsTuition and fees: $3,690 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.

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 $48–75k, where Lincoln’s median household income ($71,867) falls.

Southeast Community College AreaIn Lincoln · sticker $13,186 · tuition $3,690$8,987a year
Nebraska Wesleyan UniversityIn Lincoln · sticker $53,569$14,594a year
University of Nebraska-LincolnIn Lincoln · sticker $26,697$14,699a year
Bryan College of Health SciencesIn Lincoln · sticker $32,845$24,353a year
Union Adventist UniversityIn Lincoln · sticker $42,099$24,957a 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 Lincoln: 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 SciencesNebraska Wesleyan UniversitySoutheast Community College Area
University of Nebraska-Lincoln67% graduate$57k earnings*$21k typical debt
Southeast Community College Area38% graduate$43k earnings$11k 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).

Majors

What students study in Lincoln

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Lincoln’s 5 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Business 19%Health professions 7%Engineering 7%Biology 6%Family sciences 6%Agriculture 5%Everything else 51%

Biggest programs

Business Administration, Management and OperationsUniversity of Nebraska-Lincoln · 371 graduates a year
$68k4 yrs out
Psychology, GeneralUniversity of Nebraska-Lincoln · 249 graduates a year
$50k4 yrs out
Finance and Financial Management ServicesUniversity of Nebraska-Lincoln · 237 graduates a year
$78k4 yrs out
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied CommunicationUniversity of Nebraska-Lincoln · 226 graduates a year
$61k4 yrs out
MarketingUniversity of Nebraska-Lincoln · 181 graduates a year
$74k4 yrs out
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsUniversity of Nebraska-Lincoln · 162 graduates a year
$48k4 yrs out
Family and Consumer Economics and Related StudiesUniversity of Nebraska-Lincoln · 151 graduates a year
$48k4 yrs out
Foods, Nutrition, and Related ServicesUniversity of Nebraska-Lincoln · 146 graduates a year
$61k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Lincoln

Is Lincoln a college town?

No. About 12 of every 100 Lincoln residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above Nebraska (7). The largest campus in the city, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, has 22,418 students on campus.

What colleges are in Lincoln?

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Southeast Community College Area, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Bryan College of Health Sciences and 1 more are inside the city.

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

Southeast Community College Area in Lincoln, 3.8 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 Lincoln. 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 →