University of Nebraska acceptance rate and your odds of getting in
University of Nebraska is a public university in Nebraska that admits most qualified applicants (around 87%), which puts it in the accessible range. A rate like this means it admits most qualified applicants; the bar is less about clearing a single cutoff and more about how your full profile compares to admitted students.
Use this page to see what University of Nebraska weighs, where it ranks among Nebraska schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1300, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.
What do students study at University of Nebraska?
Bachelor's degrees awarded by field in 2023 (IPEDS completions). Each field has its own page with the school's numbers, the model's major adjustment, and peers offering it.
Will I get into University of Nebraska?
Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into University of Nebraska, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.
What are my chances of getting into University of Nebraska?
At University of Nebraska, your real chance depends on far more than the published 87% admit rate. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for University of Nebraska in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.
Is University of Nebraska hard to get into?
University of Nebraska is accessible: it admits most qualified applicants, with about a 87% acceptance rate. Meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.
What GPA do you need to get into University of Nebraska?
There is no hard GPA cutoff at University of Nebraska, but admitted students span a wide GPA range, with many in the 2.8 to 3.5 band. University of Nebraska reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.
Your chances at University of Nebraska by GPA and SAT
Estimated chance of admission at University of Nebraska for plain profiles, from the same model as the calculator. Unweighted GPA, 3 AP courses, Regular Decision, no legacy, athletic or first-generation hook. The last column is test-optional (no score sent).
What are my chances at University of Nebraska with a 3.1 GPA and a 1210 SAT?
About 98% (Safety), by CollegeCalcAI's deterministic model, for an applicant with a 3.1 unweighted GPA and a 1210 SAT, the middle of University of Nebraska's admitted range, applying Regular Decision without a hook. A 3.4 GPA with a 1330 SAT comes out near 98%. Courses, activities, essays and the application round move the number; the free calculator includes them.
Estimates, not guarantees. Get yours with your real courses and activities. Assistants and developers can fetch this table from the free API: /api/v1/colleges/university-of-nebraska.
How to get into University of Nebraska
Built from University of Nebraska's admitted class and what it reports weighing. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled figures, not published cutoffs.
Getting into University of Nebraska comes down to four decisions, each one visible in the data on this page.
CollegeCalcAI's modeled typical admit at University of Nebraska carries about a 3.04 core GPA and a 1280 SAT, in the most rigorous schedule available. Meeting it puts you in the admitted range for most applicants.
The admitted middle 50% is 1098 to 1330 SAT (22 to 28 ACT). Submit a score at 1214 or higher; below 1098, apply test-optional if the policy allows.
University of Nebraska rates rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores highest in its own Common Data Set. Put your depth there: and a transcript whose rigor rises through junior year.
Most public universities read early applicants first without a binding commitment. Apply by University of Nebraska's early or priority deadline (confirm dates at www.unl.edu), and if you are out of state, know that residency changes both the bar and the price.
How many students apply to University of Nebraska, and how many get in?
18,353 students applied to University of Nebraska for fall 2023; 14,145 were admitted (77.1%). 4,698 enrolled. Only about 33% of admitted students enrolled, so the school admits several students for every seat it expects to fill, which is why its acceptance rate reads higher than its selectivity feels. University of Nebraska enrolls about 19,178 undergraduates in total, 50% of them women, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 17 to 1.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS 2023 admissions and enrollment.
What SAT and ACT scores do you need for University of Nebraska?
Admitted students at University of Nebraska post SAT scores of 1098 to 1330 in the middle 50%, with an average of 1191. On the ACT the middle 50% runs from 22 to 28. A score above 1330 puts you in the top quarter of admits and turns the test into an asset; a score below 1098 puts you in the bottom quarter, where the rest of the application has to carry more weight. University of Nebraska is test-optional: scores are considered if you submit them but not required. Send a score at or above the middle of the admitted range; otherwise apply without one and let your transcript lead.
Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10.
What University of Nebraska looks for
What University of Nebraska weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.
University of Nebraska signals that it values rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores above the rest of the file. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from University of Nebraska's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.
SAT score positioning at University of Nebraska
How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability. Your full profile determines the real estimate.
How much does University of Nebraska cost after financial aid?
The full sticker price at University of Nebraska (tuition, fees, housing, food, books) is about $26,697 a year. Tuition and fees are $10,434 for NE residents and $28,584 for out-of-state students, a $18,150 gap that makes residency the single biggest lever on cost. What families actually pay is different: the average net price after grants and scholarships is $17,747 a year, and it ranges from $12,751 for families earning under $30,000 to $22,346 for families earning over $110,000. 23% of undergraduates receive a federal Pell Grant.
Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Net price is what students receiving aid paid after grants, by family income.
What do University of Nebraska graduates earn, and how many graduate?
Median earnings for University of Nebraska students ten years after entry are $56,887 ($47,692 at the six-year mark). 67% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years, and 86% return for a second year. Among graduates who borrowed, median federal debt at graduation is $21,000; 33% of undergraduates take federal loans.
Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Earnings cover students who received federal aid.
How University of Nebraska compares in Nebraska
University of Nebraska ranks #11 most selective of 14 schools in Nebraska in our database.
Among the 14 Nebraska schools we track, University of Nebraska ranks #11 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like College of Saint Mary (NE) (45%) and York University (NE) (52%) sit nearby, which makes Nebraska a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list. As a public university, residency matters: in-state applicants generally see meaningfully better odds than the headline rate suggests.
Similar to University of Nebraska
Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.
If University of Nebraska is on your list, schools with a similar admit profile are worth a look: Boise State University, George Mason University, and North Carolina Central University. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.
Frequently asked questions
What is University of Nebraska's acceptance rate?
University of Nebraska admitted 14,145 of 18,353 applicants for the fall 2023 entering class, an acceptance rate of 77.1% (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS). 33% of admitted students enrolled.
What SAT score do you need for University of Nebraska?
The middle 50% of admitted students scored 1098 to 1330 on the SAT and 22 to 28 on the ACT. A score above 1330 is in the top quarter of admits. University of Nebraska is test-optional, so only submit a score that helps.
Is University of Nebraska test-optional?
Yes. University of Nebraska reports that test scores are considered but not required. Submit a score at or above the middle of the admitted range; otherwise apply without one.
How much does University of Nebraska cost after financial aid?
The average net price at University of Nebraska, what students receiving aid paid after grants and scholarships, is $17,747 a year against a sticker price of about $26,697. Families earning under $30,000 paid about $12,751 on average.
What do University of Nebraska graduates earn?
Median earnings ten years after entering University of Nebraska are $56,887 a year among students who received federal aid, and 67% of students graduate within six years (College Scorecard).
What does University of Nebraska value most in applicants?
Based on its admissions profile, University of Nebraska weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.
Does University of Nebraska favor in-state applicants?
As a public university, University of Nebraska generally admits in-state applicants at a higher rate than out-of-state applicants, so your home state affects your odds. CollegeCalcAI applies an in-state residency boost when you select your state.
How can I improve my chances at University of Nebraska?
Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at University of Nebraska specifically.
How does residency affect admission to University of Nebraska?
As a public university, University of Nebraska typically admits in-state students at a higher rate, and tuition differs sharply by residency. Select your home state in the calculator to fold the in-state effect into your estimate.
Acceptance rate, application counts, admitted test ranges, cost, and outcomes reflect publicly reported federal data (U.S. Department of Education: IPEDS 2023 and the College Scorecard) and each school's Common Data Set; figures are rounded and lag the current cycle by one to two years, so confirm deadlines and policies on the school's own site. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled estimates. Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.