Nebraska admitted about 88% of applicants in the most recent cycle. The middle half of enrolled freshmen scored 21 to 28 on the ACT, and the average high school GPA was 3.54. Admission rests almost entirely on grades and coursework. Essays and activities matter later, when the scholarship money gets handed out through the supplemental application.
🚨 Easy-to-Miss “Gotchas” at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (Read This First)
November 1 is the real scholarship deadline. Apply by then and you see your offer on February 11. Apply later and money is handed out based on what is left in the pot.
The admission application is only half the job. Leadership, service and department scholarships run through a separate supplemental Scholarship Application due February 1. If your student is not picked, UNL does not tell you.
The ACT Science section can cost you a full ride. The President’s Scholarship needs a 36 on one test date, and on the enhanced ACT the student has to take Science and earn a 36 STEM score. No superscores.
Out-of-state has a later deadline but the same clock. Out-of-state files are due May 1, yet the November 1 applicants are reviewed first. New Nebraskan and Legacy awards also shrink if your student takes fewer than 15 credits a semester.
MSEP is not an automatic discount here. UNL meets its Midwest exchange promise through the New Nebraskan Scholarship, which goes to students who pass an academic review.
The FAFSA has two dates that matter. File by February 1 to see grants and scholarships together on February 11, and no later than May 1 for Nebraska Promise free tuition.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? Yes, for admission. University of Nebraska–Lincoln is test-optional for admission.
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: 21–28; SAT: 1070–1310.
Average net price? About $17,894/year after aid.
Does this school use waivers/reciprocity?
Yes. Institutional waivers are available.
💰 Cost of Attendance at University of Nebraska–Lincoln: 2026–2027 Rates
Figures verified against official sources in October 2026.
📅 Planning for 2027–2028? These are the 2026–2027 rates, the newest University of Nebraska–Lincoln has published. Colleges usually release next year's costs in the spring, and we update this page when they do.
Budgeting tip: costs typically rise 2% to 5% a year. For 2027–2028, plan on roughly
$500 to $1,300 more than the in-state total below.$900 to $2,300 more than the out-of-state total below.
In-State: billed cost per year
$25,422
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees
$11,472
Housing & meals (typical)
$13,950
Total billed cost
$25,422
Out-of-State: billed cost per year
$45,492
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees
$31,542
Housing & meals (typical)
$13,950
Total billed cost
$45,492
That is $20,070 more per year than Nebraska residents pay, before any waivers or scholarships.
Average federal net price: $17,894 per year.
This is what first-time, full-time students who received grant aid paid after grants and scholarships, for in-state students only, based on the most recent federal data. It counts books and living costs, so it can run higher than the billed total above. Families who got no grants are not in this average, so many middle-income families pay more. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.
Out-of-state families: this average does not include you. Run the college's own net price calculator for a number based on your situation.
📌 Regional Tuition & Waiver Options
Nebraska belongs to the Midwest Student Exchange Program (MSEP), but UNL does not hand out an automatic MSEP discount. It meets its MSEP commitment through the New Nebraskan Tuition Scholarship ($15,000 to $20,000 a year), awarded after an academic review. Students from Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio and Wisconsin should apply by November 1 and send test scores for the strongest look. Out-of-state military-connected and first responder families can also get up to $18,000 a year off the nonresident portion of tuition through the Husker Salute and National First Responder pledges.
Two Things the Sticker Price Leaves Out
UNL’s own budget adds about $1,128 for books and supplies and $2,324 for personal expenses, which puts the full yearly estimate near $28,874 in-state and $48,944 out-of-state. And if your student is headed into Business, Architecture or Engineering, those colleges charge a higher per-credit rate called differential tuition, so their bill runs a little above the averages shown here.
FAQ: Cost of Attendance at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Why does out-of-state cost about $20,000 more?
It all comes down to the per-credit rate. UNL bases its estimate on 15 credits a semester at $303 a credit for Nebraska residents and $972 for everyone else. Housing and meals are the same for both. The good news is that most of UNL’s out-of-state scholarships are built to chip away at that gap.
Does UNL give a Midwest Student Exchange (MSEP) discount?
