Tuition-Free Master's Degrees Online in Nebraska 2027

Although fully free online master's degrees are not available, students seeking an affordable degree path can significantly reduce costs through various financial aid options. Federal and state aid, scholarships from higher education institutions, and other funding sources can cover a portion of tuition costs for eligible students. However, it is important to note that additional costs beyond tuition may apply.

If you're wondering if a free master's degree online is possible in Nebraska, we'll clarify your options below. While no accredited Nebraska colleges offer truly tuition-free online master's degrees, many institutions provide affordable online degrees supported by financial aid, which may sometimes cover all costs. Read on to explore low-cost schools, funding strategies, and programs that can make your online master's education more accessible.

Can I Get a Master's Degree Online for Free in Nebraska?

While you may be able to earn a very low-cost online master's degree in Nebraska through financial aid, assistantships, or scholarships, tuition-free online colleges are rare. One of the few true tuition-free online master's degree options comes from the University of the People (UoPeople), a nonprofit online university. However, UoPeople still charges a one-time $60 application fee and a per-course assessment fee ($440 to $490 for master's courses); only the tuition itself is $0. All other accredited programs require some level of financial contribution.

How To Make Your Online Master's Degree Affordable

An online master's degree can be an excellent investment, especially when you take steps to reduce your out-of-pocket costs. With careful planning and a proactive approach, students can take advantage of different funding sources to make graduate education significantly more affordable. Consider the following financing strategies:

• Choose an in-state public university: Attending a public institution in your home state often comes with lower tuition rates compared to out-of-state or private schools. For example, schools within the University of Nebraska system charge significantly lower rates for in-state students.
• Pursue department-specific scholarships and grants: If you know the field you want to pursue, look for schools with department-specific scholarships and grants you qualify for.
• Take advantage of military education benefits: Active-duty service members, veterans, and their families may qualify for substantial education benefits through the GI Bill or other military tuition assistance programs.
• Seek graduate assistantships or fellowships: Assistantship positions often provide a stipend and tuition waiver in exchange for research or teaching duties.
• Use employer-sponsored tuition assistance: Some companies offer tuition reimbursement programs to employees pursuing degrees related to their job or industry. These benefits are especially common in fields like healthcare and education.

Low-Cost Online Master's Programs

Schools in Nebraska do not offer a free master's degree online. However, students can explore several online schools offering affordable tuition rates and various financial aid opportunities. Keep reading to explore these programs.

1. University of Nebraska at Kearney

UNK offers more than 30 graduate programs, many of which are available fully online in fields such as English, special education, and health sciences. Online learners may qualify for various types of financial aid. Graduate assistantships, institutional and departmental scholarships, and tuition assistance are some of the most common ways to manage the cost of a degree.

• Average in-state tuition: $369 per credit hour
• Average out-of-state tuition: $591 per credit hour ($521 for College of Education programs)
• Financial aid: Many scholarships are available to graduate students, such as the Carpenter Fellowship Scholarship, a $2,000 award for graduate students who demonstrate strong academic potential. Full-time employees of the University of Nebraska System can receive tuition assistance for themselves, spouses, and dependents.
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

2. University of Nebraska-Lincoln

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln offers many college degrees in a flexible, online format. Master's degree programs span diverse fields, from journalism to engineering.

Tuition rates vary by program, with general graduate courses priced at $399 per credit hour for in-state students. Some specialized programs have their own flat rates for all students. For example, the online MBA costs $710 per credit hour, and programs offered through the Innovative Digital Education Alliance (IDEA) cost $622 per credit hour. To lower costs, students can use federal loans, apply for fellowships or assistantships, and explore employer tuition assistance programs.

• Average in-state tuition: $399 per credit hour
• Average out-of-state tuition: $792 per credit hour
• Financial aid: Students can use federal student loans to help with out-of-pocket costs. Students may also qualify for fellowships or assistantships.
• Accreditation: HLC

3. Peru State College

Peru State College, Nebraska's first college, offers fully online graduate degrees, including the Master of Science in Education (MSED) and the Master of Science in Organizational Management (MSOM). Students can choose from several specializations, such as curriculum and instruction, healthcare administration, and strategic leadership and communication, to narrow their focus toward professional goals. MSED courses are offered in four-week sessions, while other online graduate courses follow an accelerated eight-week schedule.

The MSED is priced at $404 per credit hour and can be completed in as little as 19 months, while the MSOM is $427.45 per credit hour. Both programs feature no application fees, no GRE requirement, and the same tuition rate for all students, regardless of residency.

• Average in-state tuition: $427.45 per credit hour ($404 for the MSED)
• Average out-of-state tuition: $427.45 per credit hour ($404 for the MSED)
• Financial aid: Students can qualify for loans through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Work-study and scholarships may be available.
• Accreditation: HLC

4. Chadron State College

Chadron State College is a public institution known for its affordable and flexible remote degree programs designed to support working professionals. It offers low-cost online master's degrees in business administration, education, organizational management, and more. Students can save money by transferring credits, applying for graduate-specific scholarships, and utilizing employer tuition reimbursement programs.

• Average in-state tuition: $427.45 per credit hour ($404 for the M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction)
• Average out-of-state tuition: $427.45 per credit hour ($404 for the M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction)
• Financial aid: Students can complete the FAFSA for government aid. The school also offers a couple of scholarships reserved for graduate students who meet certain eligibility criteria.
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

5. Wayne State College

Wayne State College offers affordable, fully online graduate programs in fields like organizational management, business administration, curriculum and instruction, and special education. Students can potentially reduce costs through graduate assistantships, which offer stipends and tuition waivers, and by applying for outside scholarships and federal aid.

