Omaha, NEpublicwww.unmc.edu/
The University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) is a powerhouse in health sciences education, known for its high acceptance rates in undergraduate programs (87%) but fiercely competitive medical school (11% acceptance). With a strong emphasis on primary care and public health, UNMC offers a tightly knit, hands-on learning environment where students dive into clinical training early—backed by Nebraska’s only academic medical center.
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Outcomes & value
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Campus & location
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
UNMC’s admissions landscape is a study in contrasts: while its undergraduate programs are accessible (87% Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants., per PrepScholar), its medical school is highly selective (11% acceptance, per Princeton Review). The institution doesn’t require SAT/ACT scores for most programs (Sallie), and while early decision is an option for med school applicants (due by August 1, per UNMC’s MD program page), its undergraduate admissions show no published preference for demonstrated interest. Notably, the med school’s early admission rate surpasses the national average (UNL News), suggesting strategic advantages for committed applicants.
UNMC’s academic identity is laser-focused on health sciences, with six colleges and two degree-granting institutes offering programs from nursing to public health. Its bachelor’s in nursing ranks 19th nationally (U.S. News), and the medical school is Tier 1 in primary care (U.S. News). The College of Public Health provides a standout curriculum with MPH, DrPH, and PhD options, emphasizing real-world impact (UNMC Public Health). Cross-campus collaborations with UNK and other Nebraska system schools expand access to programs like the BSN and DNP (UNK Health Sciences).
Life at UNMC is intense but communal, with students bonding over shared clinical rotations and campus organizations. Over 50 student groups—from the Surgery Interest Group to public health advocacy teams (UNMC Catalog)—anchor social and professional life. The Omaha campus fosters collaboration, with distance-learning tech connecting satellite sites (UNMC Students). A 2020 med school tour video highlights simulation labs and early patient interaction, reinforcing UNMC’s 'learn by doing' ethos (YouTube).
UNMC delivers strong ROI, especially in clinical fields. Medical lab science graduates boast a 100% certification pass rate (UNMC MLS Outcomes), and alumni median earnings hit $76,833 (College Factual). While six-year graduation rates aren’t publicly broken down, 87% of UNMC-affiliated business students secure jobs or further education within six months (UNL Business Outcomes). The med school’s primary care focus feeds Nebraska’s healthcare pipeline, with many graduates staying in-state.
Tuition runs ~$31,070 annually (CollegeData), but 84% of undergrads receive aid, averaging $8,239 in need-based grants (CollegeData). The Nebraska Promise program offers tuition coverage for Pell-eligible students (Nebraska.edu FAQ), and med school scholarships target high-need applicants (UNMC Facebook). Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. calculators suggest costs dip to ~$10,457 with aid (Niche), though exact figures vary by program.
UNMC’s singular strength is its integration of education and healthcare delivery. As Nebraska’s only academic medical center, it offers students unrivaled clinical exposure—from rural health initiatives to cutting-edge cancer research. The med school’s Tier 1 primary care ranking (U.S. News) reflects its mission-driven culture, while programs like the 19th-ranked BSN (Wikipedia) showcase undergraduate excellence. For students seeking a no-frills, high-impact health sciences education, UNMC is a hidden gem.