Colleges › Nebraska › University of Nebraska-Lincoln

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

University of Nebraska-Lincoln reports 19,178 undergraduates in Lincoln, NE. Its federal reporting group is labeled University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The federal record identifies it as a land-grant institution.

Check the campus and reporting scope

University of Nebraska-Lincoln · Lincoln, Nebraska · Federal institution ID (UNITID): 181464.

Debt and earnings figures are shared across campuses in the federal reporting group (University of Nebraska-Lincoln).

Shared outcomes cannot rank campuses. Reporting-group definitions.

Compare this school Find colleges

What could it cost?

Start with net price after grants, then read the published costs. Each chart names its academic year and the students it covers.

Net price by family income

key chart

Average annual cost after grants for each family-income band. These group averages are not personal price quotes.

IPEDS Income brackets, 2022–23

family-income band

$11,899

family income
under $30k

$12,714

$30–48k

$15,125

$48–75k

$19,953

$75–110k

$22,012

over $110k

Average net price

$17,7472023–24Skip to data table

Average annual attendance cost after grants for the reported student group. Your own aid offer and costs may differ.

Average net price at University of Nebraska-Lincoln rose from $13,461 (2008) to $17,747 (2023).

Average net price — data
Year	Net price
2008	$13,461
2009	$13,442
2010	$14,060
2011	$15,153
2012	$16,294
2013	$16,177
2014	$16,705
2015	$17,311
2016	$17,784
2017	$18,086
2018	$17,208
2019	$17,013
2020	$16,764
2021	$16,131
2022	$17,424
2023	$17,747

IPEDS 16 federal reports, 2008–2023

Total cost of attendance

$26,6972024–25Skip to data table

Estimated annual attendance budget before grants, including tuition, fees, housing, food and books. Not every expense is billed by the school.

Total cost at University of Nebraska-Lincoln rose from $17,111 (2009) to $26,697 (2024).

Total cost of attendance — data
Year	Cost
2009	$17,111
2010	$17,864
2011	$18,698
2012	$19,592
2013	$21,024
2014	$21,286
2015	$21,758
2016	$22,535
2017	$23,278
2018	$23,936
2019	$23,703
2020	$24,400
2021	$24,616
2022	$24,612
2023	$25,341
2024	$26,697

IPEDS Academic-year cost 2009–2024

Tuition (in-state vs out-of-state)

Skip to data table

Published tuition and fees before grants. Housing, food, books and other attendance costs are separate.

In-stateOut-of-state

Tuition — data
Year	In-state	Out-of-state
2000	$3,522	$8,277
2001	$3,830	$9,432
2002	$4,125	$10,718
2003	$4,771	$12,353
2004	$5,268	$13,758
2005	$5,540	$14,450
2006	$5,867	$15,317
2007	$6,216	$16,236
2008	$6,584	$17,204
2013	$8,060	$21,388
2014	$8,170	$22,090
2015	$8,367	$22,534
2016	$8,537	$23,058
2017	$8,978	$24,098
2018	$9,242	$25,038
2019	$9,522	$25,828
2020	$9,690	$26,820
2021	$9,872	$27,002
2022	$9,872	$26,984
2023	$10,108	$27,748

IPEDS Published price 2000–01 to 2023–24 (not adjusted for inflation)

Cost, size & completion summary

Cost, size & completion

University of Nebraska-Lincoln reports published tuition by residency: $10,434 in-state versus $28,584 out-of-state — a $18,150 gap that makes state lines part of the decision. Scorecard snapshot: 2026-06-10; historical charts show their own years.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln reports 19,178 undergraduates. This total does not establish class sizes for a particular subject.

67% of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants completed at University of Nebraska-Lincoln within six years (2026-06-10 release). This measure excludes other student groups.

Do students finish — and what comes after?

Graduation, debt and earnings cover different groups. Read each chart's entering class or fiscal period; they are not one group's journey.

Six-year graduation rate

key chart

67%entered Fall 2018Skip to data table

The share of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants who completed at this institution within six years. Other students are not included.

The six-year graduation rate at University of Nebraska-Lincoln rose from 46.7% (entered 1991) to 67% (entered 2018).

