Peru State College

Public · NE

School data & stats

TypePublic

LocationNE · Midwest

SettingRural

Undergrads1,092

Student:faculty17:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate22.9%

6-yr grad rate37.6%

Drop-out rate35.5%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$9k

Out-of-state tuition$9k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity33.5%

Gender diversity54.5%

International2.4%

Identity—

Overview

Peru State College, founded in 1867, is Nebraska's oldest college, occupying a small campus in the wooded bluffs of the state's southeastern corner along the Missouri River. It functions as a small public college serving a mix of traditional-age students from the surrounding region and a substantial online and adult-learner population, giving it a dual identity as both a rural residential campus and a distance-education provider.

Academics

Teacher education, criminal justice, and business are the most established programs, aligned with regional workforce needs. Online degree completion options extend these same programs to students who cannot attend in person, a significant part of the college's enrollment and mission.

Worth knowing

The split between a small in-person rural campus and a large online student body is more pronounced here than at most regional colleges its size, so the on-campus experience is smaller and quieter than overall enrollment figures might suggest.

peru.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate—

Enrolled mid-50%—

Test policynot reported

Rec letters0

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

AdmissionRolling

Applying