• Average in-state tuition: $427.45 per credit hour ($404 for curriculum and instruction and special education)
• Average out-of-state tuition: $427.45 per credit hour ($404 for curriculum and instruction and special education)
• Financial aid: Accredited online colleges that accept FAFSA, like Wayne State, allow students to qualify for federal or state aid programs. Graduate assistantships may also be available.
• Accreditation: HLC

6. University of Nebraska Omaha

The University of Nebraska Omaha is a public research university with many online degree programs available. Students can choose from remote master's degrees in fields such as criminology and criminal justice, cybersecurity, and public administration.

Tuition rates vary by program and residency status. Graduate students can reduce costs through federal loans, institutional scholarships, and graduate assistantships.

• Average in-state tuition: $439 per credit hour
• Average out-of-state tuition: $928 per credit hour
• Financial aid: Graduate students may receive institutional scholarships, like the UNO Women's Club Scholarships, or federal loans to help manage tuition costs.
• Accreditation: HLC

7. Bellevue University

Bellevue University is a private, nonprofit institution offering online master's degrees in data science, business analytics, cybersecurity, and more. Tuition is set at $680 per credit hour for both in-state and out-of-state students. Students can reduce costs through federal loans, institutional scholarships, and employer tuition assistance programs.

• Average in-state tuition: $680 per credit hour
• Average out-of-state tuition:  $680 per credit hour
• Financial aid: Students may qualify for federal loans or institutional scholarships. Eligibility requirements for each scholarship are set by the donor.
• Accreditation: HLC

Other Tuition-Free Online Colleges in the U.S.

If none of the Nebraska programs above fit your budget, consider looking beyond state lines. Online programs can be completed from anywhere, so Nebraska residents can enroll at schools across the country, including the few institutions that charge no tuition at all. Truly tuition-free master's programs are rare and still come with required fees, but they can cost far less than even the most affordable public options.

University of the People

University of the People (UoPeople) is a nonprofit, fully online university that charges no tuition. Instead, students pay a one-time application fee and an assessment fee for each course they complete. Graduate students can choose from three master's programs: a Master of Business Administration (MBA), a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Advanced Teaching, and a Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT).

• Tuition: $0
• Fees: $60 one-time application fee, plus an assessment fee of $490 per course for the MBA and MSIT or $440 per course for the M.Ed.
• Financial aid: UoPeople does not participate in federal financial aid programs, so students cannot use federal loans or grants. However, the university offers scholarships that can help cover assessment fees.
• Accreditation: WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)

How We Rank Schools

To create this list, we review data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), along with program-level details published by each university.

This list focuses on affordable online master's degrees for Nebraska students, so we prioritized schools that combine low per-credit tuition with meaningful financial aid opportunities. We evaluated each school on the following factors:

• Accreditation: Every school on our list holds institutional accreditation from an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation affects your eligibility for federal financial aid and how employers and other schools view your degree.
• Affordability and financial aid: We compared current graduate tuition rates for online students. We favored schools with low per-credit costs, flat rates for out-of-state learners, and access to scholarships, assistantships, or tuition waivers.
• Online availability: We included only schools that offer complete master's degrees online, not just individual online courses, so students can earn a degree without relocating.
• Student outcomes: Where data was available, we considered graduation rates, retention rates, and post-graduation earnings to make sure affordable programs also deliver results.

Learn more about our ranking methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions About Tuition-Free Online Master's Degrees in Nebraska

Paying for graduate school can raise a lot of questions, especially with recent changes to federal student loans and state tuition policies. Below, we answer some of the most common questions about earning an affordable online master's degree in Nebraska.

Are There Any Free Online Master's Degrees for Nebraska Residents?

No Nebraska college currently offers a tuition-free online master's degree. Nebraska residents can enroll in tuition-free programs from out-of-state schools like University of the People, though they still pay application and assessment fees. Nebraska's State College Tuition Guarantee, which covers tuition for Pell-qualified Nebraska residents at Chadron State, Peru State, and Wayne State, applies only to undergraduate students.

How Did Federal Student Loans for Graduate School Change in 2026?

Starting July 1, 2026, the federal Grad PLUS loan program is no longer available to new borrowers. Graduate students can now borrow up to $20,500 per year in Direct Unsubsidized Loans, with a lifetime limit of $100,000. Students who already had Grad PLUS loans for a program before that date may be able to keep borrowing under the old rules for a limited time. For everyone else, the lower borrowing limits make low-tuition programs, scholarships, and assistantships more important than ever.

Do Out-of-State Students Pay More for Online Master's Degrees in Nebraska?

It depends on the school. Chadron State, Peru State, and Wayne State charge the same online graduate rate to all students regardless of residency, and Bellevue University charges a flat rate as well. Starting in 2026-27, the state colleges also charge out-of-state students the same rate as residents for on-campus graduate courses. University of Nebraska campuses still charge non-residents higher rates for online graduate courses, though the gap is usually smaller than it is for on-campus courses.

What Fees Should I Budget for Besides Tuition?

Many schools charge fees on top of tuition, so the advertised per-credit rate may not be your full cost. For example, the University of Nebraska at Kearney charges online graduate students a $35 per credit hour distance education fee, plus library and technology fees. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln adds a $35 per credit hour fee for online courses. Bellevue University charges a $75 graduate application fee and a general college fee each term. By contrast, the state colleges' online graduate rates already include fees. Always check a school's full fee schedule before comparing costs.

Explore Affordable Online Master's Degrees

Tuition-free online master's degree programs aren't common; however, earning an online master's degree doesn't have to come with a high price tag. Find the most affordable online master's degrees on Learn.org and contact individual schools for the most current information on tuition, financial aid, and enrollment options.