A six-year rate can only describe a class that entered six or more years ago — by definition the last point on the line is that old.

Six-year graduation rate — data
Year	Graduated within 6 yrs
1991 cohort	46.7%
1992 cohort	46.5%
1993 cohort	44.9%
1994 cohort	50.5%
1995 cohort	53.3%
1996 cohort	54.4%
1997 cohort	59.5%
1998 cohort	61.6%
1999 cohort	63.4%
2000 cohort	62.2%
2001 cohort	63.4%
2002 cohort	63.7%
2003 cohort	63.1%
2004 cohort	64.2%
2005 cohort	66.7%
2006 cohort	64.6%
2007 cohort	66.8%
2008 cohort	66.8%
2009 cohort	67%
2010 cohort	66.6%
2011 cohort	68%
2012 cohort	68.7%
2013 cohort	65.5%
2014 cohort	66%
2015 cohort	66.4%
2016 cohort	64.9%
2017 cohort	65.8%
2018 cohort	67%

IPEDS Entering cohorts 1991–2018

Median debt at exit (completers vs non-completers)

Historical student groups

key chart

Skip to data table

Median federal student loan debt when students left school, shown separately for those who completed and those who did not.

CompletedLeft without degree

Each point combines two years. Neighboring points share one year, so changes should be read with that overlap in mind.

These two-year windows closed before today's students borrowed — they describe past cohorts, not the current price of a degree.

Debt and earnings figures are shared across campuses in the federal reporting group (University of Nebraska-Lincoln).

Median debt at exit — data
Year	Completed	Left without degree
Left school in fiscal years 1997 and 1998 (FY1997/98)	$13,368	$3,873
Left school in fiscal years 1998 and 1999 (FY1998/99)	$14,250	$3,711
Left school in fiscal years 1999 and 2000 (FY1999/00)	$14,923	$3,500
Left school in fiscal years 2000 and 2001 (FY2000/01)	$15,774	$3,500
Left school in fiscal years 2001 and 2002 (FY2001/02)	$15,488	$3,500
Left school in fiscal years 2002 and 2003 (FY2002/03)	$15,140	$3,874
Left school in fiscal years 2003 and 2004 (FY2003/04)	$15,785	$3,500
Left school in fiscal years 2004 and 2005 (FY2004/05)	$16,000	$3,500
Left school in fiscal years 2005 and 2006 (FY2005/06)	$15,750	$3,750
Left school in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 (FY2006/07)	$15,429	$3,500
Left school in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 (FY2007/08)	$15,625	$3,500
Left school in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 (FY2008/09)	$15,750	$4,875
Left school in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 (FY2009/10)	$16,500	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2010 and 2011 (FY2010/11)	$18,250	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 (FY2011/12)	$19,966	$5,986
Left school in fiscal years 2012 and 2013 (FY2012/13)	$21,001	$6,500
Left school in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 (FY2013/14)	$21,500	$6,500
Left school in fiscal years 2014 and 2015 (FY2014/15)	$21,500	$7,000
Left school in fiscal years 2015 and 2016 (FY2015/16)	$21,533	$7,000
Left school in fiscal years 2016 and 2017 (FY2016/17)	$21,788	$7,500
Left school in fiscal years 2017 and 2018 (FY2017/18)	$21,000	$6,500
Left school in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 (FY2018/19)	$21,250	$6,500
Left school in fiscal years 2019 and 2020 (FY2019/20)	$21,362	$6,500
Left school in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (FY2020/21)	$21,000	$6,750

NSLDS GRAD_DEBT_MDN / WDRAW_DEBT_MDN, merged FY periods · via College Scorecard

Earnings after entry

Historical student groups

Median annual earnings after entering college, for federally aided students who were working and not enrolled when measured.

Entered: academic years 2013–14 or 2014–15

$47,692

6 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2011–12 or 2012–13

$53,022

8 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2009–10 or 2010–11

$56,887

10 years after entry

Each figure covers a different group of students who entered college in the stated years. Earnings were measured in the same two years; these are not one group followed over time.

Measured in 2020–21, adjusted for inflation to 2022 dollars. Each figure pools two entering academic years. Debt and earnings figures are shared across campuses in the federal reporting group (University of Nebraska-Lincoln).

