For the first time in its 152-year history, the Nebraska State College System on Tuesday set tuition rates for two years, a move administrators said will allow students and their families to better plan for how to pay for their postsecondary education.
Resident students at the three state colleges — Peru State, Wayne State and Chadron State — will pay $181.50 per credit hour in 2019-20, or about $4.50 a credit hour more than they paid this year, following the unanimous vote by the system’s Board of Trustees.
In 2020-21, the cost per credit hour will increase another $4.50, meaning Nebraska students can expect to pay $186 per credit hour.
Out-of-state students can expect to pay double the amount of in-state students, or $363 per credit hour in 2019-20 and $372 in 2020-21, according to the system’s tuition structure.
The increase amounts to a roughly 2.5% hike in each of the next two years, and while they mark the fifth and sixth year in a row the cost to attend the state colleges has gone up, they reflect the smallest increases since the 2014-15 academic year.
Setting tuition rates for two years brings the state college system in line with other institutions of higher education that do the same, Chancellor Paul Turman said, including the University of Nebraska system, which set two years of tuition increases in 2017.
“As we get clarity from the Legislature about what our funding will be a year from now, I think it also behooves us to make sure we’re providing that clarity to families and students,” Turman said.
The state college system was expecting tuition to be set higher than the rate increase ultimately approved by the board during Tuesday's meeting at Hillcrest Country Club, Turman added.
An initial proposal put before the Legislature would have required more in tuition revenue to cover the system’s core expenses, he said. But state lawmakers approved allocating more to the three state colleges — about a 3.7% increase in state aid in each of the next two years — that allowed administrators to scale back the tuition increase.
In all, the estimated annual cost of tuition, fees, and room and board will range between $7,338 at Chadron State and $7,926 at Peru State next year.
Trustee Gary Bieganski, the board’s chair, said the state colleges “will continue to be the most affordable and accessible option for Nebraska students to receive a high-quality four-year postsecondary education.”
Breaking down Nebraska's colleges and universities
Breaking down Nebraska's colleges and universities
Bellevue University

Bellevue University, Bellevue
Pell grant students: 42%
Students with federal loans: 55%
Cost to attend: $15,363
Price after financial aid: $10,623
6-year graduation rate: 13%
Median debt: $13,150
Began repayment in five years: 61%
Average earnings after 10 years: $60,500
Bryan College of Health Sciences

Bryan College of Health Sciences, Lincoln
Pell grant students: 38%
Students with federal loans: 75%
Cost to attend: $25,788
Price after financial aid: $24,331
6-year graduation rate: 73%
Median debt: $23,479
Began repayment in five years: 82%
Average earnings after 10 years: $53,500
Central Community College

Central Community College, Grand Island
Pell grant students: 28%
Students with federal loans: 19%
Cost to attend: $11,426
Price after financial aid: $7,872
6-year graduation rate not listed
Median debt: $3,500
Began repayment in five years: 60%
Average earnings after 10 years: $32,800
Chadron State College

Chadron State College, Chadron
Pell grant students: 36%
Students with federal loans: 53%
Cost to attend: $18,821
Price after financial aid: $13,267
6-year graduation rate: 43%
Median debt: $9,500
Began repayment in five years: 67%
Average earnings after 10 years: $43,000
CHI Health School of Radiologic Technology

CHI Health School of Radiologic Technology, Omaha
Pell grant students: 16%
Students with federal loans: 37%
Cost to attend not listed
Price after financial aid not listed
6-year graduation rate not listed
Median debt not listed
Began repayment in five years: 66%
Average earnings after 10 years not listed
Clarkson College

Clarkson College, Omaha
Pell grant students: 33%
Students with federal loans: 68%
Cost to attend: $24,613
Price after financial aid: $20,825
6-year graduation rate: 46%
Median debt: $21,000
Began repayment in five years: 77%
Average earnings after 10 years: $52,900
College of Hair Design

College of Hair Design-Downtown, Lincoln
Pell grant students: 66%
Students with federal loans: 79%
Cost to attend: $13,890
Price after financial aid: $8,938
6-year graduation rate not listed
Median debt: $12,503
Began repayment in five years: 53%
Average earnings after 10 years: $24,700
College of Saint Mary

