University of Nebraska–Lincoln
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln is the public land-grant flagship of Nebraska, anchoring the state capital with about 19,200 undergraduates and a Big Ten research profile rooted in agriculture, engineering, and journalism. Admission is accessible: roughly 88% of applicants are admitted, and enrolled first-years carry an average high school GPA around 3.54 with a middle-50% ACT of 21–28. UNL reviews applications on academic credentials alone — grades, course rigor, class rank, and (optional) test scores — and does not factor in essays, recommendations, or state residency. Business and marketing is the most popular field at about 22% of bachelor's degrees, and low resident tuition plus automatic merit scholarships keep it among the more affordable flagships in the region.
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Nebraska admissions statistics
Acceptance Rate
Total applicants, admitted students, and enrolled students for the most recent admission cycle.
Early Admissions
Nebraska does not offer an Early Decision or Early Action plan; all applicants apply through Regular Decision.
Standardized Tests
Nebraska is currently test-optional — you may apply without submitting scores.
SAT Accepted?
ACT Accepted?
Test Optional?
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Class Rank
Where Nebraska's enrolled first-years placed in their high school graduating class.
Based on the 41% of enrolled students who reported a class rank. Nebraska does not publish an average GPA.
Admissions Factors
How Nebraska weighs each part of your application.
Rigor of High School Record
Academic GPA
Standardized Test Scores
Application Essay
Recommendations
Extracurricular Activities
Character / Personal Qualities
Talent / Ability
First Generation
Level of Applicant's Interest
Class Rank
Volunteer Work
Work Experience
Geographical Residence
State Residency
Alumni Relation
Racial / Ethnic Status
Religious Affiliation
Cost of Attendance
Estimated full-time annual cost from Nebraska's Common Data Set. Only tuition changes with residency.
Out-of-state students pay $19,230 more — entirely in tuition. Room, board, and other costs are identical regardless of residency.
Financial Aid
Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.
Major Distribution
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student Diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
Student-Faculty Ratio
The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.
Campus Life
On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.
Enrollment by Gender
Since some students did not report gender, totals may not fully reflect the student body.
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Frequently asked questions about Nebraska admissions
Is it hard to get into Nebraska?＋
No, Nebraska is not hard to get into. UNL admitted about 88% of applicants in the most recent cycle, taking roughly 16,400 of 18,600 applicants. Admission turns almost entirely on your academic record, so meeting the GPA and course-rigor bar gives most in-state and out-of-state applicants a strong chance.
What GPA do you need to get into Nebraska?＋
Aim for a high-B average or better. Enrolled first-years averaged a 3.54 high school GPA, and roughly half of UNL's class carried a 3.5 or above. There is no published hard cutoff, but academic GPA, class rank, and the rigor of your courses are the factors UNL weighs most, so strong grades in a solid schedule matter more than anything else in your file.
What ACT or SAT score do you need for Nebraska?＋
Nebraska is test-optional, so scores are not required. Among enrolled first-years who submitted, the middle 50% scored 21–28 on the ACT and 1070–1310 on the SAT. A 25 ACT or 1200 SAT lands you right around the median of admitted students; the ACT is far more common here, with 81% of the class submitting ACT scores versus 7% SAT.
What are my chances of getting into Nebraska from out of state?＋
Strong, because UNL does not consider state residency in admission. Nebraska lists both state residency and geographical residence as 'not considered,' so out-of-state applicants are judged on the same academic standards as Nebraska residents — GPA, course rigor, class rank, and optional test scores. The main difference shows up in price, not your odds of admission.
How much does Nebraska cost for out-of-state students?＋
Out-of-state tuition and required fees run about $30,330 a year, compared with roughly $11,100 for Nebraska residents. UNL is generous with aid: about 53% of first-years receive need-based grants averaging near $11,938, the university meets about 79% of demonstrated need, and admitted students are automatically considered for merit scholarships that narrow the resident-vs-nonresident gap.
Does the essay matter at Nebraska?＋
No. Nebraska's Common Data Set lists the application essay, recommendations, and extracurricular activities as 'not considered,' so UNL admits on academic credentials alone. If you also apply to schools that do read essays, a specific, well-revised essay still matters there — but it carries no weight in a UNL admission decision.
What are the most popular majors at Nebraska?＋
Business and marketing is the largest field at about 22% of bachelor's degrees, followed by engineering at 10% and communication and journalism at 8%. As a land-grant flagship, UNL is also known for agriculture and natural resources, education, and the biological sciences, which round out its most-awarded programs.
Is the University of Nebraska–Lincoln a good school?＋
Nebraska is a Big Ten public research university and the state's flagship, with particular strength in agriculture, engineering, and journalism. It retains about 86% of first-years into year two and graduates roughly 69% within six years, and its combination of low resident tuition and automatic merit scholarships makes it one of the better values among Midwestern flagships.
Source: University of Nebraska–Lincoln Common Data Set 2025-2026. Figures transcribed 2026-06-10. In-State Cost and Out-of-State Cost are from the 2024-2025 edition. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with Nebraska. Banner photo by Hanyou23, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).