Not the way most families expect. Nebraska is an MSEP state, but UNL does not cut tuition for every student from a member state. It keeps its MSEP promise by awarding the New Nebraskan Tuition Scholarship, worth $15,000 to $20,000 a year, to students who pass an academic review. Apply by November 1 and send test scores to give your student the best shot.
Can Nebraska families attend tuition-free?
Many can. Nebraska Promise covers tuition for residents with a family adjusted gross income of $65,000 or less, or anyone who qualifies for a Pell Grant. There is no separate application. Get admitted, file the FAFSA by May 1, and UNL identifies eligible students automatically. It covers tuition only, so housing, fees and books are still on you.
What does the average family actually pay?
The federal average net price at UNL is about $17,900 a year after grants and scholarships. That average blends everyone together. A Nebraska family under the Promise income line can pay far less, while an out-of-state family with no merit aid will land much closer to the full sticker price.
Are housing and meal costs the same for everyone?
UNL’s $13,950 figure assumes average on-campus housing and a 21-meal-a-week plan. Pick a smaller meal plan or a cheaper hall and it drops; pick a newer suite-style building and it goes up. UNL updates these estimates every July.
Do military or first responder families get a break?
Yes. Out-of-state military-connected students (including ROTC participants) and children of career first responders can get up to $18,000 a year off the nonresident portion of tuition. Nebraska first responder families can get in-state tuition covered after other aid, with a promise to live in Nebraska for five years after graduation.
October 1: FAFSA and UNL’s supplemental Scholarship Application open (the supplemental app shows up in MyRED once your student is admitted).
November 1: Apply for admission by this date to be in the first round of scholarship offers.
November 15: Priority deadline for Honors, the Raikes School and the Business Honors Academy.
February 1: In-state application materials, the supplemental Scholarship Application and the FAFSA (for a full aid offer) are all due. The Buffett Scholarship closes too.
February 11: Offers post in MyRED after 5 p.m. Central for students who applied by November 1.
May 1: Out-of-state materials, enrollment deposit, FAFSA for Nebraska Promise, and official scores for the President’s Scholarship are due.
Parent rule of thumb: treat November 1 as the deadline that counts, even if your student is still deciding.
Automatic Merit Scholarships at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln
These awards come from your admission application. There is no separate form. Only the President’s Scholarship is a hard cutoff; the rest go through an academic review of GPA, class rank and test scores. UNL looks at your highest composite score, and the President’s Scholarship states outright that superscores don’t count, so plan as if one test date has to carry the load. UNL is test-optional for admission but some scholarships require a score, so send scores if they help.
Find your student's tier
Enter the numbers you have. We'll highlight the automatic award your student would actually get and tuck the rest out of the way. Leave it blank to browse everything.
Residency
Based on published cutoffs for entering freshmen. Always verify with the college before finalizing plans.
Start with your state. The awards in this first group come from the state, not the college. They are decided by residency and the FAFSA, and they stack on top of whatever automatic merit award the college gives below. If you live out of state, use the toggle above and these will step aside.
State AidAutomatic
Nebraska Career Scholarship
📅 Deadline: November 1 · 📢 Results: February 11 ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
✎ ~20 ACT
💡
Strategic Detail
State-funded award of at least $8,500 a year (UNL's 2026-27 renewal guidelines list $8,000) for four years, no summers, for Nebraska residents admitted into high-demand majors in engineering, math, science, health and data fields. Awards are limited by state funding, and a 28 ACT is described as competitive. Students must complete a Nebraska-based internship, apprenticeship or clinical position before their fourth year. UNL lists the renewal GPA as 2.500 on its admissions page and 3.000 in its 2026-27 guidelines, so plan on 3.000 plus 24 credits a year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Nebraska students with roughly a 28 or higher ACT who declare one of the eligible majors on the application. Picking the right major up front matters, because this award only looks at students in those programs.
One award, not a pile. Colleges apply your student's single best automatic award. Automatic scholarships almost never stack with each other, though some stack with housing, departmental, or outside money. The stacking notes on each card tell you which.
Full RideAutomatic
President's Scholarship
📅 Deadline: November 1 · 📢 Results: February 11 ✓ Renews (3.5 GPA, 4 yrs)
Full Ride
Full cost of attendance plus $5,000 annual stipend
✘ Not stackable
✎ ~36 ACT✎ ~1570 SAT
✚
Stacking & Combining
Covers the full cost of attendance, so other institutional aid has nothing left to cover.
