Bryan College of Health Sciences
Lincoln, Nebraska · Private Nonprofit · 67.4% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 78/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Bryan College of Health Sciences is a small private nonprofit health-focused institution in Lincoln, Nebraska, enrolling approximately 553 students. It earns an overall ROI score of 78, placing it in the Strong Value tier - a notable achievement for a private college with tuition of $20,640. The payback period of just 6.9 years is among the fastest tracked nationally, driven by a healthcare graduate labor market that rewards credentials quickly. Median earnings six years after enrollment reach $47,200, climbing to $70,845 at ten years - a 33% earnings premium above a high-school-only baseline. The completion rate of 70% is solid for a health sciences institution that trains students for demanding clinical programs. Perhaps most telling: 90% of borrowers are making progress on loan repayment three years after leaving, signaling that graduates can service debt comfortably. Median institutional debt is $24,985 against those earnings, yielding a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.53 - manageable on a nursing or allied health salary. The college's narrow programmatic focus means it is not for undecided students, but those committed to a healthcare career will find clear financial payoff.
Bryan College of Health Sciences scores in the top 25% of all schools we track, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
Bryan College of Health Sciences
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $20,640/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $20,640/yr |
| Average net price | $26,919/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $107,676 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $70,845 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $47,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $24,985 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $265 |
| Estimated payback period | 6.9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 70.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 553 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $20,640/year. Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $26,919/year, or roughly $107,676 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $23,196/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $29,816/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $24,985 in federal loans, which works out to about $265 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $70,845 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.53, within the range advisors call workable but worth keeping an eye on.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $23,196 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $25,806 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $24,353 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $31,262 |
| $110,001+ | $29,816 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Students under $30,000 in family income face a net price of $23,196 annually - significant on a limited budget, but the 6.9-year payback period and strong repayment rates suggest debt becomes manageable quickly after graduation. Pell Grant recipients who complete their clinical degree should expect to service loans comfortably on a starting nursing salary above $70,000.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income students ($30,001 - $48,000) see a net price of $25,806, similar to lower-income brackets, suggesting Bryan's aid packaging compresses price variation within this range. The overall value proposition remains strong: healthcare earnings are well above regional averages, and the 90% three-year repayment rate means most graduates are not financially strained after leaving.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Higher-income students ($110,000-plus) pay approximately $29,816 - close to list price. Given the strength of health sciences earnings, even families paying near full cost will see loan balances paid off within seven years based on current earnings data. For this group, the risk is primarily whether the student completes the clinical program, not whether the credential pays off.
Earnings by Major
Top 2 most popular majors at Bryan College of Health Sciences with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $75,490 | B |
| Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment | $73,221 | C+ |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing drives Bryan's strong aggregate outcomes. Graduates report median earnings of $73,124 just one year out - already exceeding the national median household income - rising to $75,490 at four years. Against median debt of $30,125, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41 earns a B grade. The 97 annual graduates represent a meaningful pipeline into Nebraska's healthcare labor market. These outcomes are among the strongest for a private nursing program at this price point in the region.
Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment
Allied Health Diagnostic programs - which include respiratory therapy, imaging, and related clinical fields - produce graduates earning $60,447 one year out and $73,221 at four years. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.51 earns a C+ grade. With 17 annual graduates and $31,072 in median debt, this program delivers solid mid-career earnings but requires students to manage somewhat higher debt relative to nursing cohorts. Still, by four years the earnings trajectory is compelling.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 86.5% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 90.3% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 81.6% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 91.7% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Bryan College of Health Sciences’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2023).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 67.4% |
| Enrollment | 553 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 27.9% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,196 |
Bryan's admission rate of 67% is relatively selective for a specialized health-sciences college. No SAT or ACT score ranges are published, consistent with many nursing-focused institutions that weigh prerequisite coursework and GPA more heavily than standardized test performance. Admission is competitive relative to the size of applicant pools for clinical programs; students should ensure prerequisite science courses are completed with strong grades.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Among Bryan's listed peers - including Clarkson College and Kettering College (a different institution from Kettering University) - Bryan's ROI score of 78 is the strongest in this cluster. Clarkson College also focuses on health sciences in Nebraska, offering a direct regional comparison. Bryan's repayment rate of 90% at three years outperforms most national benchmarks for private nonprofit colleges. Students choosing between Bryan and Clarkson should request individualized net-price estimates, as small differences in grant aid can shift the financial comparison meaningfully.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bryan College of Health Sciences (this school) | 78 | $26,919 | $70,845 |
| Kettering College | 75 | $21,650 | $67,492 |
| Menlo College | 71 | $31,100 | $76,419 |
| Clarkson College | 71 | $19,241 | $64,876 |
| Westminster University | 70 | $27,094 | $66,215 |
| Bellevue University | 65 | $17,550 | $61,289 |
Who Thrives Here
Bryan is purpose-built for students committed to healthcare careers, primarily nursing and allied health diagnostics. The 67% admission rate signals selective but not highly competitive entry. About 28% of students receive Pell Grants, suggesting a moderately diverse economic mix. Students who thrive here are career-focused, comfortable with clinical training demands, and entering fields with strong Nebraska labor market demand. It is not a good fit for students uncertain about their major or seeking a broad liberal arts experience.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, Bryan College of Health Sciences pays off. You'd pay about $26,919 a year after aid ($107,676 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $70,845 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 6.9 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: its 70.0% graduation rate, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $24,985 against $70,845 in earnings is reasonable, though your major matters a lot here. Graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.