College tuition fees rose 1.7% in Douglas County in the 2022-23 school year, according to the latest disclosure from the National Center for Education Statistics.
Data shows that students paid $12,000 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $198 more than the previous school year.
Among the nine institutions providing full disclosure in the county, Creighton University stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $45,590. The College of Saint Mary followed with an average of $22,450 per year. Metropolitan Community College Area students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $3,331.
At the time, at least $46.6 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Douglas County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached more than $9.6 million.
Currently there are 11 higher education institutions in Douglas County, including University of Nebraska at Omaha, Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health, and Stephanie Moss Academy.
Undergraduate education costs have seen a significant increase over the past few decades. Data shows a 169% rise in the average total cost, including tuition, fees, room, and board, between 1980 and 2020.
According to a 2023 College Board report, in-state students at public universities paid an average of $11,260, while out-of-state students paid $29,150 in the 2023-24 academic year.
Meanwhile, student loan debt has steadily increased over the last 30 years, reaching $1.75 trillion in 2024, averaging a total of $28,950 per borrower. Federal loans make up 92% of the debt, with over half of students at both public and private four-year colleges graduating with student loans.
Of the 11 institutions in Douglas County, two did not provide detailed data on tuition fees, including University of Nebraska Medical Center and CHI Health School of Radiologic Technology.
Available data sometimes exceeds 100% due to rounding and administrative calculations.
| Institution | Number of Students Receiving Grants | Total Amount of Grants Received | Average Amount of Grant Per Student | Number of Students Receiving Loans | Total Amount of Loans Received | Average Amount of Loans Per Student |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clarkson College | 25 | $241,033 | $9,641 | 30 | $310,596 | $10,353 |
| University of Nebraska Medical Center | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| University of Nebraska at Omaha | 1,813 | $13,306,006 | $7,339 | 675 | $3,958,879 | $5,865 |
| Creighton University | 1,026 | $28,531,893 | $27,809 | 462 | $4,228,052 | $9,152 |
| Capitol Beauty School | 18 | $82,762 | $4,598 | 30 | $142,450 | $4,748 |
| CHI Health School of Radiologic Technology | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Universal College of Healing Arts | 0 | $0 | $0 | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| Stephanie Moss Academy | 41 | $240,137 | $5,857 | 46 | $329,752 | $7,169 |
| Metropolitan Community College Area | 435 | $2,084,836 | $4,793 | 61 | $180,920 | $2,966 |
| College of Saint Mary | 88 | $1,744,985 | $19,829 | 48 | $288,156 | $6,003 |
| Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health | 37 | $369,040 | $9,974 | 25 | $170,021 | $6,801 |
