Staffing shortages at Nebraska's skilled nursing facilities hit a five-year high in 2025, and hospitals and home health agencies across the state are competing for the same limited pool of certified nursing assistants. That pressure has made CNA training one of the fastest entries into healthcare, but choosing a program still requires weighing real trade-offs in cost, format, and location.
Net prices at the nine highest-ranked Nebraska CNA schools range from roughly $4,980 at Metropolitan Community College in Omaha to about $26,920 at Bryan College of Health Sciences in Lincoln, though actual out-of-pocket costs for short CNA courses are often far lower than full institutional sticker prices. Free and employer-sponsored options exist as well. With the statewide median CNA salary sitting near $40,000, picking the right program matters more than picking the closest one.
Nebraska's Highest-Ranked CNA Programs for 2027
Nebraska's CNA training options range widely: community college workforce courses, credit-bearing nurse aide certificates, a tribal college fast track, and professional development tracks at private health sciences colleges. The nine schools below make up the highest-ranked CNA programs in the state for 2027, each built around the Nebraska Nurse Aide Registry requirement. Cost, pacing, and delivery format drive most enrollment decisions, so use the program cards to compare before you commit.
How we ranked these
- Net price and affordability
- Financial aid availability
- Graduation and retention rates
- Program format and schedule
- Accreditation where applicable
- Original research on individual programs
- NCES-IPEDS federal institutional data — nces.ed.gov
- College Scorecard post-completion earnings data — collegescorecard.ed.gov
- In-house program catalog data
Central Community College
#1Grand Island, NE · $7,000/yr
Best for: Future nurses building toward LPN and RN roles
Central Community College anchors CNA education in the middle of the state as a multi-campus public college that delivers its Nursing Assistant Training through the Community and Workforce Education division. The campus-based 76-hour course is held to Nebraska's registry standard and is positioned explicitly as the first step on a nursing career ladder, with an active CNA listing expected of students who later apply to the college's LPN or RN programs. Demand from long-term care employers keeps job prospects strong for new graduates.
- 76-hour curriculum that meets Nebraska registry requirements
- Campus-based cohorts at Grand Island, Columbus, Hastings, Holdrege, Kearney, and Lexington
- Prepares graduates for the state competency exam, including written and skills tests
- Active CNA registry listing expected before entry into CCC nursing programs
- Framed as a stepping stone toward LPN or RN study
- Delivered through the Community and Workforce Education division
Metropolitan Community College Area
#2Omaha, NE · ~$5,000/yr (est.)
Best for: Omaha career changers wanting guided healthcare entry
Metropolitan Community College Area runs its CNA training through a structured, college-based route rather than a drop-in workforce course. Students meet with a Health Professions advisor before applying and complete background check and documentation steps before enrolling, which helps newcomers navigate health program requirements. Instruction comes from registered nurses, coursework supports later entry into nursing or pre-medicine study, and class schedules run by quarter. Qualifying high school students can start early through the CollegeNow pathway.
- Advising appointment with a Health Professions advisor required before applying
- Course prepares students for state certification as a nursing assistant
- Instructors are registered nurses with earned degrees
- Supports later entry into nursing programs or pre-medicine study
- On-campus instruction at the South Omaha Health Professions location
- CollegeNow pathway available for qualifying high school students
- Application includes supplemental documents and background check steps
- Quarterly class schedules with program contact support
Western Nebraska Community College
#3Scottsbluff, NE · ~$5,000/yr (est.)
Best for: Western Nebraska students seeking nearby campuses
Western Nebraska Community College is the regional public college for the state's western counties, and its Basic Nursing Assistant course stands out for carrying program-level ACEN accreditation, a distinction uncommon among short-term nurse aide courses. Training is available at the Alliance, Scottsbluff, and Sidney campuses, and the 80 clock hour course keeps the state registry in view. WNCC also treats the BNA credential as the expected foundation for students who continue into its nursing programs.
- Carries program-level ACEN accreditation
- $488 course cost plus a $100 textbook
- Meets the 80 clock hours required before state testing
- Offered at the Alliance, Scottsbluff, and Sidney campuses
- Prepares students for the Nebraska Nursing Assistant Examination
- Open to students age 16 and older with no disqualifying convictions
- Teaches vital signs, mobility, communication, and patient care skills
- BNA qualification expected before entry into WNCC nursing programs
Southeast Community College Area
#4Lincoln, NE · $9,000/yr (net price)
Southeast Community College Area widens access to CNA training with a hybrid design that pairs online coursework with in-person lab sessions across 8-week and 16-week formats. Enrollment is open at age 16 with no high school diploma or GED required, and multiple funding routes, including GAP Tuition Assistance, WIOA support, and local scholarships, help cover the modest course cost. Federal financial aid does not apply to the course itself.