Treasury Pooled entering cohorts · Scorecard 2020–21 historical file

What does the admissions record show?

Rates and score ranges describe a past admissions cycle. Submitted scores are not cutoffs or a prediction of admission.

Admissions snapshot & test policies

University of Nebraska-Lincoln admitted 15,609 of 17,841 applicants in Fall 2024. The 87.5% rate describes that application pool.

87.5%

acceptance rate · Fall 2024 admissions cycle

rate trend $10,108 in-state tuition · 2023–24 19,178 undergraduates · Fall 2024

Test-optional (considered) · Fall 2024

400SAT range (section 25th/75th sums): 1098–13301600

Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →

Admissions

University of Nebraska-Lincoln reported scores as considered but not required for the Fall 2024 admissions cycle. For University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s enrolled SAT submitters, Reading and Writing was 560–670 and Math was 538–660 (25th–75th percentiles). The section-percentile sums 1098–1330 are not composite-score percentiles. These are not admission cutoffs.

Check current requirements with admissions.

Score	25th	50th	75th
SAT Reading & Writing	560	610	670
SAT Math	538	590	660
ACT Composite	22	24	28

25th / 75th: a quarter of enrolled submitters scored below the first number, a quarter above the second. These are not cutoffs.

Only students who submitted scores are counted — at test-optional schools, many enrolled students aren't in this table.

Percentiles are among enrolled students who submitted scores (Fall 2024 admissions cycle).

In the Fall 2024 cycle, University of Nebraska-Lincoln received 17,841 applications and admitted 15,609 (87.5%), with 4,650 enrolling.

Acceptance rate

87.5%Fall 2024Skip to data table

The share of applicants offered a spot — lower means more selective; read it alongside the score ranges below.

Acceptance rate — data
Year	Acceptance rate
Fall 2001	90.5%
Fall 2002	89.6%
Fall 2003	78.3%
Fall 2004	74.5%
Fall 2005	75.4%
Fall 2006	73.3%
Fall 2007	62.3%
Fall 2008	63%
Fall 2009	62.9%
Fall 2010	62.3%
Fall 2011	59.3%
Fall 2012	64.4%
Fall 2013	64%
Fall 2014	69.9%
Fall 2015	76.4%
Fall 2016	75.3%
Fall 2017	64.4%
Fall 2018	79.6%
Fall 2019	78.2%
Fall 2020	77.7%
Fall 2021	81.1%
Fall 2022	78.6%
Fall 2023	77.1%
Fall 2024	87.5%

IPEDS Fall cycles 2001–2024

SAT range (section sums, 25th–75th)

1098–1330Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

Sums of the reading/writing and math percentiles among enrolled submitters — not percentiles of total SAT scores or admission cutoffs.

SAT range (section sums) — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	1020	1290
Fall 2002	1020	1300
Fall 2003	1020	1300
Fall 2004	1040	1300
Fall 2005	1070	1330
Fall 2006	1040	1320
Fall 2007	1030	1320
Fall 2008	1040	1340
Fall 2009	1040	1350
Fall 2010	1040	1320
Fall 2011	1030	1330
Fall 2012	1050	1340
Fall 2013	1010	1330
Fall 2014	1020	1300
Fall 2015	1000	1290
Fall 2016	990	1280
Fall 2017	1100	1380
Fall 2018	1130	1360
Fall 2019	1120	1360
Fall 2020	1110	1320
Fall 2021	1090	1320
Fall 2022	1110	1340
Fall 2023	1090	1330
Fall 2024	1098	1330

IPEDS Fall 2001–2024, submitters only

ACT middle 50%

22–28Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

The middle half of enrolled ACT submitters, using published composite-score percentiles — not admission cutoffs.

ACT middle 50% — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	21	27
Fall 2002	21	27
Fall 2003	21	27
Fall 2004	22	28
Fall 2005	22	28
Fall 2006	22	28
Fall 2007	22	28
Fall 2008	22	28
Fall 2009	22	29
Fall 2010	22	28
Fall 2011	22	28
Fall 2012	22	29
Fall 2013	22	28
Fall 2014	22	28
Fall 2015	22	28
Fall 2016	22	28
Fall 2017	22	29
Fall 2018	22	29
Fall 2019	22	28
Fall 2020	22	28
Fall 2021	22	28
Fall 2022	22	28
Fall 2023	22	28
Fall 2024	22	28

IPEDS Fall 2001–2024, submitters only

What is the campus like?