💡
Strategic Detail
Covers the full cost of attendance at UNL (tuition, required fees, housing and meals, books and supplies, personal expenses and transportation) for up to four years with three inclusive summers, plus a $5,000 stipend every year. Nebraska residents only. Requires a 36 composite ACT or a 1570 to 1600 SAT; superscores do not count. On the enhanced ACT (September 2025 and later), the student must take the optional Science section and earn a 36 STEM score. Official scores from the February test date or earlier are due by May 1. Can be used at any University of Nebraska campus. Renewal: 3.500 cumulative GPA and 24 credits each academic year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Nebraska seniors with a perfect 36 on a single test date. That is the whole bar: no essay, no interview. If your student is close, the Science section is the trap. Skip it on the enhanced ACT and a 36 composite will not qualify.
Full TuitionAutomatic
Regents Scholar Tuition Commitment
📅 Deadline: November 1 · 📢 Results: February 11 ✓ Renews (3.5 GPA)
Full Tuition
Full tuition for up to 120 credit hours, including differential tuition
✘ Not stackable
✎ ~32 ACT
✚
Stacking & Combining
Cannot be combined with any other tuition waiver from federal, state or university sources.
💡
Strategic Detail
Full UNL tuition for up to 120 credit hours (more for degrees that require it, such as Chemical Engineering at 131), including differential tuition in Business, Architecture and Engineering. Can be used for summer classes after the first year. Does not cover mandatory student fees, lab fees or housing. Selection is a holistic academic review; UNL lists a 32 ACT (or SAT equivalent), an exceptional GPA and strong class rank as the benchmark. Renewal: 3.500 cumulative GPA or a ranking in the top 25% of your college class, plus full-time enrollment.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Nebraska students with roughly a 32 or higher ACT and top grades. No separate application. The renewal rule is friendlier than most: if a GPA dips below 3.5 but the student is still in the top quarter of their college, they keep it.
Automatic
Chancellor's Tuition Scholarship (In-State)
📅 Deadline: November 1 · 📢 Results: February 11 ✓ Renews (3.5 GPA, 4 yrs)
$8,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Cannot be combined with other tuition benefits or waivers from federal, state or university sources.
💡
Strategic Detail
Up to $8,000 a year ($4,000 a semester) toward tuition for four years, no summers. Goes to Nebraska students with exceptional academics and to finalists in national programs: National Merit finalists who list UNL as their first choice, and National Recognition Program finalists (First-Generation or Rural and Small Town) with at least a 28 ACT and 3.5 GPA. National Merit Scholars may receive an extra $500. Renewal: 3.500 cumulative GPA and 24 credits a year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
National Merit finalists who name UNL as their first choice, plus Nebraska students whose GPA, class rank and scores put them near the top of the pool. If your student is a National Recognition finalist (first-gen or rural), this is the award to watch.
Automatic
David Distinguished Tuition Scholarship
📅 Deadline: November 1 · 📢 Results: February 11 ✓ Renews (3.5 GPA, 4 yrs)
$4,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
Holistic / Status Based
💡
Strategic Detail
$4,000 a year ($2,000 a semester) toward tuition for four years, no summers. Holistic academic review: exceptional GPA plus strong class rank or a competitive test score. Renewal: 3.500 cumulative GPA and 24 credits a year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Strong Nebraska students who land just below the Regents and Chancellor's level. No application beyond the admission application.
Automatic
Chancellor's Tuition Scholarship (Out-of-State)
📅 Deadline: November 1 · 📢 Results: February 11 ✓ Renews (3.5 GPA, 4 yrs)
$4,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
🏫 3.5+ GPA✎ ~28 ACT
💡
Strategic Detail
Covers the full nonresident portion of tuition plus $4,000 a year for four years. Aimed at out-of-state students with exceptional academics and at finalists in national programs: National Merit finalists who list UNL as their first choice, and National Recognition Program finalists with at least a 28 ACT and 3.5 GPA. National Merit Scholars may receive an extra $500. Renewal: 3.500 cumulative GPA and 24 credits a year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Out-of-state National Merit finalists who name UNL first, and National Recognition finalists who clear a 28 ACT and 3.5 GPA. For these students, UNL tuition ends up below the Nebraska resident rate.
