Nebraska university campus representing artificial intelligence education
Updated December 2025

Best Artificial Intelligence Programs in Nebraska: Top Schools & Colleges Ranked

Ranking 8 top accredited artificial intelligence programs in Nebraska. Compare schools by tuition, graduation rates, and career outcomes in Omaha, Lincoln, Bellevue.

Programs Ranked8
Median Salary$91,560
Cost of Living92.5%
Tech Hubs3

Top 3 Artificial Intelligence Programs in Nebraska 2025

๐Ÿฅ‡ #1

University of Nebraska at Omaha

Omaha, NEPublic

102 artificial intelligence graduates annually, 97% graduation rate

$7K
Tuition/yr
97%
Grad Rate
74.7
Score
๐Ÿฅˆ #2

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Lincoln, NEPublic

123 artificial intelligence graduates annually, N/A% graduation rate

$8K
Tuition/yr
67.9
Score
๐Ÿฅ‰ #3

Hastings College

Hastings, NEPrivate

7 artificial intelligence graduates annually, 95% graduation rate

$34K
Tuition/yr
95%
Grad Rate
50.6
Score
Key Takeaways
  • 1.Nebraska offers 8+ accredited artificial intelligence programs across public and private universities
  • 2.University of Nebraska at Omaha leads with 97% graduation rate
  • 3.Nebraska software developers earn median $91,560 annually (BLS OES 2024)
  • 4.Tech opportunities concentrated in Omaha, Lincoln, Bellevue
  • 5.Cost of living index: 92.5% of US average (below average)

Artificial Intelligence Education in Nebraska: Overview

Nebraska offers 8 accredited artificial intelligence programs, producing approximately 271 graduates annually. The state's tech industry is centered in Omaha, Lincoln, Bellevue, with major employers including Mutual of Omaha, First Data, TD Ameritrade.

With a median software developer salary of $91,560 (BLS OES May 2024) and a cost of living index of 92.5% compared to the US average, Nebraska offers above-average purchasing power for tech workers.

The top artificial intelligence programs in the state are led by University of Nebraska at Omaha, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Hastings College, each offering distinct advantages in terms of program size, graduation rates, and industry connections.

Nebraska Artificial Intelligence Programs Rankings 2025

Rank
1University of Nebraska at OmahaOmaha, NEPublic$6,53697%74.7
2University of Nebraska-LincolnLincoln, NEPublic$8,010โ€”67.9
3Hastings CollegeHastings, NEPrivate$33,95095%50.6
4Concordia University-NebraskaSeward, NEPrivate$38,50091%45.7
5Creighton UniversityOmaha, NEPrivate$45,000โ€”44.1
6Doane UniversityCrete, NEPrivate$39,336โ€”34.1
7Metropolitan Community College AreaOmaha, NEPublic$3,060โ€”30.4
8Northeast Community CollegeNorfolk, NEPublic$3,240โ€”27.7

Top 5 Artificial Intelligence Programs in Nebraska: Side-by-Side

SchoolU of Nebraska at OmahaU of Nebraska-LincolnHastings CollegeConcordia University-Nebr...Creighton
Rank
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
In-State Tuition
$6,536
$8,010
$33,950
$38,500
$45,000
Graduation Rate
97%
N/A%
95%
91%
N/A%
Annual Graduates
102
123
7
7
18
Acceptance Rate
87%
77%
70%
90%
72%
Type
Public
Public
Private
Private
Private
Score
74.7/100
67.9/100
50.6/100
45.7/100
44.1/100

Best Bachelor's Degree Programs in Artificial Intelligence in Nebraska

Nebraska offers 6 bachelor's-level artificial intelligence programs. The top schools for undergraduate study are University of Nebraska at Omaha, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Hastings College. These programs prepare students for entry-level positions paying approximately $64,092 in the Nebraska market.

A bachelor's in artificial intelligence typically requires 120-128 credit hours and takes 4 years to complete. For national rankings, see our Best Artificial Intelligence Bachelor's Programs guide.

Top 3 Artificial Intelligence Bachelor's Programs in Nebraska

SchoolTuitionGrad RateGraduatesScore
#1 U of Nebraska at Omaha
$6,536
97%
102
74.7
#2 U of Nebraska-Lincoln
$8,010
N/A%
123
67.9
#3 Hastings College
$33,950
95%
7
50.6

Top Artificial Intelligence Schools for Master's Degrees in Nebraska

For graduate study, Nebraska offers 2 master's-level artificial intelligence programs. Leading institutions include University of Nebraska at Omaha, University of Nebraska-Lincoln. A master's degree can boost earning potential by 15-25%, with senior roles in Nebraska reaching $119,028 or more.

