Study in Omaha, The United States

About Omaha

Omaha is a city in the state of Nebraska, in the Midwest of the United States. The University of Nebraska at Omaha calls itself the city's metropolitan university, and College Navigator, the U.S. Department of Education's college search tool, classes both of the city's universities in our directory as being in a large city.

For an international student, Omaha offers a public university with a wide choice of programmes, a private Catholic university with schools of medicine, dentistry, nursing and pharmacy, and an intensive English programme that can lead into a degree.

Studying in Omaha

Our directory lists three schools in Omaha: two universities and an English language institute. The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is a public university with 14,972 students and a student-to-faculty ratio of 15 to 1, according to College Navigator. Its students take part in internships and projects with Omaha employers in business and finance, gain experience in cybersecurity, software development and data science through the city's tech sector, and learn in clinical and community settings with regional health care partners.

Creighton University is a private Jesuit, Catholic university founded in 1878 and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Its nine schools and colleges cover arts and sciences, law, business, dentistry, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, occupational therapy and physical therapy. It has more than 4,300 undergraduate and more than 4,100 graduate students, and 78% of its undergraduates come from outside Nebraska.

Creighton's Intensive English Language Institute (IELI) has taught academic English since 1979. Its curriculum has eight core courses across two levels, from high intermediate to advanced. Applicants must be at least 17, have completed high school and show a minimum score on an approved test such as TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo or PTE; applications are due two months before the term starts. Through the Bridge to Creighton pathway, undergraduate applicants who need more advanced English support can earn up to six credits at Creighton. Admission to IELI does not include admission to a Creighton degree programme.

Teaching is in English. Students on a degree or a full-time English programme need an F student visa: after admission, the school's international office issues a Form I-20, which is used to apply at a U.S. embassy or consulate. According to EducationUSA, the U.S. academic year usually runs from September to May, and international students may work on campus for up to 20 hours a week in their first year.

Cost of living for students

College Navigator gives these undergraduate figures for the 2024-25 academic year:

• UNO: $23,206 in out-of-state tuition and fees and $12,130 for food and housing on campus
• Creighton University: $48,856 in tuition and fees and $13,652 for food and housing on campus

These figures do not include health insurance, books or travel, so check each university's current estimate for international students. At IELI, accepted students pay a $75 fee before the acceptance letter and Form I-20 are sent.

Public transport is inexpensive. On Metro Transit buses an adult cash fare costs $1.25, and a 30-day pass with unlimited rides costs $55. UNO and Creighton have their own student pass programmes, MavRide and JayPass.

Getting around and daily life

Metro runs the city's bus network, including the ORBT line. Fares can be paid in cash or with the contactless Umo app or smart card; on ORBT, only Umo is accepted. The city's airport is Eppley Airfield (OMA). Omaha is also a stop on Amtrak's California Zephyr, which runs daily between Chicago and Emeryville (San Francisco) via Denver and Salt Lake City.

Winters are cold and summers hot. At Omaha Eppley Airfield, the 1991-2020 normals of NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information give an average temperature of 24.4 °F (about −4 °C) in January and 78.1 °F (about 26 °C) in July, when average daily highs reach 88.1 °F (about 31 °C).

Frequently asked questions

Which universities are in Omaha?

Our directory lists the University of Nebraska at Omaha, a public university with 14,972 students, and Creighton University, a private Jesuit, Catholic university founded in 1878.

Can I learn English in Omaha before starting a degree?

Yes. Creighton's Intensive English Language Institute teaches academic English at high intermediate to advanced level, and its Bridge to Creighton pathway lets undergraduate applicants earn up to six university credits while improving their English.

How much does a year at university in Omaha cost?

According to College Navigator, in 2024-25 out-of-state tuition and fees were $23,206 at UNO and tuition and fees were $48,856 at Creighton, plus about $12,000 to $14,000 for food and housing on campus.

How much does public transport cost in Omaha?

An adult bus fare on Metro Transit costs $1.25 and a 30-day unlimited pass $55. UNO and Creighton students have their own pass programmes.