Head-to-head comparison
University of Nebraska-Lincoln vs Bellevue University: which has better ROI?
Option A Lincoln, NE
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
- Net price / year
- $17,747
- Earnings, 10 years
- $56,887
- Payback
- 8.3 yrs
Option B Bellevue, NE
Bellevue University
- Net price / year
- $17,550
- Earnings, 10 years
- $61,289
- Payback
- 5.4 yrs
Bellevue University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $70,200 in 5.4 years versus 8.3 years at University of Nebraska-Lincoln, on median earnings of $61,289 vs $56,887 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Nebraska-Lincoln | Bellevue University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,747 | $17,550 |
| Total net cost | $70,988 | $70,200 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $56,887 | $61,289 |
| Median debt | $21,000 | $20,000 |
| Payback | 8.3 yrs | 5.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $99,552 | $188,380 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Nebraska-Lincoln or Bellevue University?
Bellevue University, at $17,550 a year after aid versus $17,747 — a gap of $197 a year, or $788 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do University of Nebraska-Lincoln or Bellevue University graduates earn more?
Bellevue University graduates report a median $61,289 ten years after entry, $4,402 more than the $56,887 at University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, University of Nebraska-Lincoln or Bellevue University?
Bellevue University: its completers carry a median $20,000 in federal loans versus $21,000 at University of Nebraska-Lincoln, a difference of $1,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
67% of students finish at University of Nebraska-Lincoln, against 33% at Bellevue University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.