Explore our complete national rankings of the best artificial intelligence master's programs for more options beyond Nebraska.

Top 3 Artificial Intelligence Master's Programs in Nebraska

SchoolTuitionGrad RateGraduatesScore
#1 U of Nebraska at Omaha
$6,536
97%
31
58.8
#2 U of Nebraska-Lincoln
$8,010
N/A%
21
45.7

Most Affordable Artificial Intelligence Colleges in Nebraska

For budget-conscious students, the most affordable artificial intelligence programs in Nebraska are at Metropolitan Community College Area ($3,060/year), Northeast Community College ($3,240/year), University of Nebraska at Omaha ($6,536/year). These programs offer strong ROI given Nebraska's competitive tech salaries.

At Metropolitan Community College Area, a 4-year degree costs approximately $12,240 in tuition alone. With entry-level salaries around $64,092, graduates can typically recoup their investment within 0.4 years. See our Most Affordable Artificial Intelligence Programs for national comparisons.

Most Affordable Artificial Intelligence Programs in Nebraska (with ROI)

SchoolAnnual Tuition4-Year CostPayback PeriodType
#1 Metropolitan Community...
$3,060
$12,240
0.4 years
Public
#2 Northeast Community College
$3,240
$12,960
0.4 years
Public
#3 U of Nebraska at Omaha
$6,536
$26,144
0.9 years
Public

Detailed Program Spotlights: Inside the Top 5 Artificial Intelligence Schools in Nebraska

Below are detailed profiles of the top 5 artificial intelligence programs in Nebraska, including admissions requirements, curriculum highlights, career outcomes, and what makes each program unique. Data sourced from official university websites and IPEDS 2023.

#1

University of Nebraska at Omaha

Omaha, NE โ€ข Public

Delivery:On-Campus
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Program Highlights

  • โ€ข Annual Tuition: $6,536 (in-state)
  • โ€ข Graduation Rate: 97% (IPEDS 2023)
  • โ€ข Artificial Intelligence Graduates: 102 annually
  • โ€ข Acceptance Rate: 87%
  • โ€ข Ranking Score: 74.7 / 100

Program Strengths

  • 97% graduation rate
  • 102 artificial intelligence graduates annually
  • Public institution
  • Overall score: 74.7 / 100

Why Ranked #1

Ranked #1 based on graduation rate (97%), program size (102 graduates), state salary outcomes ($91,560), and selectivity (87% acceptance rate). Data from IPEDS 2023 and BLS OES 2024.

Why Choose This Program

UNO offers Nebraska's first Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence program, designed to prepare students to lead in a world where AI drives innovation and economic growth. The program combines hands-on experience with comprehensive training in AI systems design, implementation, and management across various sectors.

Admission Prerequisites
  • โ€ขCSCI 2030 MATHEMATICAL FOUNDATIONS OF COMPUTER SCIENCE
  • โ€ขCSCI 3320/8325 DATA STRUCTURES
  • โ€ขCSCI 3660 THEORY OF COMPUTATION
Available Specializations / Concentrations
automated software systemssoftware agentsmulti-agent and multi-robot systemsmachine vision and image processing technologiesneural network-based adaptive software systems
Rankings & Recognition
  • first of its kind in Nebraska
  • one of only a few in the Midwest
#2

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Lincoln, NE โ€ข Public

Delivery:On-Campus
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Program Highlights

  • โ€ข Annual Tuition: $8,010 (in-state)
  • โ€ข Graduation Rate: N/A% (IPEDS 2023)
  • โ€ข Artificial Intelligence Graduates: 123 annually
  • โ€ข Acceptance Rate: 77%
  • โ€ข Ranking Score: 67.9 / 100

Program Strengths

  • N/A% graduation rate
  • 123 artificial intelligence graduates annually
  • Public institution
  • Overall score: 67.9 / 100

Why Ranked #2

Ranked #2 based on graduation rate (N/A%), program size (123 graduates), state salary outcomes ($91,560), and selectivity (77% acceptance rate). Data from IPEDS 2023 and BLS OES 2024.

Why Choose This Program

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln offers both MS in Computer Science with AI focus and a Graduate Certificate in Computational AI, backed by a $5M donor commitment for an AI Excellence Initiative. The program features cutting-edge facilities including a $75M research building and accelerated master's options for qualified students.