College of Saint Mary, Omaha
Pell grant students: 35%
Students with federal loans: 75%
Cost to attend: $39,226
Price after financial aid: $19,584
6-year graduation rate: 40%
Median debt: $21,000
Began repayment in five years: 63%
Average earnings after 10 years: $43,000
Concordia University

Concordia University-Nebraska, Seward
Pell grant students: 24%
Students with federal loans: 54%
Cost to attend: $37,601
Price after financial aid: $19,450
6-year graduation rate: 67%
Median debt: $15,155
Began repayment in five years: 80%
Average earnings after 10 years: $44,100
Creighton University

Creighton University, Omaha
Pell grant students: 15%
Students with federal loans: 50%
Cost to attend: $50,060
Price after financial aid: $28,254
6-year graduation rate: 79%
Median debt: $23,000
Began repayment in five years: 81%
Average earnings after 10 years: $70,100
Doane University Crete

Doane University, Crete
Pell grant students: 30%
Students with federal loans: 81%
Cost to attend: $42,410
Price after financial aid: $22,724
6-year graduation rate: 59%
Median debt: $17,000
Began repayment in five years: 73%
Average earnings after 10 years: $48,200
Grace University

Grace University, Omaha
Pell grant students: 44%
Students with federal loans: 61%
Cost to attend: $31,542
Price after financial aid: $18,106
6-year graduation rate: 66%
Median debt: $12,839
Began repayment in five years: 74%
Average earnings after 10 years: $34,800
Hastings College

Hastings College, Hastings
Pell grant students: 32%
Students with federal loans: 63%
Cost to attend: $39,273
Price after financial aid: $18,952
6-year graduation rate: 58%
Median debt: $15,000
Began repayment in five years: 78%
Average earnings after 10 years: $47,500
Joseph's College Cosmetology

Joseph's College Cosmetology, Lincoln
Pell grant students: 68%
Students with federal loans: 68%
Cost to attend: $20,691
Price after financial aid: $14,321
6-year graduation rate not listed
Median debt: $11,950
Began repayment in five years: 35%
Average earnings after 10 years: $19,200
La'James International College

La'James International College, Fremont
Pell grant students: 81%
Students with federal loans: 68%
Cost to attend: $17,724
Price after financial aid: $11,331
6-year graduation rate not listed
Median debt: $10,000
Began repayment in five years: 33%
Average earnings after 10 years: $22,700
Metro Community College

Metropolitan Community College, Omaha
Pell grant students: 29%
Students with federal loans: 13%
Cost to attend: $10,095
Price after financial aid: $5,281
6-year graduation rate not listed
Median debt: $3,378
Began repayment in five years: 43%
Average earnings after 10 years: $33,800
Midland University

Midland University, Fremont
Pell grant students: 32%
Students with federal loans: 66%
Cost to attend: $40,599
Price after financial aid: $23,518
6-year graduation rate: 46%
Median debt: $14,985
Began repayment in five years: 72%
Average earnings after 10 years: $44,400
Mid-Plains Community College

Mid-Plains Community College, North Platte
Pell grant students: 33%
Students with federal loans: 36%
Cost to attend: $10,634
Price after financial aid: $6,401
6-year graduation rate not listed
Median debt: $5,500
Began repayment in five years: 57%
Average earnings after 10 years: $35,200
Nebraska Christian College

Nebraska Christian College of Hope International University, Papillion
Pell grant students: 45%
Students with federal loans: 66%
Cost to attend: $27,134
Price after financial aid: $22,084
6-year graduation rate: 63%
Median debt: $15,500
Began repayment in five years: 63%
Average earnings after 10 years: $32,500
Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture

Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture, Curtis
Pell grant students: 20%
Students with federal loans: 23%
Cost to attend: $15,974
Price after financial aid: $11,369
6-year graduation rate not listed
Median debt: $13,875
Began repayment in five years: 77%
Average earnings after 10 years: $52,700
Nebraska Indian Community College

Nebraska Indian Community College, Macy
Pell grant students: 48%
Students with federal loans: 0%
Cost to attend: $17,754
Price after financial aid: $4,643
6-year graduation rate: 100%
Median debt not listed
Repayment figure not listed
Average earnings after 10 years: $21,200
Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health

Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health, Omaha
Pell grant students: 36%
Students with federal loans: 74%
Cost to attend: $24,403
Price after financial aid: $18,826
6-year graduation rate: 59%
Median debt: $19,167
Began repayment in five years: 82%
Average earnings after 10 years: $50,600
Nebraska Wesleyan University

Nebraska Wesleyan University, Lincoln
Pell grant students: 27%
Students with federal loans: 63%
Cost to attend: $41,817
Price after financial aid: $22,719
6-year graduation rate: 70%
Median debt: $17,225
Began repayment in five years: 83%
Average earnings after 10 years: $52,500
Northeast Community College

Northeast Community College, Norfolk
Pell grant students: 24%
Students with federal loans: 24%
Cost to attend: $12,236
Price after financial aid: $8,679
6-year graduation rate not listed
Median debt: $5,700
Began repayment in five years: 64%
Average earnings after 10 years: $38,400
Peru State College

Peru State College, Peru
Pell grant students: 29%
Students with federal loans: 44%
Cost to attend: $17,335
Price after financial aid: $12,681
6-year graduation rate: 35%
Median debt: $12,161
Began repayment in five years: 65%
Average earnings after 10 years: $39,600
Southeast Community College

Southeast Community College, Lincoln
Pell grant students: 35%
Students with federal loans: 51%
Cost to attend: $11,760
Price after financial aid: $9,116
6-year graduation rate not listed
Median debt: $4,818
Began repayment in five years: 52%
Average earnings after 10 years: $40,200
Union College

Union College, Lincoln
Pell grant students: 38%
Students with federal loans: 74%
Cost to attend: $33,219
Price after financial aid: $20,535
6-year graduation rate: 43%
Median debt: $17,589
Began repayment in five years: 68%
Average earnings after 10 years: $47,700
University of Nebraska at Kearney

University of Nebraska at Kearney, Kearney
Pell grant students: 33%
Students with federal loans: 47%
Cost to attend: $20,967
Price after financial aid: $15,768
6-year graduation rate: 57%
Median debt: $13,000
Began repayment in five years: 76%
Average earnings after 10 years: $45,800
University of Nebraska Medical Center

University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha
Pell grant students: 26%
Students with federal loans: 57%
Cost to attend varies by college
Price after financial aid: UNMC did not admit full-time, first-time undergraduate students, and did not report net price or graduation rate.
6-year graduation rate: UNMC did not admit full-time, first-time undergraduate students, and did not report net price or graduation rate.
Median debt: $15,000
Began repayment in five years: 92%
Average earnings after 10 years: $108,500
University of Nebraska at Omaha

University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha
Pell grant students: 31%
Students with federal loans: 41%
Cost to attend: $17,712
Price after financial aid: $12,899
6-year graduation rate: 45%
Median debt: $12,354
Began repayment in five years: 70%
Average earnings after 10 years: $49,300
University of Nebraska-Lincoln

University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln
Pell grant students: 21%
Students with federal loans: 39%
Cost to attend: $22,535
Price after financial aid: $17,311
6-year graduation rate: 67%
Median debt: $13,875
Began repayment in five years: 77%
Average earnings after 10 years: $52,700
Wayne State College

Wayne State College, Wayne
Pell grant students: 36%
Students with federal loans: 58%
Cost to attend: $16,482
Price after financial aid: $12,722
6-year graduation rate: 48%
Median debt: $11,330
Began repayment in five years: 73%
Average earnings after 10 years: $40,300
Western Nebraska Community College

Western Nebraska Community College, Scottsbluff
Pell grant students: 34%
Students with federal loans: 21%
Cost to attend: $11,994
Price after financial aid: $6,269
6-year graduation rate not listed
Median debt: $4,401
Began repayment in five years: 53%
Average earnings after 10 years: $33,800
York College

York College, York
Pell grant students: 52%
Students with federal loans: 77%
Cost to attend: $25,850
Price after financial aid: $15,471
6-year graduation rate: 49%
Median debt: $15,000
Began repayment in five years: 61%
Average earnings after 10 years: $39,000
Reach the writer at 402-473-7120 or cdunker@journalstar.com.
On Twitter @ChrisDunkerLJS.