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University of Nebraska-Lincoln
University of Nebraska-Lincoln admits nearly everyone — 87.5% of applicants. A feature, not a flaw: the page below asks whether University of Nebraska-Lincoln is worth attending, not whether you'll get in.
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University of Nebraska-Lincoln sits in Lincoln proper — a public campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it. It carries a land-grant charter — the 1862 mandate that ties it to agricultural and practical education.
Its highest-earning path is Computer and Information Sciences, General, where graduates median $116,221 four years out. Faculty pay averages $151,896 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. With 19,178 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 86% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1090 and 1330 — above the NE middle for four-year schools. 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.
Admissions
University of Nebraska-Lincoln is test-optional: scores are considered when submitted but not required. The 1090–1330 range below describes admitted students who chose to submit — typically University of Nebraska-Lincoln's stronger testers — so treat it as the higher end of what gets in.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 550 | 600 | 660 |
| SAT Math | 540 | 600 | 670 |
| ACT Composite | 22 | 24 | 28 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
In the Fall 2023 cycle, University of Nebraska-Lincoln received 18,354 applications and admitted 14,146 (77.1%), with 4,699 enrolling.
How University of Nebraska-Lincoln compares
| University of Nebraska-Lincoln | Nebraska median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 87.5% | 79.8% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $10,434 | $20,640 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $56,887 | $53,909 | $53,781 |
Ten years after enrolling, the median University of Nebraska-Lincoln student earns $56,887 — 6% above the Nebraska median of $53,909 for college-goers.
Cost, size & completion
As a public university, University of Nebraska-Lincoln prices by residency: $10,434 in-state versus $28,584 out-of-state — a $18,150 gap that makes state lines part of the decision.
19,178 undergraduates make University of Nebraska-Lincoln a large campus: broad course catalogs and big intro lectures come as a package.
67% graduate within six years. Roughly 33% don't — ask a University of Nebraska-Lincoln tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
| Bachelor's program | 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 |
Median earnings for these 56 University of Nebraska-Lincoln programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $56,887 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 40 additional University of Nebraska-Lincoln programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for University of Nebraska-Lincoln?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1090–1330 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 87.5% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is University of Nebraska-Lincoln's acceptance rate?
77.1% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 14,146 admitted from 18,354 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 do University of Nebraska-Lincoln graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $56,887 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
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: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.