University of Nebraska Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
University of Nebraska-Lincoln is a public research university in Lincoln, Nebraska, with about 19,178 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 87.49% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $56,887 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $10,434
- 2024 Average Net Price: $17,747 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 87.49% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 19,178 95.9% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 66.97%
- Carnegie Classification: Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity
- First-Generation Students: 22.0%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 2.4% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price increase of 8.0% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 85.3%
- Average SAT Score: 1191
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 20,501
- Applicants (IPEDS): 18,354
- Room & Board: $14,120 annual estimate
University of Nebraska-Lincoln: what the data shows
Common questions about University of Nebraska-Lincoln, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is University of Nebraska-Lincoln?
University of Nebraska-Lincoln is located in Lincoln, NE (ZIP 68588-0419).
NCES locale classification: City.
Is University of Nebraska-Lincoln public or private?
University of Nebraska-Lincoln is a Public institution.
How much does University of Nebraska-Lincoln cost?
Published tuition: $10,434 in-state, $28,584 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $17,747.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $12,751 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $13,054 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $14,699 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $18,975 |
| $110,001+ | $22,346 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $41,736.
How hard is it to get into University of Nebraska-Lincoln?
Admission rate: 87.49%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1191 and midpoint ACT 25.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is University of Nebraska-Lincoln?
Total enrollment: 19,178 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 20,501 students.
Graduate enrollment: 4,692 students.
About 96% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at University of Nebraska-Lincoln?
150%-time completion rate: 66.97%.
First-year retention: 86.0%.
What do graduates of University of Nebraska-Lincoln earn?
Median earnings: $47,692 six years after entry; $56,887 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $21,000.
22.77% of students receive Pell grants.
What is University of Nebraska-Lincoln known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Business Administration and Management, General (420 completions)
- Psychology, General (293 completions)
- Finance, General (204 completions)
- Marketing/Marketing Management, General (198 completions)
- Foods, Nutrition, and Wellness Studies, General (168 completions)
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General (167 completions)
- Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication (161 completions)
- Law (155 completions)
- Family and Consumer Economics and Related Services, Other (154 completions)
- Computer Science (139 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is University of Nebraska-Lincoln a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 87.49%; completion rate 66.97%; median earnings $56,887 at 10 years; net price $17,747. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$10,434
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at University of Nebraska-Lincoln was $10,434.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$17,747
2024 Value
In 2024 University of Nebraska-Lincoln had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $17,747.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$70,988 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$17,747 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$41,736 4-Year In-State Tuition
$114,336 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
$14,120 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,100 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$25,654 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$102,616 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Financial Aid by Income Level
22.77% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
32.55% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at University of Nebraska-Lincoln was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for University of Nebraska-Lincoln in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $8,060 | $21,388 | $16,294 |
| 2014 | $8,170 | $22,090 | $16,177 |
| 2015 | $8,367 | $22,534 | $16,705 |
| 2016 | $8,537 | $23,058 | $17,311 |
| 2017 | $8,978 | $24,098 | $17,784 |
| 2018 | $9,242 | $25,038 | $18,086 |
| 2019 | $9,522 | $25,828 | $17,208 |
| 2020 | $9,690 | $26,820 | $17,013 |
| 2021 | $9,872 | $27,002 | $16,764 |
| 2022 | $9,872 | $26,984 | $16,131 |
| 2023 | $10,108 | $27,748 | $17,424 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
87.49% Acceptance Rate
18,354 Total Applicants
14,146 Students Admitted
4,699 First-Time Students Enrolled
33.22% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1191
ACT Average: 25
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.0 - 3.4
Estimated Median GPA: 3.20
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
University of Nebraska-Lincoln reported total enrollment of about 19,178 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 50% male and 50% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (75.5%), Hispanic or Latino (9.6%), and Asian (4.1%). About 22.77% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 22.0% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
95.9% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2024 is 19,178 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 20,501 students. Graduate enrollment is about 4,692 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
86.0%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 75.5%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
49.67% 100% Completion Time
66.97% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 49.67% of students graduating from University of Nebraska-Lincoln completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Business Administration and Management, General: 62% male / 38% female
- Psychology, General: 17% male / 83% female
- Finance, General: 78% male / 22% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Return on Investment
$21,000 Median Student Debt
$56,887 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
36.92% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
701.36% Return on Investment
3.7 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 156 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Business Administration and Management, General: 420 completions
2. Psychology, General: 293 completions
3. Finance, General: 204 completions
4. Marketing/Marketing Management, General: 198 completions
5. Foods, Nutrition, and Wellness Studies, General: 168 completions
6. Biology/Biological Sciences, General: 167 completions
7. Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication: 161 completions
8. Law: 155 completions
9. Family and Consumer Economics and Related Services, Other: 154 completions
Most popular programs at University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for University of Nebraska-Lincoln graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for University of Nebraska-Lincoln from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 85.3%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $12,658
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $13,023
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
University of Nebraska-Lincoln is a public institution located in Lincoln, NE, classified as Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Business Administration and Management, General, Psychology, General, Finance, General. Enrollment is approximately 19,178 students. Student body composition includes White (75.5%), Hispanic or Latino (9.6%), Asian (4.1%). The admission rate is 87.49%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1191. The 150%-time completion rate is 66.97%. Approximately 22.77% of students receive Pell Grants. About 22.0% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Public
Carnegie Classification: Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity
Location
Lincoln, NE 68588-0419
Region: Plains
Insights and Analysis
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 156 distinct degree programs, University of Nebraska-Lincoln provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is University of Nebraska-Lincoln located?
University of Nebraska-Lincoln is located in Lincoln, NE.
What is University of Nebraska-Lincoln's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at University of Nebraska-Lincoln is 87.5% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 18,354 applicants and 14,146 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does University of Nebraska-Lincoln cost?
Reported tuition is $10,434 and average net price is $17,747 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $14,120 annually.
What is the student body demographics at University of Nebraska-Lincoln?
University of Nebraska-Lincoln reports undergraduate enrollment of about 20,501 students, White (75.5%), Hispanic or Latino (9.6%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend University of Nebraska-Lincoln?
About 22.0% of students at University of Nebraska-Lincoln are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for University of Nebraska-Lincoln?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, University of Nebraska-Lincoln reports midpoint SAT about 1191 and midpoint ACT about 25.
What do graduates of University of Nebraska-Lincoln earn?
Median earnings are $47,692 six years after entry and $56,887 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at University of Nebraska-Lincoln?
The 150%-time completion rate is 67.0% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do University of Nebraska-Lincoln students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $21,000.
Is University of Nebraska-Lincoln public or private?
University of Nebraska-Lincoln is a public institution located in Lincoln, NE.
Is University of Nebraska-Lincoln an HBCU?
No. University of Nebraska-Lincoln is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is University of Nebraska-Lincoln a tribal college?
No. University of Nebraska-Lincoln is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Nebraska college profile
- Nebraska college costs
- Nebraska colleges by ROI
- University of Nebraska-Lincoln vs University of Nebraska at Omaha vs Bellevue University
- Lincoln, Nebraska city profile
- Plains regional profile
- Urban (City) college profile
- Campus-setting profiles
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Nebraska
- Nebraska college costs
- Nebraska colleges by ROI
- University of Nebraska-Lincoln vs University of Nebraska at Omaha vs Bellevue University
- Lincoln, Nebraska city profile
- Plains regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Nebraska
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.