Enrollment counts a campus population; retention follows first-years returning. Their dates and populations are shown separately.

Undergraduate enrollment

19,178Fall 2024Skip to data table

Reported undergraduate enrollment. This count does not measure class size or teaching access.

Undergraduate enrollment at University of Nebraska-Lincoln has wandered from Fall 2002 to Fall 2024 — up to 20,954 at the peak — but ends near where it began, at 19,178.

Undergraduate enrollment — data
Year	Undergraduates
Fall 2002	18,105
Fall 2003	17,708
Fall 2004	17,137
Fall 2005	17,037
Fall 2006	17,371
Fall 2007	18,053
Fall 2008	18,526
Fall 2009	18,955
Fall 2010	19,383
Fall 2011	19,345
Fall 2012	19,103
Fall 2013	19,376
Fall 2014	19,979
Fall 2015	20,182
Fall 2016	20,833
Fall 2017	20,954
Fall 2018	20,592
Fall 2019	20,252
Fall 2020	20,128
Fall 2021	19,448
Fall 2022	19,097
Fall 2023	18,887
Fall 2024	19,178

IPEDS Fall headcounts 2002–2024

First-year retention (full-time)

86%Fall 2023 cohortSkip to data table

The share of the reported first-time student group who returned the following year. This rate does not explain why others left.

First-year retention at University of Nebraska-Lincoln has held near 86% from Fall 2002 to Fall 2023.

First-year retention — data
Year	Retention
Fall 2002 cohort	80%
Fall 2003 cohort	79%
Fall 2004 cohort	84%
Fall 2005 cohort	84%
Fall 2006 cohort	83%
Fall 2007 cohort	84%
Fall 2008 cohort	84%
Fall 2009 cohort	84%
Fall 2010 cohort	84%
Fall 2011 cohort	84%
Fall 2012 cohort	84%
Fall 2013 cohort	84%
Fall 2014 cohort	83%
Fall 2015 cohort	82%
Fall 2016 cohort	83%
Fall 2017 cohort	83%
Fall 2018 cohort	81%
Fall 2019 cohort	85%
Fall 2020 cohort	80%
Fall 2021 cohort	82%
Fall 2022 cohort	84%
Fall 2023 cohort	86%

IPEDS Full-time cohorts 2002–2023

More about University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Faculty pay at University of Nebraska-Lincoln averages $151,896 a year, annualized from reported monthly pay. Carnegie classes University of Nebraska-Lincoln as a primarily residential campus of 19,178 undergraduates — and 86% of the reported first-time, full-time student group returned for a second year.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln's SAT section-percentile sums are 1098–1330 — their midpoint is above the NE four-year benchmark. These are not total-score percentiles. Put your own practice estimate on University of Nebraska-Lincoln's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.

Why some charts are marked “key chart”

key chart

Start with three useful questions: what costs were reported for families in your income band, how many first-time full-time students finished, and what federal debt borrowers held when leaving.

How University of Nebraska-Lincoln compares

State and national medians cover active bachelor-primary institutions, mixing public and private schools. Tuition uses in-state rates at public schools. These are broad reference points, not a ranking of similar schools or your likely bill.

Scorecard dates identify the release snapshot, not a shared measurement year. Earnings describe federally aided students who were working and not enrolled ten years after entry; cohorts and populations differ from the admissions and tuition figures.

Acceptance rate

Fall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS

University of Nebraska-Lincoln87.5%

Nebraska median79.8%

National median76.8%

Tuition (in-state)

Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid

University of Nebraska-Lincoln$10,434

Nebraska median$20,640

National median$19,591

Median earnings (10 yr)

Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot

University of Nebraska-Lincoln's snapshot: calendar years and dollar basis unverified.

Debt and earnings figures are shared across campuses in the federal reporting group (University of Nebraska-Lincoln).

