University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Hanyou23 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is a public research university with an acceptance rate of 78%. Located in Lincoln, Nebraska, UNL is the flagship campus of Nebraska's university system. University of Nebraska-Lincoln consistently ranks among the top 50 public universities in the country thanks to its strong academic and research programs. In athletics, the UNL Cornhuskers compete in the NCAA Division I Big Ten Conference.

Considering applying to University of Nebraska-Lincoln? Here are the admissions statistics you should know, including average SAT/ACT scores and GPAs of admitted students.

Acceptance Rate

During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, University of Nebraska-Lincoln had an acceptance rate of 78%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 78 students were admitted, making UNL's admissions process somewhat competitive.

Admissions Statistics (2018-19)
Number of Applicants 16,829
Percent Admitted 78%
Percent Admitted Who Enrolled (Yield) 36%

SAT Scores and Requirements

University of Nebraska-Lincoln requires that all applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 12% of admitted students submitted SAT scores.

SAT Range (Admitted Students)
Section 25th Percentile 75th Percentile
ERW 560 670
Math 560 690
ERW=Evidence-Based Reading and Writing

This admissions data tells us that most of University of Nebraska-Lincoln's admitted students fall within the top 35% nationally on the SAT. For the evidence-based reading and writing section, 50% of students admitted to UNL scored between 560 and 670, while 25% scored below 560 and 25% scored above 670. On the math section, 50% of admitted students scored between 560 and 690, while 25% scored below 560 and 25% scored above 690. Applicants with a composite SAT score of 1360 or higher will have particularly competitive chances at UNL.

Requirements

University of Nebraska-Lincoln does not require the SAT writing section or SAT Subject tests. Note that UNL does not superscore SAT results, your highest composite score will be considered.

ACT Scores and Requirements

University of Nebraska-Lincoln requires that all applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 92% of admitted students submitted ACT scores.

ACT Range (Admitted Students)
Section 25th Percentile 75th Percentile
English 21 28
Math 21 27
Composite 22 28

This admissions data tells us that most of University of Nebraska-Lincoln's admitted students fall within the top 36% nationally on the ACT. The middle 50% of students admitted to UNL received a composite ACT score between 22 and 28, while 25% scored above 28 and 25% scored below 22.

Requirements

Note that University of Nebraska-Lincoln does not superscore ACT results; your highest composite ACT score will be considered. UNL does not require the ACT writing section.

GPA

In 2019, the average high school GPA of University of Nebraska-Lincoln's incoming freshmen class was 3.61, and 69% of incoming students had average GPAs of 3.50 and above. These results suggest that most successful applicants to University of Nebraska-Lincoln have primarily A and high B grades.

Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Applicants' Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph.
University of Nebraska-Lincoln Applicants' Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph. Data courtesy of Cappex.

The admissions data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to University of Nebraska-Lincoln. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your chances of getting in with a free Cappex account.

Admissions Chances

University of Nebraska-Lincoln, which accepts more than three-quarters of applicants, has a somewhat selective admissions process. Strong grades in required core classes and solid SAT/ACT scores will be the most important part of your UNL application. Applicants can qualify for guaranteed admission if they meet the school's minimum admission criteria.

For students who do not qualify for guaranteed admission, University of Nebraska-Lincoln will complete a holistic review of each applicant's student record. Considerations include letters of recommendation and the availability of required coursework. Students with particularly compelling stories or achievements can still receive serious consideration even if their grades and test scores are outside of UNL's average range.

In the scattergram above, the blue and green dots represent students who were accepted to University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Most had SAT scores of 1000 or higher (ERW+M), ACT composite scores of 20 or higher, and a high school average of "B" or higher. A significant number of admitted students had grades in the "A" range.

If You Like the University of Nebraska, You May Also Like These Schools

All admissions data has been sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics and University of Nebraska-Lincoln Undergraduate Admissions Office.

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Grove, Allen. "University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics." ThoughtCo, Apr. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/university-nebraska-gpa-sat-act-data-786722. Grove, Allen. (2023, April 5). University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/university-nebraska-gpa-sat-act-data-786722 Grove, Allen. "University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/university-nebraska-gpa-sat-act-data-786722 (accessed April 26, 2024).