Admission Prerequisites
  • โ€ขB.S. degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Data Science, or equivalent
  • โ€ขproficiency in at least one high-level programming language
Admissions
  • Min GPA: 3.0
Program Details
  • Credits: 30
Available Specializations / Concentrations
computer systemsroboticsnetworkingdata analyticshealthcarefinancebioinformatics
Rankings & Recognition
  • ASEE Diversity Recognition Program Silver Award
  • member of the Big Ten
  • ranks among Doctoral Universities with the Highest Research Activity
#3

Hastings College

Hastings, NE โ€ข Private

Delivery:On-Campus
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Program Highlights

  • โ€ข Annual Tuition: $33,950 (in-state)
  • โ€ข Graduation Rate: 95% (IPEDS 2023)
  • โ€ข Artificial Intelligence Graduates: 7 annually
  • โ€ข Acceptance Rate: 70%
  • โ€ข Ranking Score: 50.6 / 100

Program Strengths

  • 95% graduation rate
  • 7 artificial intelligence graduates annually
  • Private institution
  • Overall score: 50.6 / 100

Why Ranked #3

Ranked #3 based on graduation rate (95%), program size (7 graduates), state salary outcomes ($91,560), and selectivity (70% acceptance rate). Data from IPEDS 2023 and BLS OES 2024.

#4

Concordia University-Nebraska

Seward, NE โ€ข Private

Delivery:On-Campus

Program Highlights

  • โ€ข Annual Tuition: $38,500 (in-state)
  • โ€ข Graduation Rate: 91% (IPEDS 2023)
  • โ€ข Artificial Intelligence Graduates: 7 annually
  • โ€ข Acceptance Rate: 90%
  • โ€ข Ranking Score: 45.7 / 100

Program Strengths

  • 91% graduation rate
  • 7 artificial intelligence graduates annually
  • Private institution
  • Overall score: 45.7 / 100

Why Ranked #4

Ranked #4 based on graduation rate (91%), program size (7 graduates), state salary outcomes ($91,560), and selectivity (90% acceptance rate). Data from IPEDS 2023 and BLS OES 2024.

#5

Creighton University

Omaha, NE โ€ข Private

Delivery:On-Campus
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Program Highlights

  • โ€ข Annual Tuition: $45,000 (in-state)
  • โ€ข Graduation Rate: N/A% (IPEDS 2023)
  • โ€ข Artificial Intelligence Graduates: 18 annually
  • โ€ข Acceptance Rate: 72%
  • โ€ข Ranking Score: 44.1 / 100

Program Strengths

  • N/A% graduation rate
  • 18 artificial intelligence graduates annually
  • Private institution
  • Overall score: 44.1 / 100

Why Ranked #5

Ranked #5 based on graduation rate (N/A%), program size (18 graduates), state salary outcomes ($91,560), and selectivity (72% acceptance rate). Data from IPEDS 2023 and BLS OES 2024.

Why Choose This Program

The content does not contain information about a dedicated Artificial Intelligence program at Creighton University. The only AI-related offering mentioned is a 60-minute noncredit course for educators, and there is a FinTech degree that intersects finance and business intelligence programs.

$64,092
Starting Salary
$91,560
Mid-Career
+17%
Job Growth
325
Annual Openings

Career Paths

Machine Learning Engineer opportunities in Nebraska with strong job growth.

Median Salary:$85,206
+23%

AI Research Scientist opportunities in Nebraska with strong job growth.

Median Salary:$98,147

Data Scientist

SOC 15-2051
+35%

Data Scientist opportunities in Nebraska with strong job growth.

Median Salary:$82,714

NLP Engineer

SOC 15-2051
+23%

NLP Engineer opportunities in Nebraska with strong job growth.

Median Salary:$94,655

Computer Vision Engineer opportunities in Nebraska with strong job growth.

Median Salary:$100,692

Artificial Intelligence Programs in Other States

Which Should You Choose?

Choose Nebraska if...
  • You want access to tech jobs in Omaha, Lincoln, Bellevue
  • You're seeking lower cost of living (92.5% of US average)
  • You want to work at companies like Mutual of Omaha or First Data
  • You prefer Nebraska's quality of life
Consider other states if...
  • You prioritize highest possible salary (consider CA, WA, NY)
  • You want more program options (CA has 100+ vs Nebraska's 8)
  • You're looking for major coastal tech hub concentration

Artificial Intelligence in Nebraska FAQ

Ranking Methodology

Based on 8 programs from IPEDS 2023, BLS OES May 2024

Program Strength35%

Artificial Intelligence degree completions indicating program size, faculty, and resources (IPEDS 2023)

Graduation Rate25%

6-year completion rate from IPEDS 2023

Selectivity20%

Admission rate from IPEDS 2023 (lower = more selective)

Career Outcomes20%

Nebraska-specific salaries from BLS OES May 2024

Related Resources

Data Sources & Methodology

Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System - program completions, graduation rates, tuition, admissions

Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics - Nebraska salary data

2023-2033 occupational outlook and growth projections

Official University Websites

Program-specific admissions, curriculum, and career outcome data

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