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University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Public

Lincoln, NE

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The University of Nebraska-Lincoln was founded on February 15, 1869, as the state's land-grant institution. According to the university, it was among the first institutions west of the Mississippi River to award a doctoral degree, granting its first in 1896. UNL is home to distinctive academic units such as the Jeffrey S. Raikes School of Computer Science and Management and the Johnny Carson Center for Emerging Media Arts.

Admissions

Admit rate87%
SAT range1098–1330
ACT range22–28
Undergrads19,178
Yield (admits who enroll)31%
Next deadlineRolling admission

Cost & outcomes

Cost of attendance$26,697
4-year grad rate66%
Median earnings, 10yr out$56,887

From the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Not every school reports every field.

Where do you stand against University of Nebraska-Lincoln's numbers?

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How University of Nebraska-Lincoln weighs your application

From University of Nebraska-Lincoln's own Common Data Set, 2024-25, Section C7 -- not a generic admissions checklist. What is a Common Data Set?

Academic factors
Rigor of secondary school recordImportant
Class rankImportant
Academic GPAImportant
Standardized test scoresImportant
Application essayNot considered
RecommendationsNot considered
Nonacademic factors
InterviewNot considered
Extracurricular activitiesNot considered
Talent/abilityNot considered
Character/personal qualitiesNot considered
First generationNot considered
Alumni relation (legacy)Not considered
Geographical residenceNot considered
State residencyNot considered
Religious affiliationNot considered
Volunteer workNot considered
Work experienceNot considered
Level of interest (demonstrated interest)Not considered
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Paying it back

Undergrads taking federal loans33%
Loan balance still growing, 3yrs out74%

"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.

Majors & earnings

Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences
Agricultural Mechanization$74,003/yr
Agricultural Business and Management$65,312/yr
Plant Sciences$61,946/yr
Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services$59,376/yr
Agriculture, General$52,997/yr
Animal Sciences$49,193/yr
Architecture and Related Services
Architecture$62,700/yr
Interior Architecture$62,201/yr
Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies$42,635/yr
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Biology, General$64,930/yr
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology$64,521/yr
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology$62,095/yr
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods$96,087/yr
Business/Managerial Economics$83,175/yr
Accounting and Related Services$78,760/yr
Finance and Financial Management Services$77,504/yr
Marketing$74,165/yr
Business Administration, Management and Operations$67,918/yr
Hospitality Administration/Management$53,777/yr
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication$61,145/yr
Communication and Media Studies$59,017/yr
Journalism$53,618/yr
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
Computer and Information Sciences, General$116,221/yr
Education
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas$51,293/yr
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$48,046/yr
Special Education and Teaching$47,592/yr
Engineering
Computer Engineering$103,934/yr
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering$100,972/yr
Agricultural Engineering$96,908/yr
Mechanical Engineering$88,972/yr
Chemical Engineering$88,067/yr
Civil Engineering$81,620/yr
Biological/Biosystems Engineering$76,741/yr
Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related Fields
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician$88,628/yr
English Language and Literature/Letters
English Language and Literature, General$48,785/yr
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences
Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services$61,092/yr
Apparel and Textiles$51,654/yr
Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies$48,305/yr
Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics$60,001/yr
Health Professions and Related Programs
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services$60,420/yr
History
History$47,944/yr
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services
Security Science and Technology$58,037/yr
Criminal Justice and Corrections$57,236/yr
Mathematics and Statistics
Mathematics$79,251/yr
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
International/Globalization Studies$54,106/yr
Classical and Ancient Studies$40,615/yr
Natural Resources and Conservation
Natural Resources Conservation and Research$46,817/yr
Physical Sciences
Physics$71,752/yr
Psychology
Psychology, General$49,965/yr
Social Sciences
Economics$75,784/yr
Political Science and Government$63,466/yr
Anthropology$47,485/yr
Sociology$45,674/yr
Visual and Performing Arts
Music$47,990/yr
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft$44,825/yr
Fine and Studio Arts$41,549/yr

Median earnings 4 years after graduation, by major, from the US Dept of Education. Only shown where the school reports a real figure for that major -- most schools don't report every major they offer, especially smaller programs.

Campus life

On-campus housingYes
Required to live on campusNo
Dormitory capacity6,195
Typical room charge$7,635
Typical board charge$4,793

Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.

What matters in your application

GPAConsidered, not required
Class rankConsidered, not required
RecommendationsNot considered

From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.

Frequently asked questions

What is University of Nebraska-Lincoln's acceptance rate?

University of Nebraska-Lincoln in Lincoln, NE admits approximately 87% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.

What SAT score do I need for University of Nebraska-Lincoln?

Admitted students at University of Nebraska-Lincoln typically score between 1098–1330 on the SAT (25th–75th percentile).

What ACT score do I need for University of Nebraska-Lincoln?

Admitted students at University of Nebraska-Lincoln typically score between 22–28 on the ACT (25th–75th percentile).

How much does University of Nebraska-Lincoln cost?

University of Nebraska-Lincoln's total cost of attendance is reported at $26,697 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.

Does University of Nebraska-Lincoln require students to live on campus?

No -- University of Nebraska-Lincoln doesn't require students to live in on-campus housing.

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