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Nebraska•In office since 2023•Party: R

Jim Pillen

Serving as Governor of Nebraska since 2023. Evaluation based on verified public data.

Overall GradeB+
73.3 / 100
Ranked #15 of 50 nationally
At a glanceComputed from the data below — no opinions.
  • An overall grade of B+ places this governor in the above the national average — ranked #15 of 50.
  • In office 3 years — most current trends meaningfully reflect this administration.
  • Since taking office, this governor has outpaced the national trend on 8 of 20 tracked metrics, lagged on 8, and moved with the country on 4.
  • Strongest area: Environment (A+). Weakest: Public Safety (D).
Category

Economy

100
67.0 / 100B+
Unemployment Rate
B+
2.7%
National avg 3.9%
improving faster than US
Rank 6 of 5090 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 2.9%
Category

Fiscal Health

301
66.1 / 100B
State Debt per Capita
C
$1,500
National avg $3,580
improving slower than US
Rank 10 of 5083 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom $1,650
Rainy Day Fund
B+
20.0%
National avg 14.0%
improving faster than US
Rank 10 of 5082 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 18.0%
State & Local Tax Burden
C
11.5%
National avg 11.2%
declining slower than US
Rank 37 of 5028 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 11.4%
Credit Rating
A+
100
National avg 90
on pace with US
Rank 12 of 5079 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 100
Category

Education

001
51.3 / 100C
High School Graduation Rate
C
88.6%
National avg 87.0%
declining faster than US
Rank 17 of 5067 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 89.5%
Category

Health

242
55.0 / 100C+
Age-Adjusted Mortality
B
355 / 100k
National avg 407 / 100k
declining slower than US
Rank 15 of 5071 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 328 / 100k
Infant Mortality
C
5.651
National avg 5.628
declining with US
Rank 24 of 5053 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 5.567
Adult Obesity
C-
35.6%
National avg 33.5%
declining with US
Rank 31 of 5039 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 34.0%
Adult Smoking
D
13.6%
National avg 13.2%
improving slower than US
Rank 22 of 5057 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 14.5%
Suicide Rate
C
15 / 100k
National avg 14 / 100k
declining faster than US
Rank 23 of 5055 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 14 / 100k
Life Expectancy
C+
77.7 yrs
National avg 77.5 yrs
declining with US
Rank 17 of 5067 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 78.1 yrs
Uninsured Rate (Under 65)
C-
8.6%
National avg 8.6%
improving with US
Rank 29 of 5044 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 9.7%
Drug Overdose Death Rate
A+
12 / 100k
National avg 34 / 100k
declining slower than US
Rank 2 of 5098 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 7 / 100k
Category

Infrastructure

100
59.4 / 100B-
Bridges in Poor Condition
B-
5.0%
National avg 6.6%
improving faster than US
Rank 21 of 5059 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 5.4%
Category

Opportunity

003
38.0 / 100D+
Food Insecurity
F
13.6%
National avg 13.5%
declining faster than US
Rank 33 of 5035 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 9.8%
Poverty Rate
C
10.6%
National avg 11.5%
improving slower than US
Rank 17 of 5068 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 11.1%
Median Household Income
C-
$71,722
National avg $74,580
improving slower than US
Rank 28 of 5045 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom $59,116
Category

Public Safety

001
36.6 / 100D
Violent Crime Rate
D
328 / 100k
National avg 380 / 100k
declining faster than US
Rank 22 of 5057 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 279 / 100k
Category

Environment

100
95.3 / 100A+
Drinking Water Violations
A+
20.0%
National avg 44.9%
improving faster than US
Rank 9 of 4984 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 24.7%

How this grade is built

Each metric gets two scores: where the state ranks among all 50 states (30%) and how its pace compared to the national trend during this governor's tenure (70%). Metric scores are averaged within eight equally-weighted pillars — Economy, Fiscal Health, Education, Health, Infrastructure, Opportunity, Public Safety, Environment — then the composite is curved across the cohort so grades spread A–F.

Full methodology →