Best Online Education Programs in Grand Island, NE (2026)
Grand Island, Nebraska has a population of about 52,761. The city’s median household income is $62,439 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 20.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 11 accredited schools offering education programs near Grand Island. In the Grand Island, NE metro area, the top-earning education-related role is Educational and Career Counselor at a median $108,030 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Education Schools to Grand Island
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 11 schools in our directory that offer education programs near Grand Island. Distances are calculated from Grand Island city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hastings College | Hastings, NE | 22.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| York University | York, NE | 40.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Nebraska at Kearney | Kearney, NE | 41.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Concordia University-Nebraska | Seward, NE | 66.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Doane University | Crete, NE | 76.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Nebraska-Lincoln | Lincoln, NE | 86.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Nebraska Wesleyan University | Lincoln, NE | 89.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Bryan College of Health Sciences | Lincoln, NE | 89.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Union Adventist University | Lincoln, NE | 89.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Southeast Community College Area | Lincoln, NE | 90.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Nebraska schools on the Nebraska education page.
Education Wages Near Grand Island
Grand Island is part of the Grand Island, NE metro area (BLS area code 24260). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Nebraska statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secondary School Teacher | $62,510 | Grand Island, NE | $72,099 |
| Elementary School Teacher | $62,140 | Grand Island, NE | $71,672 |
| Middle School Teacher | $63,060 | Grand Island, NE | $72,734 |
| Education Teacher, Postsecondary | $75,130 | NE statewide | $86,655 |
| Education Administrator, K-12 | $105,370 | Grand Island, NE | $121,534 |
| Education Administrator, Postsecondary | $86,440 | NE statewide | $99,700 |
| Tutor | $39,800 | NE statewide | $45,905 |
| Educational and Career Counselor | $108,030 | Grand Island, NE | $124,602 |
Source: BLS, May 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.
Grand Island at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 52,761 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $62,439 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 20.7% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 86.7 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Education-related employment in Hall County | 74 workers, 11 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Grand Island-Area Cities With Education Programs
- Hastings, NE – 22.5 mi away (24,393 pop)
- Kearney, NE – 40.9 mi away (34,065 pop)
- Columbus, NE – 63.1 mi away (22,846 pop)
- Lincoln, NE – 88.0 mi away (280,741 pop)
- Norfolk, NE – 91.0 mi away (26,921 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited education schools are near Grand Island, NE?
Our directory has 11 accredited schools offering education programs near Grand Island. The closest is Hastings College in Hastings, NE (22.9 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Southeast Community College Area (90.7 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying education roles near Grand Island?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying education-related roles near Grand Island are: Educational and Career Counselor ($108,030), Education Administrator, K-12 ($105,370), Education Administrator, Postsecondary ($86,440). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Nebraska statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Hastings instead of Grand Island?
Hastings, NE is 22.5 miles from Grand Island and has its own set of local education programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Is Grand Island an affordable place to study education?
Grand Island’s median household income of $62,439 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Grand Island while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Nebraska public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
How do I verify a program is accredited?
Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.
Related Resources
Data verified: May 5, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2024; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.