Southeast Community College Area
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Best Online Nursing Programs in Lincoln, NE (2026)
Lincoln, Nebraska has 5 accredited schools offering nursing programs. Lincoln has a population of about 291,932. Median household income is $69,991 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 41.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Lincoln, NE metro area, the top-earning nursing-related role is Nurse Anesthetist at a median $216,030 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Closest Nursing Schools to Lincoln
The 5 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 5 schools in our directory that offer nursing programs near Lincoln. Distances are calculated from Lincoln city center.
How We Rank Schools
Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:
- Graduation rate 30%
- Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
- Average net price (lower is better) 20%
- Retention rate 15%
- Fully online availability 10%
Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Lincoln. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
College of Saint Mary
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Clarkson College
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Creighton University
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Metropolitan Community College Area
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Nebraska schools on the Nebraska nursing page.
Nursing Wages Near Lincoln
Lincoln is part of the Lincoln, NE metro area (BLS area code 30700). 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $87,530 | Lincoln, NE | $95,557 |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | $63,070 | Lincoln, NE | $68,854 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | $216,030 | Lincoln, NE | $235,841 |
| Nurse Midwife | $138,880 | NE statewide | $151,616 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $124,440 | Lincoln, NE | $135,852 |
| Nursing Assistant | $38,650 | Lincoln, NE | $42,194 |
Source: BLS, May 2025 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.
Lincoln at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 291,932 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $69,991 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 41.0% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 91.6 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Nursing-related employment in Lancaster County | 10,644 workers, 102 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Lincoln-Area Cities With Nursing Programs
- Fremont, NE – 44.8 mi away (27,598 pop)
- Bellevue, NE – 45.5 mi away (53,505 pop)
- Omaha, NE – 45.6 mi away (792,463 pop)
- Council Bluffs, IA – 52.3 mi away (62,524 pop)
- Columbus, NE – 55.7 mi away (22,846 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited nursing schools are near Lincoln, NE?
Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering nursing programs near Lincoln. The closest is Southeast Community College Area in Lincoln, NE (2.7 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Metropolitan Community College Area (49.6 miles). 5 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying nursing roles near Lincoln?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying nursing-related roles near Lincoln are: Nurse Anesthetist ($216,030), Nurse Midwife ($138,880), Nurse Practitioner ($124,440). 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 Fremont instead of Lincoln?
Fremont, NE is 44.8 miles from Lincoln and has its own set of local nursing programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Is Lincoln an affordable place to study nursing?
Lincoln’s median household income of $69,991 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Lincoln 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.
Learn More About Nursing Programs
- Nursing accreditation: what to look for
- Nursing concentrations and specializations
- Is a Nursing degree worth it?
- Main Nursing degree guide
- Online Nursing programs in Nebraska
- Nursing programs by state
Other Programs Available in Lincoln
Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Lincoln:
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Related from Our Editorial Library
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- Effective Learning Strategies for Online Students
Data verified: June 11, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; 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.