- Hybrid format pairs online coursework with in-person lab sessions
- Course runs in 8-week or 16-week formats
- $375 tuition for Nebraska residents; $438 for non-residents
- Approved by the Nebraska Department of Health for registry listing
- No high school diploma or GED required; minimum age is 16
- Funding routes include GAP Tuition Assistance, YESS, WIOA, and scholarships
- Training locations include Lincoln, Beatrice, and other Nebraska sites
- Registration by mail, fax, or walk-in
Northeast Community College
#5Norfolk, NE · $5,000 – $10,000/yr
Northeast Community College approaches nurse aide training as a short-term, credit-bearing course with a true hybrid structure: 31 online lecture hours paired with 45 in-person clinical hours. Small class sizes, individualized faculty support, and manikin-based practice labs give students a guided path to registry readiness. The low course fee and GAP assistance options keep the cost barrier minimal.
- Short-term 3-credit course with 76 total contact hours
- 31 lecture hours completed online, 45 clinical hours in person
- $384 training cost plus a $45 certification exam fee
- Financial assistance available through the GAP Assistance Program
- Small class sizes and individualized faculty support
- Manikin-based lab practice before clinical work
- Course completion leads to Nebraska Nurse Aide Registry eligibility
- Reported high course pass rates
Little Priest Tribal College
#6Winnebago, NE · $9,000/yr
Little Priest Tribal College offers one of the most distinctive CNA routes in Nebraska: a six-week certificate course that is tuition free for all students. The schedule runs Tuesday through Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings, built around working adult life, and the curriculum satisfies the state's full 76-hour training requirement. Students earn 4 college credits, and military benefits, financial aid, and scholarships are all accepted.
- Free tuition currently available to all students
- Six-week course meeting Tuesday through Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings
- 4 college credits with the full 76-hour state training requirement
- Uses HCA curriculum approved by the Nebraska Department of Health
- Covers vital signs, mobility, hygiene, feeding, and end-of-life support
- Written and skills exam taken at a Nebraska-approved testing site
- Military benefits, financial aid, and scholarships accepted
- Pass/No Pass grading with credits noted on the transcript
Clarkson College
#7Omaha, NE · $15,000 – $20,000/yr
Clarkson College houses its CNA education in a professional development division with year-round course offerings instead of a single academic calendar. Students can pursue initial certification, renewal, or reactivation of a lapsed registry listing, and add-on courses in Restorative Aide and Medication Aide create a path beyond entry level. Online and on-campus options accommodate different learning preferences.
- Professional development hub for CNA certification and renewal programs
- Year-round course calendar rather than semester enrollment
- Comprehensive medical skills education for practicing healthcare staff
- Initial certification and renewal options in online or on-campus formats
- Leads to placement on the Nebraska Nurse Aide Registry
- $525 course cost includes state exam preparation materials
- Online lecture portion paired with on-campus lab sessions
- Practice exams and skills review packets provided before testing
- Abuse and Neglect Prevention training included in the course
- Restorative Aide and Medication Aide add-on courses available
- Reactivation option for aides whose registry listing has lapsed
- State exam fees run $35 each
Nebraska Methodist College
#8Omaha, NE · ~$22,000/yr (est.)
Nebraska Methodist College runs its CNA certificate in a private health sciences college with institutional accreditation and a clear geriatric care focus, matching the long-term care settings where many new CNAs begin. The course fee bundles CPR training and state testing, and free training options that cover books and scrubs are advertised alongside paid enrollment. Formats range from 4 to 16 weeks with day and evening sections in on-campus or hybrid arrangements.
- $499 program includes CPR training and state testing
- Free training options are available and cover books and scrubs
- Program length ranges from 4 to 16 weeks
- On-campus and hybrid formats with day and evening schedules
- Requires age 16, English proficiency, and good health status
- Hands-on clinical experience for state exam readiness
- Curriculum with a focus on geriatric care
Bryan College of Health Sciences
#9Lincoln, NE · $25,000 – $30,000/yr
Bryan College of Health Sciences offers its CNA-Nurse Aide course in a hospital-centered academic setting where college faculty teach and health, documentation, and technology requirements are spelled out before enrollment. Lecture content is delivered online with skills practice in campus labs, and the course carries program-level ACEN accreditation. Completion satisfies the Nebraska nurse aide standard and supports students who plan to continue into nursing programs.