Automatic
New Nebraskan Tuition Scholarship
📅 Deadline: November 1 · 📢 Results: February 11 ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
$15,000–$20,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
✎ ~24 ACT
💡
Strategic Detail
$15,000 or $20,000 a year toward tuition for four years, no summers. UNL's guide: about a 34 ACT (or SAT equivalent) with an extraordinary GPA for the $20,000 level, and about a 24 ACT with a high GPA for $15,000, followed by a final academic review. The amount is based on 15 credits a semester and is prorated below that. Students with a parent who graduated from the University of Nebraska are offered the New Nebraskan Legacy version. This is how UNL fulfills its MSEP commitment. Renewal: 3.000 cumulative GPA and 24 credits a year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Out-of-state students with roughly a 24 or higher ACT and solid grades. Send test scores: the jump from $15,000 to $20,000 rides heavily on them.
Automatic
Nebraska Legacy Tuition Scholarship
📅 Deadline: November 1 · 📢 Results: February 11 ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
$14,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
🏫 3.0+ GPA
💡
Strategic Detail
$14,000 a year toward tuition for four years, no summers, for out-of-state students whose parent graduated from the University of Nebraska. Requires at least a 3.000 high school GPA. Prorated below 15 credits a semester. Cannot be combined with the New Nebraskan; if a student qualifies for both, the New Nebraskan (Legacy version) takes priority. Renewal: 3.000 cumulative GPA and 24 credits a year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Out-of-state children of Nebraska alumni with at least a 3.0 who fall short of the New Nebraskan level. It is the safety net for alumni families.
Data last verified Oct 19, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Note: The big tuition awards cover tuition only and can’t be combined with other tuition waivers, so expect your student to land the single largest one they qualify for. Out-of-state awards are based on 15 credits a semester and shrink if your student takes fewer.
Automatic Merit FAQs (University of Nebraska–Lincoln)
What does it take to get the President’s Scholarship?
A Nebraska resident with a 36 composite ACT or a 1570 to 1600 SAT from a single test date. On the enhanced ACT, the student also has to take the optional Science section and score a 36 STEM. It covers the full cost of attendance plus $5,000 a year, and it can be used at any University of Nebraska campus.
What’s the difference between Regents, Chancellor’s and David Distinguished?
Regents covers full tuition for up to 120 credits (UNL’s benchmark is about a 32 ACT with top grades). Chancellor’s pays up to $8,000 a year and leans toward National Merit and National Recognition finalists. David Distinguished pays $4,000 a year to strong students just below those levels. All three are for Nebraska residents.
Does Regents cover everything?
No. It covers tuition, including the higher rates in Business, Architecture and Engineering, and it can pay for summer classes after the first year. Student fees, lab fees, housing and meals are still the family’s to cover.
What can out-of-state students get?
The New Nebraskan pays $15,000 a year (around a 24 ACT) or $20,000 a year (around a 34 ACT). Kids of University of Nebraska alumni who fall short of that can get the $14,000 Nebraska Legacy award instead. National Merit and National Recognition finalists can get the out-of-state Chancellor’s award, which wipes out the nonresident portion of tuition and adds $4,000.
Is the Nebraska Career Scholarship worth choosing a major for?
It pays at least $8,500 a year to Nebraska residents in fields like engineering, data science, math, physics, chemistry, actuarial science and pre-health. It’s limited by state funding, and a 28 ACT is considered competitive. The catch is a Nebraska internship or clinical position before senior year, which most students in those fields want anyway.
Does UNL superscore?
For scholarships, plan on no. UNL uses your highest composite score, and the President’s Scholarship says plainly that superscores are not considered.
What GPA keeps these scholarships?
President’s, Regents, Chancellor’s and David need a 3.5 (Regents also lets you keep it if you’re in the top 25% of your college). New Nebraskan, Legacy and Career need a 3.0. All of them require 24 credits a year.
🏆 Competitive Scholarships (The Supplemental Application Awards)
UNL doesn’t run a big interview-and-finalist-weekend scholarship competition. Its competitive money runs through one place: the supplemental Scholarship Application in MyRED. It opens October 1 for admitted students and closes February 1. It asks for an activities resume and short answers, and UNL weighs leadership, service, academics and affordability together. For a Nebraska student with good grades and a real activity record, this is where a modest automatic award can turn into full tuition.