University of Nebraska-Lincoln reporting group (shared)$56,887

Nebraska median$53,909

National median$53,781

View comparison data & dates

University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Nebraska and national reference values
Metric & basis	University of Nebraska-Lincoln	Nebraska median	National median
Acceptance rateFall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS	87.5%	79.8%	76.8%
Tuition (in-state)Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid	$10,434	$20,640	$19,591
Median earnings (10 yr)Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot	$56,887Shared group value	$53,909	$53,781

Published earnings by bachelor's field of study

For University of Nebraska-Lincoln, these are federal subject groups (CIP), not departments. Median is the middle annual income.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln federal-aid recipients · graduated 2017–18 or 2018–19 · income measured 2022 or 2023 · inflation-adjusted to 2024 dollars. Definitions and limits.

View 56 fields & earnings

Bachelor's field of study (CIP category)	Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion
Computer and Information Sciences, General	$116,221
Computer Engineering	$103,934
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering	$100,972
Agricultural Engineering	$96,908
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods	$96,087
Mechanical Engineering	$88,972
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician	$88,628
Chemical Engineering	$88,067
Business/Managerial Economics	$83,175
Civil Engineering	$81,620
Mathematics	$79,251
Accounting and Related Services	$78,760
Finance and Financial Management Services	$77,504
Biological/Biosystems Engineering	$76,741
Economics	$75,784
Marketing	$74,165
Agricultural Mechanization	$74,003
Physics	$71,752
Business Administration, Management and Operations	$67,918
Agricultural Business and Management	$65,312
Biology, General	$64,930
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology	$64,521
Political Science and Government	$63,466
Architecture	$62,700
Interior Architecture	$62,201
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology	$62,095
Plant Sciences	$61,946
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication	$61,145
Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services	$61,092
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services	$60,420
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics	$60,001
Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services	$59,376
Communication and Media Studies	$59,017
Security Science and Technology	$58,037
Criminal Justice and Corrections	$57,236
International/Globalization Studies	$54,106
Hospitality Administration/Management	$53,777
Journalism	$53,618
Agriculture, General	$52,997
Apparel and Textiles	$51,654
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas	$51,293
Psychology, General	$49,965
Animal Sciences	$49,193
English Language and Literature, General	$48,785
Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies	$48,305
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods	$48,046
Music	$47,990
History	$47,944
Special Education and Teaching	$47,592
Anthropology	$47,485
Natural Resources Conservation and Research	$46,817
Sociology	$45,674
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft	$44,825
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies	$42,635
Fine and Studio Arts	$41,549
Classical and Ancient Studies	$40,615

These 56 fields listed for University of Nebraska-Lincoln measure earnings after completion. The $56,887 institution-level snapshot above measures earnings after entry; it is not the same cohort or a total for these fields. 40 additional University of Nebraska-Lincoln fields have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules. Debt and earnings figures are shared across campuses in the federal reporting group (University of Nebraska-Lincoln).

Frequently asked questions

What test-score data does University of Nebraska-Lincoln report?

University of Nebraska-Lincoln's enrolled submitters had SAT section-percentile sums of 1098–1330 in Fall 2024. These are not total-score percentiles or a GPA requirement.

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

87.5% in the Fall 2024 cycle — 15,609 admitted from 17,841 applicants.

How much does University of Nebraska-Lincoln cost?

In-state tuition is $10,434; out-of-state students pay $28,584. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.

What earnings data does University of Nebraska-Lincoln report?

Median earnings ten years after entry: $56,887. Major figures measure four years after completion. Source and date limits.

Similar colleges in Nebraska

University of Nebraska at Omaha — 87% admitted
University of Nebraska at Kearney — 89.5% admitted
Union Adventist University — 100% admitted
Doane University — 98% admitted

Run your own numbers

Data: IPEDS ADM2024 (Fall 2024 admissions, provisional) · IPEDS HD2024/IC2024 directory · College Scorecard 2026-06-10 release (institution and field-of-study files; earnings from Treasury records). Retrieved 2026-09-01. Chart dates follow this institution's available observations; the release date is not an academic year or an earnings year. Some records end earlier than others. Field-of-study cohort dates are shown with the table. Read the date and population definitions.