Private School Review - Established 2003
Immanuel Lutheran School
Christ Lutheran School Top 5 ยท Oldest Founding Date (NE)

Columbus Private Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 8 private schools serving 1,343 students in Columbus, NE, 21% of all K-12 students in Columbus, NE are educated in private schools versus public schools (compared to the NE state average of 11%).
The average acceptance rate is 98%, which is higher than the Nebraska private school average acceptance rate of 91%.
100% of private schools in Columbus, NE are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic and Lutheran Church Missouri Synod).

Quick Facts (2026)

  • # Private Schools: 8
  • # Students Served: 1,343
  • Average Tuition: $4,200
  • Average Class Size: 14 students
  • % Students of Color: 9%
  • View Columbus, NE School Trends

Quick Facts (2026)

  • # Private Schools: 8
  • # Students Served: 1,343
  • Average Tuition: $4,200
  • Average Class Size: 14 students
  • % Students of Color: 9%
  • View Columbus, NE School Trends

Top Ranked Columbus Private Schools (2026)

Christ Lutheran School Photo
Christ Lutheran School
Gr: PK-8 | 41 students
Avg. class size: 15 students
Sports: 2
Lutheran Church Missouri Synod
32312 122nd Ave
Columbus, NE 68601
(402) 564-3531
View Profile
Immanuel Lutheran School Photo
Immanuel Lutheran School
Gr: PK-8 | 204 students
Avg. class size: 15 students
Sports: 6 | Extracurriculars: 3
Lutheran Church Missouri Synod
2865 26th Avenue
Columbus, NE 68601
(402) 564-8423
View Profile
Map of St. Anthony School
St. Anthony School
Gr: PK-6 | 131 students
Avg. class size: 15 students
Catholic
1719 6th Street
Columbus, NE 68601
(402) 564-4767
(1)
View Profile
Map of St. Johns Lutheran School
St. Johns Lutheran School
Gr: PK-7 | 68 students
Lutheran Church Missouri Synod
39346 205th Ave
Columbus, NE 68601
(402) 285-0335
View Profile
Map of Scotus Central Catholic Junior/Senior High School
Scotus Central Catholic Junior/Senior High School
Gr: 7-12 | 398 students
Avg. class size: 15 students
Catholic
1554 18th Ave
Columbus, NE 68601
(402) 564-7165
View Profile
Map of Columbus Christian School
Columbus Christian School
Gr: PK-8 | 34 students
Avg. class size: 11 students
Sports: 5 | Extracurriculars: 1
Christian
3418 15th St
Columbus, NE 68601
(402) 562-6470
View Profile
Map of St. Bonaventure Elementary School
St. Bonaventure Elementary School
Gr: K-6 | 196 students
Catholic
1604 15th St
Columbus, NE 68601
(402) 564-7153
View Profile
Map of St. Isidore Elementary School
St. Isidore Elementary School
Gr: PK-6 | 271 students
Catholic
3821 20th St
Columbus, NE 68601
(402) 564-2604
View Profile

Columbus, NE Private School Trends (10-Year)

8
Private Schools
-11.1% (-1 school) 10-yr
1,343
Students
-8.8% (-130 students) 10-yr
$4,200
Avg. Tuition
+200.0% (+$2,800) 8-yr
14
Avg. Class Size
-17.6% (-3 students) 10-yr
9%
Students of Color
+12.5% (+1.0 pp) 10-yr
16:1
Student-Teacher Ratio
Download town snapshot: CSV | XML | JSON Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission.
Enrollment & Diversity
Category
This Town (Columbus)
This State (NE)
# Schools
8 Schools
237 Schools

Trends in Total Number of Private Schools

YearColumbus, NE Total Schools
20258
20248
20238
20228
20218
20208
20198
20189
20179
20169
20159
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# Students
1,343 Students
41,490 Students

Trends in the Average Number of Students Per Private School

YearColumbus, NE AvgNebraska (NE)National
2025169191179
2024169189172
2023176195174
2022177198185
2021177193180
2020177187171
2019162191175
2018145187172
2017164190180
2016164189178
2015164182167
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% Students of Color
9%
20%

Percentage of Students of Color Trends (2015-2025)

YearColumbus, NE AvgNebraska (NE)National
20259%20%34%
20249%21%34%
20239%18%33%
20229%17%33%
20219%17%32%
20209%17%32%
20199%16%31%
20189%16%31%
20178%20%32%
20168%20%32%
20158%20%32%
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0.41
0.53

Diversity Score Trends

YearColumbus, NE AvgNebraska (NE)National
20250.410.530.65
20240.410.530.65
20230.460.500.65
20220.480.480.64
20210.480.480.64
20200.480.490.64
20190.420.470.63
20180.420.470.63
20170.440.440.61
20160.440.440.61
20150.440.430.61
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▼ Show more data/charts: racial breakdown
# American Indian Students
n/a
225 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
n/a
# Asian Students
25 Students
1,131 Students
% Asian Students
2%
3%