✅ Can You Stack Scholarships at UNL?
Aid Type
Stacks?
UNL Parent Translation
Big tuition awards (Regents, Chancellor’s, David, Achievement)
Usually one
These pay tuition and can’t be combined with other tuition waivers. Expect the largest one your student qualifies for.
Emerging Leaders
Limited
UNL’s guidelines say it can’t be combined with Achievement, Regents, Chancellor’s or Health Sciences awards.
Nebraska Opportunity / Pepsi
Often yes
Opportunity only excludes the Health Sciences Scholarship. Pepsi is a one-time $1,000 for the first year.
Nebraska Promise
Fills the gap
Applied after Pell and other grants and scholarships, so it covers whatever tuition is left for qualifying families.
Susan T. Buffett Scholarship
Usually yes
Works with Pell and Nebraska Promise. At UNL it conflicts with the NCPA scholarship.
New Nebraskan vs. Legacy
No
If your student qualifies for both, the New Nebraskan (Legacy version) wins.
Department / band / esports awards
Check the offer
Rules vary by program. Read the aid offer in MyRED line by line.
All four awards below are for Nebraska residents. Out-of-state students should still fill out the supplemental application, because it’s also how departments find students for their own scholarships.
App Required
Nebraska Achievement Tuition Scholarship
📅 Deadline: November 1 · 📢 Results: February 11 ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
$8,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Cannot be combined with other tuition benefits or waivers from federal, state or university sources.
📄
How to Apply
Apply for admission (ideally by November 1), then complete the supplemental Scholarship Application in MyRED (opens October 1, due February 1) with an activities resume and short responses.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Covers full UNL tuition or up to $8,000 a year for four years, no summers, per UNL's 2026-27 guidelines. An older version of UNL's admissions page describes $1,000 or full tuition, so expect the amount to vary by student. Nebraska residents only. Selection is holistic: leadership and experience with diverse communities, academic profile and affordability. Recipients take part in a POWER student-success program. Renewal: 3.000 cumulative GPA and 24 credits a year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Nebraska students with good grades, real leadership involvement and a financial story to tell. This is where a student with good, not perfect, numbers and a strong activity record can earn more than test scores alone would.
App Required
Nebraska Emerging Leaders Tuition Scholarship
📅 Deadline: November 1 · 📢 Results: February 11 ✓ Renews (2.5 GPA, 4 yrs)
$2,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Cannot be combined with Nebraska Achievement, Regents, Chancellor's or Health Sciences scholarships.
📄
How to Apply
Apply for admission as a first-year Nebraska resident by November 1. Submit the supplemental Scholarship Application in MyRED (available October 1) by February 1. The review is holistic — include your resume of activities, leadership experiences, and any involvement with diverse communities. Your academic profile and financial circumstances are also considered.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
$2,000 a year toward tuition for four years, no summers. Nebraska residents. Requires the supplemental Scholarship Application by February 1. Holistic review of leadership, experience with diverse communities, academic profile and affordability. Scholars take a weekly first-fall leadership seminar through CAST and are paired with a peer mentor. Renewal: 2.500 cumulative GPA and 24 credits a year. UNL's 2026-27 guidelines say it cannot be combined with the Nebraska Achievement, Regents, Chancellor's or Health Sciences awards.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Nebraska students who are active leaders at school or in their community, especially in groups that bring different people together. Affordability counts, so families with need should not sit this one out.
App Required
Nebraska Opportunity Scholarship
📅 Deadline: November 1 ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
$1,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
UNL's 2026-27 guidelines exclude only the Health Sciences Scholarship. Applies to tuition only.
💡
Strategic Detail
$1,000 a year ($500 a semester) toward tuition for four years, no summers. New for students starting in fall 2026. Nebraska residents with leadership interest or experience. Requires the supplemental Scholarship Application by February 1. Holistic review includes academic profile and affordability. Includes a first-fall CAST leadership seminar with peer mentors. Renewal: 3.000 cumulative GPA and 24 credits a year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Nebraska students with leadership involvement who apply through the supplemental application. It is a smaller award, but one of the few UNL lets sit alongside most others.
