“Public land-grant flagship research university in Lincoln with 200+ degree programs across nine colleges.”
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL) is the flagship public research university of Nebraska, founded in 1869 and a charter member of the Big Ten Conference and the Association of American Universities. With roughly 24,000 students spread across two adjacent campuses in the heart of Lincoln, the state capital, UNL combines the academic depth of a Carnegie R1 research institution with the friendly Midwestern feel of a true college town. Lincoln itself is consistently ranked among the most affordable, safest, and most livable mid-sized U.S. cities, which makes it especially welcoming for international students. UNL is organized into nine colleges offering more than 150 undergraduate majors. The university is best known for its programs in agricultural sciences and natural resources, business (Raikes School of Computer Science and Management, College of Business), engineering, journalism and mass communications, and architecture. Research strengths include precision agriculture, food science, materials science, transportation, and digital humanities, with substantial undergraduate research funding through programs like UCARE. Campus life is anchored by Husker Athletics — football Saturdays at Memorial Stadium are a defining experience — but the university also offers more than 600 student organizations, a thriving Greek system, sustainability initiatives, and a strong international community of 2,400+ students from 130+ countries. Combined with relatively low tuition for a Big Ten flagship, generous Global Excellence and Global Laureate scholarships for international students, and a manageable cost of living in Lincoln, UNL is a strong, value-focused choice for international undergraduates seeking a large American research university experience.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
International Student Enrollment (F-1)
DHS SEVIS by the Numbers (2024)
Research Activity
Carnegie Classifications (2021)
Research classification
Carnegie
Student Fulbright Awards
UNL homepage
AAU membership
AAU
Research classification
Carnegie Classification
Global Undergraduate Entrepreneurship
The Princeton Review
Test Optional — You can submit scores if they help your case, but they're not required.
Official SourcePriority (Scholarship)
Final Application & Deposit
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Domestic
$10,434
/yr
Out-of-State / Intl
$28,584
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $28,584
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
