University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Lincoln, Nebraska · Public · 19,178 undergraduates · unl.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test optional
Sending scores is your choice
Admit rate
88%
of 18,648 applicants
SAT (middle 50%)
1070 to 1310
of enrolled freshmen
Annual cost (2027-28)
$29,770Est.Estimate
$50,570 out of state
Your chances and merit aid at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
See where you stand for admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
88% of applicants admitted
Target
Your SAT is inside the range where the middle half of enrolled freshmen scored, and your GPA is in the middle half of freshmen's.
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$50,570
a year in 2027-28, from a $50,570 sticker price (out of state)
What to do with your 1190
Send your score
About 30% of freshmen here didn't send a score. We estimate their typical SAT at about 1000, and yours is above it.
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test optional
You choose whether to send an SAT or ACT score. If you send one, it's considered.
Source: First-Year | Undergraduate Office of Admissions | University of Nebraska-Lincoln · Checked October 16, 2026
Application deadlines
- Nov1Priority deadline · November 1, 2026Apply by this date for the best chance at admission and scholarships.
- May1Other deadline · May 1, 2027
Who gets in
88%
of applicants were admitted: 16,372 of 18,648 for fall 2025.
Test scores of enrolled freshmen (fall 2025)
The shaded part shows the middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores: a quarter scored below it and a quarter above. 7% of them sent SAT scores and 81% sent ACT scores.
SAT total 1070 to 1310
Reading and Writing 540 to 670
Math 520 to 650
ACT composite 21 to 28
How enrolled freshmen scored on the SAT
- 1400 to 16008%
- 1200 to 139942%
- 1000 to 119939%
- 800 to 99911%
- 600 to 7990%
- 400 to 5990%
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
High school GPA of enrolled freshmen
Average GPA: 3.54
- 4.08%
- 3.75 to 3.9924%
- 3.50 to 3.7421%
- 3.25 to 3.4930%
- 3.00 to 3.2412%
- 2.50 to 2.994%
- Below 2.501%
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$29,770
a year, in state
$50,570
a year, out of state (tuition $30,150)
- Tuition (in state)$9,350
- Fees$2,450
- Food and housing$14,350
- Books and supplies$1,160
- Transportation and other$2,460
University of Nebraska-Lincoln published $28,938 in state for 2026-27. Its 2027-28 prices aren't out yet.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
What families actually pay
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24 (in-state students), by family income.
- $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
Financial aid
79%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
$11,938
average need-based grant to freshmen, money you don't repay
- FAFSA
- Required for need-based aid. It's the free federal aid form.
- CSS Profile
- Not required. Only the FAFSA is needed.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
Merit scholarships
Awards for grades and scores, on top of need-based aid. You don't repay them.
Chancellor's Tuition Scholarship (In-State) - National Merit Finalist
$8,000 a year
National Merit · In-state students
Deadline: Name this college your first choice with NMSC. To keep it: a 3.5 college GPA, and complete 24 credit hours each academic year.
DetailsChancellor's Tuition Scholarship (In-State) - National Recognition Program
$8,000 a year
National Merit · In-state students
To keep it: a 3.5 college GPA, and complete 24 credit hours each academic year.
DetailsChancellor's Tuition Scholarship (Out-of-State) - National Merit Finalist
$4,000 a year
National Merit · Out-of-state students
Deadline: Name this college your first choice with NMSC. To keep it: a 3.5 college GPA, and complete 24 credit hours each academic year.
DetailsChancellor's Tuition Scholarship (Out-of-State) - National Recognition Program
$4,000 a year
National Merit · Out-of-state students
To keep it: a 3.5 college GPA, and complete 24 credit hours each academic year.
Details
Show 1 more scholarships
National Merit University of Nebraska-Lincoln Scholarship (NMSC college-sponsored stipend)
$500 a year
National Merit
Deadline: Name this college your first choice with NMSC.
Details
Nebraska programs for residents
Nebraska Career Scholarship - University of Nebraska
$10,000 to $25,000 a year
State program · In-state students
- 20+ ACT, First-time freshman, ACT 20-27; First-time freshman enrolled in eligible program of study (designated workforce programs; special education)$10,000
- 28+ ACT, First-time freshman, ACT 28+; First-time freshman enrolled in eligible program of study (designated workforce programs; special education)$25,000
Compare awards across colleges with the merit aid calculator.
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
35 of 35
Earn credit with a score of 3
14 exams
A 3-credit course is worth
about $940Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition for in-state students
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits | Counts as |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-D Art and Design | 3 | 3 | General Studio Credit |
| 3-D Art and Design | 3 | 3 | General Studio Credit |
| Art History | 4 | 3 | AHIS 101 |
| Biology | 4 | 4 | BIOS 101 and BIOS 101L |
| Calculus AB | 3 | 5 | MATH 106 |
| Calculus BC | 3 | 9 | MATH 106,107 |
| Chemistry | 3 | 4 | CHEM 105A and CHEM 105L |
| Chemistry | 4 | 4 | CHEM 109A and CHEM 109L |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 4 | 3 | CHIN 201 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 5 | 6 | CHIN 201 + 202 |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 4 | 3 | POLS 104 |
| Computer Science A | 3 | 3 | CSCE 155 |
| Computer Science Principles | 3 | 3 | CSCE 101 |
| Drawing | 3 | 3 | DRAW 101 |
| English Language and Composition | 4 | 3 | ENGL 150 |
| English Literature and Composition | 4 | 3 | ENGL 180 |
| Environmental Science | 4 | 3 | GEOG 181 |
| European History | 4 | 3 | HIST 130 |
| French Language and Culture | 4 | 3 | FREN 201 |
| French Language and Culture | 5 | 6 | FREN 201 + 202 |
| German Language and Culture | 4 | 3 | GERM 201 |
| German Language and Culture | 5 | 6 | GERM 201 + 202 |
| Human Geography | 4 | 3 | GEOG 140 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 4 | 3 | JAPN 201 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 5 | 6 | JAPN 201 + 202 |
| Latin | 3 | 10 | LATN 101 and LATN 102 |
| Latin | 4 | 13 | LATN 101, LATN 102, 300-level Latin Credit |
| Latin | 5 | 16 | LATN 101, LATN 102, 300-level Latin Credit |
| Macroeconomics | 3 | 3 | ECON 211 |
| Microeconomics | 3 | 3 | ECON 212 |
| Music Theory | 4 | 4 | MUSC 165, 165A |
| Music Theory | 5 | 8 | MUSC 165, 165A, 166, 166A |
| Physics 1 | 4 | 5 | PHYS 141 |
| Physics 2 | 4 | 5 | PHYS 142 |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 4 | 4 | PHYS 212 |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 4 | 4 | PHYS 211 |
| Pre-Calculus | 3 | 3 | MATH 101 |
| Pre-Calculus | 4 | 5 | MATH 103 |
| Psychology | 3 | 4 | Psychology 181 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 4 | 3 | SPAN 201 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 5 | 6 | SPAN 201 + 202 |
| Statistics | 3 | 3 | STAT 218 |
| United States Government and Politics | 4 | 3 | POLS 100 |
| United States History | 4 | 3 | HIST 110 |
| World History: Modern | 4 | 3 | HIS 120 |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
69%
Come back for a second year
86%
Typical earnings
$61,819
a year, 10 years after starting here
- University of Nebraska-Lincoln$73,793
- All colleges$71,390
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 54 majors here have earnings data.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln logo is a trademark of the college.