University of Nebraska
Lincoln, NE
80%
Acceptance Rate
$10,610
Avg Cost (In-State)
$27,710
Avg Cost (Out-of-State)
72%
Graduation Rate
25,108
Total Enrollment
Popular programs
Application requirements
Regular Deadline
May 1
Common App
Yes
Test Policy
Test Optional
Essays Required
0
Letters of Rec
0
Application Fee
$45
Interview
Not required
Essays: No essay required for admission, though optional personal statement accepted
Requirements are AI-generated from public data and may change. Always verify directly with the college.
Getting there
Graduate outcomes
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
$43,241
Median Earnings at 6 Years
median graduate salary 6 years after starting
$50,105
Median Earnings at 10 Years
median graduate salary 10 years after starting
59%
4-Year Graduation Rate
students completing degree within 4 years
Earnings data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Figures reflect federal aid recipients only — actual median earnings may be higher at schools where many students receive grants rather than loans.
What current students say
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Tactics that apply here
Things you can do that most families don't know about.
Early Action priority deadlines unlock the biggest merit pools
~$15k valueAt many public universities, applying by the EA deadline (Nov 1) instead of regular (Feb 1) decides whether you're considered for the top merit awards.
Who it helps: Students with their applications ready by November of senior year, especially those targeting merit-rich publics.
How to use: List each target school's EA deadline (commonly Nov 1, sometimes Oct 15 or Dec 1). Submit complete applications + test scores by then. Confirm merit-scholarship deadlines separately — some require a different priority date or supplemental essay.
Source ↗File FAFSA the day it opens
~$5k valueMost schools award state and institutional aid first-come-first-served from a fixed pool. Filing FAFSA in October beats filing in February by thousands.
Who it helps: Every student applying for need-based aid, but especially families relying on state grants or institutional aid.
How to use: Set a calendar reminder for the FAFSA opening date (currently Oct 1 most years; Dec 1 in the 2024-25 transition year). Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to auto-fill tax info. Submit even if you have to estimate; corrections are easy.
Source ↗CSS Profile is required by 200+ private schools — separate from FAFSA
Most selective private colleges use the CSS Profile in addition to FAFSA. It costs $25 + $16/school and reaches deeper into family finances than FAFSA does.
Who it helps: Any student applying to a private 4-year with significant institutional aid needs.
How to use: Check the CSS Profile school list for each of your target colleges. Open the app at cssprofile.collegeboard.org as soon as it opens (early Oct). Submit ahead of each school's earliest priority date — often before the FAFSA deadline.
Source ↗Scholarships
Scholarships you may qualify for.
Nebraska Susan T. Buffett Scholarship
Full tuition + fees at NE publics
stateNE residents with financial need + academic record; significant Pell-pipeline award.
Deadline: March
Learn more ↗Nebraska Lincoln Susan T. Buffett Scholarship (UNL portion)
Full tuition + fees + book stipend
universityTop in-state Nebraska students with academic merit + financial need at UNL.
Deadline: FAFSA + admission
Learn more ↗Nebraska Career Scholarship
Up to $8,000/year
stateNE HS grads pursuing high-demand careers at NE public colleges.
Deadline: Through enrolled institution
Learn more ↗Buffett Scholarship (Susie Thompson Buffett)
Up to $20,000/year (renewable)
nationalNE HS seniors at any NE 2-yr or 4-yr institution with financial need.
Deadline: Through Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation
Learn more ↗Nebraska Lincoln Chancellor's Leadership Class
Full tuition + leadership programming
universityTop UNL freshmen via competitive process.
Deadline: December 1
Learn more ↗Nebraska Opportunity Grant
Need-based; varies by institution
stateNE residents at NE postsecondary institutions with Pell-eligible need.
Deadline: FAFSA by April 1
Learn more ↗Nebraska FFA Foundation Scholarship
$500-$2,500
stateNebraska FFA members pursuing ag-related higher ed.
Deadline: February
Learn more ↗Creighton Presidential Scholarship
Full tuition
universityTop Creighton incoming freshmen via competitive process.
Deadline: December 1
Learn more ↗Nebraska Lincoln Regents Scholarship
Resident tuition (in-state cost) for OOS students
universityOOS students with 30+ ACT/1390+ SAT + 3.5 GPA. Automatic — reduces OOS to in-state rate.
Deadline: January 15
Learn more ↗Class profile
Who actually goes here.
From the most recent Common Data Set and IPEDS.
21.0%
% Pell-eligible
Federal Pell grant recipients
21.0%
% first-generation
First in family to attend college
75.0%
% in-state
Residents of the college's home state
14.0%
% URM
Black, Hispanic/Latino, Native combined
50.0%
Yield rate
Share of admitted students who enroll
81.0%
1st-to-2nd year retention
Freshmen who return as sophomores
65.0%
6-year grad rate
Graduate within 150% normal time
Demonstrated interest
Not considered
Visits, info sessions and opening emails don't move the needle here.
Peer colleges
Similar colleges to consider.
Similar selectivity
Indiana University
Bloomington, IN
80% acceptance
Both admit around 80% of applicants, with 47k undergrads and a c campus — a close selectivity match.
University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL
80% acceptance
Both admit around 80% of applicants, with 39k undergrads and a c campus — a close selectivity match.
University of New Hampshire
Durham, NH
80% acceptance
Both admit around 80% of applicants, with 15k undergrads and a c campus — a close selectivity match.
Cheaper alternatives
Youngstown State University
Youngstown, OH
84.5% acceptance
Similar selectivity (85% vs 80%) but out-of-state cost runs $11k — meaningfully less than $28k.
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Carbondale, IL
86.9% acceptance
Similar selectivity (87% vs 80%) but out-of-state cost runs $13k — meaningfully less than $28k.
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, MI
89.8% acceptance
Similar selectivity (90% vs 80%) but out-of-state cost runs $15k — meaningfully less than $28k.
Reaches above this college
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, WI
45.2% acceptance
Same c setting in the Midwest, but more selective (45% vs 80%) — a stretch target if University of Nebraska is already on your list.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL
42.4% acceptance
Same c setting in the Midwest, but more selective (42% vs 80%) — a stretch target if University of Nebraska is already on your list.
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI
17.7% acceptance
Same c setting in the Midwest, but more selective (18% vs 80%) — a stretch target if University of Nebraska is already on your list.
Safer alternatives
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, IA
92.7% acceptance
Same c setting in the Midwest, but higher admit rate (93% vs 80%) — a likelier admit with a similar feel.
University of Kansas
Lawrence, KS
93.5% acceptance
Same c setting in the Midwest, but higher admit rate (94% vs 80%) — a likelier admit with a similar feel.
North Dakota State University-Main Campus
Fargo, ND
95% acceptance
Same c setting in the Midwest, but higher admit rate (95% vs 80%) — a likelier admit with a similar feel.
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