- Hybrid course with online lectures and in-person lab sessions
- $500 tuition includes the student manual and workbook
- $50 non-refundable deposit with full tuition due at registration
- Taught by college faculty; approved by Nebraska DHHS
- Carries program-level accreditation from ACEN
- Requires age 16, English proficiency, and seasonal flu vaccination
- Laptop required for the online lecture portion
- Completion supports Nebraska Nurse Aide Registry listing
Your Path to CNA Certification in Nebraska
Nebraska's Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) oversees nurse aide training and certification. From your first day of class to appearing on the state's Nurse Aide Registry, most candidates complete the process in roughly four to eight weeks. Here is what that timeline looks like at each stage.
Nebraska CNA Training Requirements and the State Exam
What's the actual pass rate for Nebraska's CNA competency exam, and can you look up a specific school's results before enrolling? Right now, neither the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services nor Prometric, the vendor that administers the exam, publishes a statewide or per-program pass rate. That gap doesn't mean the information doesn't exist somewhere, only that it isn't sitting in a public database for you to pull up. The good news is that the passing standard itself is published and consistent: candidates need to score 70 percent or better on the written or oral portion, and 70 percent or better on every individual skill demonstrated during the skills evaluation.
Where to Verify Official Information
Start with the Nebraska DHHS licensure page, which maintains the nurse aide registry and posts any updates related to testing procedures or requirements. From there, check Prometric's Nebraska CNA candidate page for official policies on scheduling, retesting, and what to expect on exam day. These two sources are the closest thing to ground truth available, even though they stop short of reporting how many candidates actually pass on a given attempt.
Getting Pass-Rate Information Directly
Since the state doesn't compile this data publicly, your best move is to ask the source. Call or email individual CNA Classes & Programs and ask them plainly: what percentage of your recent graduating cohorts passed the state exam on the first try? A program confident in its outcomes should be willing to share that number, even informally. The Nebraska Health Care Association is another worthwhile contact, since it works closely with training programs and long-term care employers across the state and may have insight into which programs have strong track records.
What to Compare Instead
When a hard pass-rate figure isn't available, use a nursing program comparison checklist and lean on the metrics a school can document: completion rates, job placement support, and how many graduates go on to work in partner facilities. Ask for these numbers directly rather than assuming a program's reputation or advertising reflects reality. A school that readily shares completion and placement data, even without a formal pass-rate statistic, is telling you something meaningful about how it operates.
CNA Classes in Lincoln, Omaha, Grand Island, and Kearney
The right city fit for nursing schools in Nebraska often comes down to how much of your daily routine you're willing to build around a classroom schedule versus a facility clinical rotation. Program length and cost are fairly similar across the state, but who arranges your clinical site, and how far you'll drive to reach it, varies by campus.
Lincoln
Southeast Community College Area runs a hybrid certified nursing assistant course with 8-week or 16-week options, mixing online lecture with in-person labs at its Health Sciences Facility. Bryan College of Health Sciences also trains CNAs in Lincoln, pairing online coursework with hands-on skills labs and clinical placement at partner facilities. Both programs assign students to nursing homes or hospital units rather than leaving site selection up to the learner.
Omaha
Metropolitan Community College Area offers a campus-based CNA course taught by RN instructors, with clinical rotations typically placed in long-term care or assisted living settings. Nebraska Methodist College and Clarkson College round out Nursing Programs in Omaha, NE with flexible day, evening, and hybrid formats, useful for students juggling a job while training. Goodwill and several hospital systems in the metro also run CNA training tied to employment, worth checking directly for current openings.
Grand Island
Central Community College trains nursing assistants through a 76-hour program approved for the state competency exam, with campus-based instruction and clinical hours typically completed in local long-term care facilities. Central Community College operates multiple campus locations, which can make it a practical anchor point for students from smaller surrounding towns.
Kearney
Kearney itself has fewer dedicated CNA program listings than the state's larger metros, so students there often commute toward Grand Island or Hastings for classroom seats while completing clinical hours closer to home through a local hospital or nursing facility. Calling ahead to confirm current schedules and clinical placement policies is worthwhile, since some programs assign sites automatically while others expect students to line up their own.
Explore other Nebraska related topics
Free and Employer-Sponsored CNA Training in Nebraska
Paying tuition upfront and trading a future work commitment for free training are the two realistic paths into a Nebraska CNA classroom, and most cost-conscious students end up choosing the second.
Goodwill Omaha and Employer-Sponsored Routes
Goodwill Omaha runs a No-Cost CNA Program that covers a two-week course in exchange for a demonstrated intent to work full time in the field. Applicants must pass a drug test and clear Nebraska's abuse registry, and attendance is strict: daily class time is mandatory, and any missed hours must be made up at the student's own expense. Many hospitals and nursing homes across the state offer similar Hospital-Based Nursing Programs on their own, paying for a new hire's CNA coursework and testing fees in exchange for a set period of employment on their unit, often somewhere in the six-to-twelve-month range depending on the facility.
