University of Nebraska acceptance rate, cost and outcomes
University of Nebraska-Lincoln · Public · Lincoln, NE · 19,338 undergraduates (IPEDS fall 2023)
University of Nebraska admitted 77.1% of applicants for fall 2023, up from 64.0% in 2013. Nebraska residents pay $11,100 in tuition and fees for 2025-26; out-of-state students pay $30,330.
Admit rate, 2013 to 2023
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| Fall | Admit rate | Applicants | Admitted |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 64.0% | 10,929 | 6,999 |
| 2014 | 69.9% | 11,865 | 8,293 |
| 2015 | 76.4% | 9,724 | 7,425 |
| 2016 | 75.3% | 11,193 | 8,425 |
| 2017 | 64.4% | 14,947 | 9,623 |
| 2018 | 79.6% | 14,956 | 11,906 |
| 2019 | 78.2% | 16,829 | 13,165 |
| 2020 | 77.7% | 17,495 | 13,601 |
| 2021 | 81.1% | 17,775 | 14,411 |
| 2022 | 78.6% | 19,102 | 15,022 |
| 2023 | 77.1% | 18,354 | 14,146 |
Applications went from 10,929 in fall 2013 to 18,354 in fall 2023. Admit rate = admitted ÷ applicants. Source: IPEDS fall admissions.1
What families actually pay
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| Family income | Net price / year, 2024-25 |
|---|---|
| $0 to $30,000 | $11,449 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $11,572 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $12,551 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $17,140 |
| Over $110,000 | $21,693 |
| Tuition and fees, in-state (2025-26) | $11,100 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state (2025-26) | $30,330 |
| Cost of attendance (2024-25) | $26,535 |
| Average net price, students with federal aid (2024-25) | $16,214 |
Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants, for first-time full-time students with federal aid paying the in-state rate, 2024-25. Tuition is 2025-26. Source: College Scorecard.2
SAT and ACT
Middle 50% (25th to 75th percentile) of enrolled first-year students who submitted scores: 8% submitted the SAT, 83% the ACT. Source: IPEDS fall 2023.1
Similar public colleges
| College | Admit rate | Tuition and fees |
|---|---|---|
| University of Rhode Island RI | 77.1% | $17,476 in-state |
| Mizzou MO | 77.0% | $15,548 in-state |
| University of Minnesota MN | 77.0% | $18,482 in-state |
Same state and type first, then the nearest admit rate. Fall 2023 and 2025-26 figures.
What the numbers say
Of 18,354 applications for fall 2023, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln admitted 14,146, giving a rate of 77.1%.1 The rate in fall 2013 was 64.0%, so it has risen 13.1 percentage points.1 It has also gone back and forth, with declines in 6 of 10 yearly changes.1 Offers expanded faster than demand over the decade: admitted students are up 102%, from 6,999 to 14,146, against 68% for applications.1
Test scores are optional. Reported middle 50% ranges in 2023 were 550 to 660 on SAT reading and writing, 540 to 670 on SAT math, and 22 to 28 on the ACT.1 Most enrolled students who submitted scores used the ACT, at 83%, compared with 8% for the SAT.1
Nebraska residents pay $11,100 for tuition and fees in 2025-26 and nonresidents pay $30,330.2 For comparison, the median in-state price among the 6 public bachelor's colleges in Nebraska is $8,781.2 After grants, families in the $0 to $30,000 band paid an average of $11,449 in 2024-25, the $48,001 to $75,000 band paid $12,551, and the over $110,000 band paid $21,693.2
For the 2019 entering group, 69% had a degree within 6 years, while the Nebraska median across 19 bachelor's colleges is 59%. Pell grants went to 27% of undergraduates, and 86% of fall 2023 entrants were retained.2 Median earnings were $61,819 10 years after entry, and median debt for borrowers was $19,500.2
Every number on this page, with its source field
| Figure | Value | File, field, year |
|---|---|---|
| Applicants | 18,354 | IPEDS ADM2023, APPLCN, fall 20231 |
| Admitted | 14,146 | IPEDS ADM2023, ADMSSN, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled first-years | 4,699 | IPEDS ADM2023, ENRLT, fall 20231 |
| Undergraduates | 19,338 | IPEDS DRVEF2023, EFUG, fall 20234 |
| Admission policy | Selective (not open admission) | IPEDS IC2023, OPENADMP, 2023-243 |
| Test policy | Test-optional | IPEDS ADM2023, ADMCON7, fall 20231 |
| SAT reading/writing, 25th percentile | 550 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATVR25, fall 20231 |
| SAT reading/writing, 75th percentile | 660 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATVR75, fall 20231 |
| SAT math, 25th percentile | 540 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATMT25, fall 20231 |
| SAT math, 75th percentile | 670 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATMT75, fall 20231 |
| ACT composite, 25th percentile | 22 | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTCM25, fall 20231 |
| ACT composite, 75th percentile | 28 | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTCM75, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled students submitting SAT | 8% | IPEDS ADM2023, SATPCT, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled students submitting ACT | 83% | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTPCT, fall 20231 |
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $11,100 | College Scorecard, TUITIONFEE_IN, 2025-262 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state | $30,330 | College Scorecard, TUITIONFEE_OUT, 2025-262 |
| Cost of attendance | $26,535 | College Scorecard, COSTT4_A, 2024-252 |
| Average net price, students with federal aid | $16,214 | College Scorecard, NPT4_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $0 to $30,000 | $11,449 | College Scorecard, NPT41_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $30,001 to $48,000 | $11,572 | College Scorecard, NPT42_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $48,001 to $75,000 | $12,551 | College Scorecard, NPT43_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $75,001 to $110,000 | $17,140 | College Scorecard, NPT44_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income over $110,000 | $21,693 | College Scorecard, NPT45_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Graduation rate within 6 years | 69% | College Scorecard, C150_4, 2019 entrants2 |
| First-year retention | 86% | College Scorecard, RET_FT4, fall 2023 entrants2 |
| Undergraduates with a Pell grant | 27% | College Scorecard, PCTPELL, 2024-252 |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $61,819 | College Scorecard, MD_EARN_WNE_P10, 2022-232 |
| Median federal debt of graduates | $19,500 | College Scorecard, GRAD_DEBT_MDN, FY2024-252 |
| Median in-state tuition and fees, public colleges, Nebraska (N = 6) | $8,781 | College Scorecard, median TUITIONFEE_IN, public bachelor's institutions, 2025-262 |
| Median graduation rate within 6 years, Nebraska (N = 19) | 59% | College Scorecard, median C150_4, bachelor's institutions, 2019 entrants2 |
Sources
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS admissions files, fall 2013 to fall 2023 (IC2013, ADM2014, ADM2015, ADM2016, ADM2017, ADM2018, ADM2019, ADM2020, ADM2021, ADM2022, ADM2023). Checked 26 Oct 2026.
- U.S. Department of Education: College Scorecard, Most Recent Institution-Level Data (Most-Recent-Cohorts-Institution (release of 15 Oct 2026)). Data years: 2019 entrants, 2022-23, 2024-25, 2025-26, FY2024-25, fall 2023 entrants. Checked 25 Oct 2026.
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS Institutional Characteristics 2023-24 (IC2023.zip). Data years: 2023-24. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS Fall Enrollment, derived variables, fall 2023 (DRVEF2023.zip). Data years: 2023. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
AdmitFacts is not affiliated with University of Nebraska, the U.S. Department of Education or NCES. Missing values are shown as Not reported, never estimated. The file field behind each figure is listed under "Every number on this page". How we build each page