University of Nebraska at Omaha
Omaha, Nebraska · Public · 87.0% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 64/100 · Fair Value
University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) scores 64 and lands in the Fair Value tier - a solid public-university outcome built on cheap in-state tuition and strong tech/engineering programs. In-state tuition is $8,718 (out-of-state $23,206), net price is $13,441, and total four-year cost runs about $53,764, well below the national average. Median earnings six years after entry are $38,600 and reach $53,909 by year ten, producing a 35.2% earnings premium (sub-score 76) and a 10.2-year payback period. Median debt is moderate at $19,000 with a 0.492 debt-to-earnings ratio (sub-score 75). The three-year repayment rate of 76.9% is decent (sub-score 60). The drag on the overall score is the 47.1% completion rate (sub-score 33), which is below average for a state regional public and reflects the campus's commuter-heavy, part-time student profile. UNO's value case is strongest for in-state Nebraska students entering its computer science, engineering, business, and IT programs, where the combination of low cost and strong Omaha-market placement produces clean A and B+ ROI grades.
University of Nebraska at Omaha
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $8,718/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $23,206/yr |
| Average net price | $13,441/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $53,764 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $53,909 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $38,600 |
| Median debt at graduation | $19,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $201 |
| Estimated payback period | 10.2 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 47.1% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 11,488 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at University of Nebraska at Omaha is $8,718/year ($23,206/year out-of-state). But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $13,441/year, or roughly $53,764 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $10,534/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $19,466/year.
The median graduate leaves with $19,000 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $201 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $53,909 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.49 - well within manageable territory.
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 | $10,534 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $10,614 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $12,324 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $15,540 |
| $110,001+ | $19,466 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning $0-30,000 pay $10,534 net per year, about $42,136 over four years. That is a very strong number for a four-year public and is achievable with Pell plus state aid. The 35% Pell rate confirms UNO genuinely serves this band well.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48,001-110,000) pay $12,324-$15,540 net per year, putting four-year cost at $49,000-$62,000. Against $38,600 six-year earnings, the math works comfortably, and the 10.2-year payback applies clearly to this band. Aid scaling is smooth and monotonic here, which is unusual and a credit to the school's pricing.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Households above $110,000 pay $19,466 per year (about $77,864 over four years). The aid gradient between top and bottom brackets is real - about $9,000/year - and the price even at the top tier remains reasonable. For Nebraska families, UNO at full freight still beats most private alternatives on ROI.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of Nebraska at Omaha with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $55,947 | C |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $57,957 | C |
| Teacher Education | $48,486 | C |
| Psychology | $50,826 | C |
| Biology | $62,982 | C |
| Computer Science | $107,248 | B+ |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $68,065 | B |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $44,386 | D |
| Mathematics | $65,245 | B |
| Social Work | $50,169 | 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.
Liberal Arts and Sciences
Liberal Arts is the largest program at 306 graduates with $40,892 first-year earnings and $55,947 by year four. Debt is $26,310 and debt-to-earnings is 0.643 for a C grade. This is the modal UNO student outcome and reflects the structural earnings ceiling of broad humanities/social science degrees in the Omaha labor market.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice graduates 242 students with $38,756 first-year earnings and $57,957 by year four. Debt is $22,561 and debt-to-earnings is 0.582 for a C grade. UNO has strong placement into Omaha law enforcement, federal, and state corrections roles, and the program is one of its larger pipelines.
Teacher Education
Teacher Education graduates 152 students earning $41,326 in year one and $48,486 by year four - the typical flat teacher earnings curve. Debt is $24,000 and debt-to-earnings is 0.581 for a C grade. The credential supports stable Nebraska school district employment but does not produce meaningful earnings growth.
Computer Science
Computer Science graduates 102 students with $73,971 first-year earnings and $107,248 by year four. Debt is $21,595 and debt-to-earnings is 0.292 for a B+ grade. This is among the strongest ROI cases at UNO and reflects Omaha's growing tech employer base (First National Bank, Mutual of Omaha, federal contractors).
Computer/Information Technology Administration
IT Administration graduates 51 students with $79,671 first-year earnings and $114,504 by year four. Debt is just $10,500 and debt-to-earnings is 0.132 for an A grade. This is the cleanest ROI in the catalog and shows the upside of UNO's tech pipelines when paired with low borrowing.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 70.6% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 76.9% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 70.4% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 74.4% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 87.0% |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 19-26 |
| Enrollment | 11,488 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 34.6% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,293 |
UNO admits 87.0% of applicants with an ACT composite mid-range of 19-26 (SAT mid-ranges not reported). This is open-access by the numbers, consistent with its mission as the metro Omaha access campus of the Nebraska system. The combination of high admit rate with a 47% completion rate is the standard commuter-school pattern: the admissions screen lets students in, but external life pressures (work, family) drive much of the attrition.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
UNO's peer set (Chadron State College, University of Nebraska at Kearney, Minnesota State Mankato, UW-Whitewater, UMass Boston) is well-chosen. UNK and Chadron State are the closest in-state comps and typically post slightly higher completion rates at similar cost. Mankato and Whitewater are very similar Midwest regional publics with comparable earnings outcomes. UMass Boston is a useful coastal comp at a different price point. Across this set, UNO's tech-program strength and low cost stand out; its completion rate is roughly mid-pack.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Nebraska at Omaha (this school) | 64 | $13,441 | $53,909 |
| University of Massachusetts-Boston | 67 | $17,707 | $65,865 |
| University of Wisconsin-Whitewater | 64 | $14,158 | $55,356 |
| Minnesota State University-Mankato | 62 | $19,139 | $56,922 |
| University of Nebraska at Kearney | 55 | $16,242 | $50,105 |
| Chadron State College | 50 | $12,549 | $47,002 |
Who Thrives Here
Enrollment is 11,488 with a 34.7% Pell rate, a working-middle-class metro public student body. UNO is built for in-state Nebraska students, particularly those entering its engineering, IT, computer science, business, and aviation programs where outcomes are strongest. It works less well for students drawn to fine arts, music, or writing-focused humanities, where earnings stay weak and debt loads compress against modest salaries. The 77% repayment rate suggests graduates land in stable Omaha-area jobs.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
University of Nebraska at Omaha offers fair financial value, though the ROI depends heavily on individual circumstances. The net cost of $13,441 per year leads to $53,764 over four years, while graduates earn a median of $53,909 a decade out. The payback period of 10.2 years is about average - not bad, but not a standout either.
Key strengths include strong earnings premium over high school graduates, manageable debt relative to earnings. However, the data also shows a 47.1% graduation rate.
Median debt of $19,000 against $53,909 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
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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.