GAP Assistance and Workforce Funding
Nebraska's GAP Assistance Program can cover CNA tuition for residents who meet income and residency guidelines. Eligibility generally requires at least six months of Nebraska residency, U.S. citizenship or legal resident status, household income at or below 250% of the federal poverty guidelines, and the ability to obtain and maintain full-time work after training. Applicants also need to show they can realistically be accepted into and complete the program. CNA training, along with related credentials like medication aide certification, falls within the program's approved list. Local workforce development offices administering WIOA funds are another avenue worth checking, since nurse aide training sometimes qualifies for support through the same system.
Understand the Trade-Off
"Free" rarely means free. Employer-sponsored and Goodwill-style programs typically expect six to twelve months of service afterward, and leaving early can trigger a requirement to repay tuition costs, sometimes prorated, sometimes in full. Before signing on, ask the specific facility or program in writing what happens if you're let go, relocate, or simply change your mind, since terms vary considerably between employers and are rarely identical to what's listed for a different program down the road.
Can You Take CNA Classes Online in Nebraska?
Nebraska allows some flexibility in how CNA training is delivered, but fully online programs are not an option. The state requires hands-on clinical and lab practice that simply cannot be replicated through a screen. Here is a balanced look at what hybrid programs offer and where the limitations fall.
Pros
- Hybrid formats let you complete theory and lecture coursework online, making it easier to study around a work schedule.
- Self-paced online modules reduce the need for daily commutes, cutting transportation costs for students in rural areas.
- Several Nebraska colleges, including Bryan College of Health Sciences, Southeast Community College, and Mid-Plains Community College, offer hybrid CNA sessions that pair online classroom content with scheduled in-person labs.
- Working adults can review lectures and reading materials on their own time, then attend only the required lab and clinical sessions in person.
Cons
- Nebraska regulations require all clinical hours to be completed in person, so no program can be finished entirely online.
- Lab skills practice, such as vital signs, patient transfers, and personal care, must also be performed hands-on at an approved site.
- The number of state-approved hybrid CNA providers remains limited, so not every region of the state has a nearby option.
- Out-of-state online CNA programs are not automatically accepted for Nebraska certification; you must complete a program that meets Nebraska DHHS approval standards.
- Even in hybrid programs, attendance at in-person sessions is mandatory, so scheduling conflicts can still arise.
CNA Pay Across Nebraska: Statewide and Metro Wages
Nebraska CNAs earn a statewide median of roughly $40,000 per year, which sits about 5 percent below the national median of $42,260 reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Wages vary by metro area and experience level. The table below draws on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics and the Nebraska State Salary Survey to give you the clearest available picture of CNA compensation across the state.
| Location | 10th Percentile (Hourly) | Median (Hourly) | Mean (Hourly) | 90th Percentile (Hourly) | Median (Annual) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska (Statewide) | $17.21 | $18.57 | $18.49 | $23.06 | $40,000 |
| Omaha, Council Bluffs | N/A | N/A | $18.22 | N/A | N/A |
| Lincoln | N/A | $17.46 | $17.51 | N/A | N/A |
What CNA Graduates Earn and Where the Career Leads
Entry-level CNA salary in Nebraska typically ranges from $15 to $20 per hour, with shift differentials adding to base pay for evening and weekend work. Program-level earnings data for CNA completers at specific Nebraska schools is not yet published through federal reporting channels, so prospective students should request outcomes directly from individual programs.
Where CNAs Work in Nebraska
CNA roles span multiple healthcare settings, each with distinct pay dynamics:
- Skilled nursing facilities: The largest employer category, often offering tuition reimbursement for staff who pursue further education.
- Hospitals: Typically pay higher hourly rates but may require more flexible scheduling.
- Home health agencies: Offer independence and one-on-one patient relationships, though schedules can be less predictable.
- Assisted living communities: Often feature consistent shifts and lower patient acuity.
Career Advancement Pathways
CNA experience frequently serves as the launchpad for nursing career advancement, including licensed practical nurse and registered nurse programs. Several Nebraska community colleges that offer CNA training also provide direct pathways into nursing. Southeast Community College in Lincoln, Central Community College in Grand Island, and Metropolitan Community College in Omaha all maintain both CNA programs and associate degree nursing tracks, allowing graduates to continue their education without switching institutions.
When reviewing institution-wide earnings figures, keep in mind that these numbers reflect the entire student body across all programs, not CNA completers specifically. A college's ten-year earnings data includes graduates from higher-credential programs like nursing and allied health, which typically command significantly higher wages than entry-level CNA positions.
For students considering healthcare careers, CNA certification offers a low-cost entry point with strong job availability and a clear pathway toward NP Programs in Nebraska and other advanced nursing credentials.