Asian Student Percentage Trends

YearColumbus, NE AvgNebraska (NE)National
20252%3%5%
20242%3%5%
20232%2%5%
20222%3%4%
20212%3%4%
20202%3%4%
20192%3%4%
20182%3%4%
20172%2%4%
20162%2%4%
20152%2%4%
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# Hispanic Students
68 Students
3,181 Students
% Hispanic Students
5%
8%

Hispanic Student Percentage Trends

YearColumbus, NE AvgNebraska (NE)National
20255%8%9%
20245%8%9%
20235%6%9%
20224%6%8%
20214%6%9%
20204%6%9%
20195%5%8%
20185%6%8%
20174%5%8%
20164%5%8%
20154%5%8%
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# Black Students
2 Students
1,769 Students
% Black Students
n/a
4%
# White Students
1,008 Students
27,356 Students
% White Students
75%
66%

White Student Percentage Trends

YearColumbus, NE AvgNebraska (NE)National
202575%66%52%
202475%66%52%
202370%69%52%
202268%70%54%
202168%70%54%
202068%70%54%
201974%71%56%
201874%70%56%
201772%73%58%
201672%73%58%
201572%74%58%
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# Hawaiian Students
n/a
74 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
% of Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
# Others Students
240 Students
7,746 Students
% of Others Students
18%
19%

Other Races Student Percentage Trends

YearColumbus, NE AvgNebraska (NE)National
202518%18%26%
202418%18%26%
202323%18%25%
202226%16%25%
202126%16%25%
202026%16%24%
201919%17%24%
201819%16%23%
201722%16%22%
201622%16%22%
201522%14%21%
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All Ethnic Groups
Academics
# Teachers
85 Teachers
3,094 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
16:1
13:1

Student-Teacher Ratio Trends (2015-2025)

YearColumbus, NE AvgNebraska (NE)National
202516:113:111:1
202416:113:111:1
202316:114:111:1
202216:114:111:1
202116:114:111:1
202016:114:112:1
201915:114:112:1
201815:114:112:1
201716:114:112:1
201616:114:112:1
201516:114:112:1
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% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
32%
42%

Percentage of Faculty With Advanced Degrees Trends (2015-2025)

YearColumbus, NE AvgNebraska (NE)National
202531%42%55%
202431%43%54%
202331%42%54%
202231%42%54%
202131%43%54%
202031%42%54%
201931%41%53%
201831%41%53%
201731%38%53%
201625%38%52%
201525%36%52%
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Average Class Size
14 students
17 students

Class Size Trends (2015-2025)

YearColumbus, NE AvgNebraska (NE)National
2025151715
2024151715
2023201715
2022201615
2021201615
2020201715
2019201715
2018201715
2017201615
2016171615
2015171615
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Average Number of AP Courses
10 courses
9 courses
Tuition & Aid
Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$4,200
$7,724

Tuition Cost Trends (2017-2025)

YearColumbus, NE AvgNebraska (NE)National
2025$3,608$8,078$15,012
2024$4,531$4,884$13,254
2022$1,400$4,239$12,187
2021$1,400$3,977$11,800
2020$1,400$3,664$11,512
2019$1,400$3,577$11,293
2018$1,400$3,071$11,017
2017$1,400$3,155$10,708
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Average % on Financial Aid
30%
38%

Percent on Financial Aid Trends (2015-2025)

YearColumbus, NE AvgNebraska (NE)National
202530%39%34%
202430%39%34%
202330%38%34%
202230%34%33%
202130%34%33%
202030%31%32%
201930%32%31%
201830%33%30%
201730%31%30%
201630%33%29%
201530%37%28%
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Average Financial Aid Grant
$1,000
$1,538

Financial Aid Grant Trends (2015-2025)

YearColumbus, NE AvgNebraska (NE)National
2025$1,000$1,459$7,073
2024$1,000$1,454$6,930
2023$800$1,568$6,469
2022$800$1,856$6,289
2021$800$1,856$6,055
2020$800$1,631$5,921
2019$800$1,712$5,795
2018$800$1,657$5,456
2017$800$1,757$5,319
2016$800$996$5,105
2015$800$1,251$5,030
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Admissions & Athletics
Average Acceptance Rate
98%
91%

Acceptance Rate Trends (2024-2025)

YearColumbus, NE AvgNebraska (NE)National
2025100%90%81%
2024100%94%85%
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Average Number of Extracurriculars
2 extracurriculars
6 extracurriculars
Average Number of Sports
4 sports
6 sports

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top ranked private schools in Columbus, NE?
The top ranked private schools in Columbus, NE include Scotus Central Catholic Junior/Senior High School, Immanuel Lutheran School, and Christ Lutheran School.
How many private schools are located in Columbus?
8 private schools are located in Columbus.
How diverse are private schools in Columbus?
Columbus private schools are approximately 9% minority students, which is lower than the Nebraska private school average of 20%.
What percentage of students in Columbus go to private school?
21% of all K-12 students in Columbus are educated in private schools (compared to the NE state average of 11%).
What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in Columbus?
100% of private schools in Columbus are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic and Lutheran Church Missouri Synod).
Which private schools in Columbus are often viewed compared to one another?

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