Nebraska Wesleyan University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Lincoln, Nebraska. It enrolls 1,453 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
70/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes55
Value63
Affordability56
Selectivity52
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 79.8%, Nebraska Wesleyan University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
79.8%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1020 – 1290
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
22 – 27
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Nebraska Wesleyan University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
16.0 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Nebraska Wesleyan University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $18,327 per year. That's below the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$18,327
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
34%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
54%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$43,572
Room & Board (on-campus)
$11,915
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,130
Books & Supplies
$1,000
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,500
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,500
Total Cost of Attendance
$53,569
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$14,925
$30,001 – $48,000
$16,974
$48,001 – $75,000
$14,594
$75,001 – $110,000
$18,244
Over $110,000
$23,652
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,50010%percentile
$6,72225%percentile
$26,970Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$30,75090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $18,750
↓ $8,220
No Pell $15,942
↓ $11,028
Dependent students $17,051
↓ $9,919
Independent students $17,982
↓ $8,988
Female students $17,815
↓ $9,155
Male students $16,750
↓ $10,220
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,000, less than completers ($26,970), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
57% of full-time students who enrolled at Nebraska Wesleyan University graduate within six years, and 75% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
57%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
75%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Nebraska Wesleyan University earn a median of $56,405 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$56,405
Earning > $25K
87%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$47,900
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$59,100
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$48,700
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$49,400
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$56,000
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $11,200, about 19% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
16.5 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 94% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Nebraska Wesleyan University is home to 1,453 students, a small, close-knit community.
Total Enrolled
1,453
Part-Time
2%
First-Generation
26%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 73.2%1,064
Hispanic 9.3%135
Black 5.4%79
Other 5.1%74
International 3.4%49
Asian 2.2%32
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Nebraska Wesleyan University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityLincoln, Nebraska
Housing
Mostly residential900 beds on campus
Adult Learners
4%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Nebraska Wesleyan University offers
a varied set of programs:
39 distinct programs across
20 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Nebraska Wesleyan University is 13:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
13:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$132M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$64,221
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
95 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
33
35%
$72,035
Associate Professors
22
23%
$65,018
Assistant Professors
35
37%
$57,768
Instructors
5
5%
$54,300
Pros & Cons of Nebraska Wesleyan University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Nebraska Wesleyan University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
Tight-knit, close community feel
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Modest first-year retention
Best for:
Based on the data, Nebraska Wesleyan University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Nebraska Wesleyan University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Nebraska Wesleyan University.
Is Nebraska Wesleyan University hard to get into?
Nebraska Wesleyan University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 79.8%.
What is the acceptance rate at Nebraska Wesleyan University?
Nebraska Wesleyan University has an acceptance rate of 79.8%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Nebraska Wesleyan University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Nebraska Wesleyan University scored between 1020 and 1290 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Nebraska Wesleyan University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Nebraska Wesleyan University scored between 22 and 27 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Nebraska Wesleyan University cost?
The average net price after aid at Nebraska Wesleyan University is $18,327 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Nebraska Wesleyan University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $56,405 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $18,327 per year. That's roughly 3.1x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Nebraska Wesleyan University known for?
Nebraska Wesleyan University is best known for its programs in Business, Biology, Kinesiology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Nebraska Wesleyan University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Nebraska Wesleyan University are $56,405, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Nebraska Wesleyan University accredited?
Yes. Nebraska Wesleyan University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Nebraska Wesleyan University?
Nebraska Wesleyan University enrolls 1,453 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Nebraska Wesleyan University?
Nebraska Wesleyan University graduates 57% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Nebraska Wesleyan University a public or private college?
Nebraska Wesleyan University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Nebraska Wesleyan University located?
Nebraska Wesleyan University is located in Lincoln, Nebraska.
What programs does Nebraska Wesleyan University offer?
Nebraska Wesleyan University offers 39 distinct programs. The most popular include Business, Biology, Kinesiology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Nebraska Wesleyan University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Nebraska Wesleyan University is 13:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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