App Required
Pepsi Service Scholarship
📅 Deadline: November 1 · 📢 Results: February 11 Non-Renewable
$1,000
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
UNL does not list the Pepsi award among the scholarships it cannot be combined with. Confirm on your aid offer.
📄
How to Apply
Apply for admission as a first-year Nebraska resident by November 1. Submit the supplemental Scholarship Application in MyRED (opens October 1) by February 1. Highlight community service experience, leadership roles, and involvement in diverse communities.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
One-time $1,000 ($500 a semester) for the first year. Nebraska residents with a record of community service and leadership. Requires the supplemental Scholarship Application by February 1. Not renewable.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Nebraska students whose resume is built on volunteering. Service-heavy activity lists stand out here.
Data last verified Oct 19, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
❓ Competitive Scholarship FAQs
When is the deadline for the supplemental Scholarship Application?
February 1. It opens October 1 in the Financial Aid tab of MyRED, but only after your student is admitted, which is another reason to apply by November 1. Your student can go back and edit it any time before the deadline.
What’s on the application?
A resume of activities, honors, leadership roles, volunteer work and career goals, plus short responses. Some departments add essays about career plans, financial need, background, community involvement or service. The form adjusts to the major your student declares.
How big is the Nebraska Achievement Scholarship?
UNL’s 2026-27 guidelines say it covers full tuition or up to $8,000 a year for four years. An older version of UNL’s admissions page describes a $1,000 tier, so the amount depends on the student. It renews with a 3.0 GPA.
Can my student get Achievement and Regents together?
Plan on no. Both are tuition awards that can’t be combined with other tuition waivers, and Emerging Leaders specifically can’t sit alongside Achievement, Regents or Chancellor’s. Smaller awards like Nebraska Opportunity have fewer limits.
Will UNL tell us if my student didn’t get one?
No. UNL says plainly that students who aren’t offered a scholarship through the supplemental application won’t get a notification. If nothing new shows up in MyRED, that’s your answer.
Is there anything for National Merit finalists?
Yes. Finalists who list UNL as their first choice are considered for the Chancellor’s award (up to $8,000 a year in-state, or a full nonresident waiver plus $4,000 out-of-state), and National Merit Scholars may get an extra $500.
Any tips for the short answers?
Be specific. Name the club, the role and what changed because your student was there. Our Essay Toolkit and Brag Sheet Builder help organize that before your student sits down to type.
At UNL, the money comes from three different forms, and missing any one of them leaves dollars on the table:
The admission application by November 1 (automatic merit).
The supplemental Scholarship Application in MyRED by February 1 (leadership, service and department money).
The FAFSA by February 1 for a full offer, and no later than May 1 for Nebraska Promise.
Nebraska families should add a fourth: the Susan T. Buffett Scholarship application, which runs November 1 to February 1 on its own site.
For Nebraska families under about $65,000: Nebraska Promise covers tuition, and the Buffett Scholarship (up to $12,400 a year at UNL) can go toward everything else. Put them together with a Pell Grant and a Nebraska student can come close to graduating debt-free. Both start with the FAFSA.
💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships
These don’t show up on the automatic merit chart, but they’re real money. Some are tied to income, some to a family connection, and some to what your student does on campus.
Full TuitionAutomatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
Nebraska Promise
📅 Deadline: February 1 (FAFSA, for the February 11 aid offer) ✓ Renews (2.5 GPA)
Full Tuition
Tuition (after Pell and other grants and scholarships)
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Applied after Pell Grants and other grants and scholarships, so it fills whatever tuition is left.
💡
Strategic Detail
Free tuition at UNL for Nebraska residents with a family adjusted gross income of $65,000 or less, or who are Pell-eligible. Covers tuition for up to 30 credits a year after Pell and other grants and scholarships are applied. Does not cover fees, housing, books or transportation. No separate application: be admitted and file the FAFSA by May 1. Requires full-time enrollment (12 or more credits) and a 2.5 UNL GPA.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Nebraska families at or under $65,000 AGI, or anyone Pell-eligible. The only step most families miss is the FAFSA. No FAFSA, no Promise.
App Required
Susan T. Buffett Scholarship
📅 Deadline: February 1 (application opens November 1) · 📢 Results: Before May 1 ✓ Renews (5 yrs)
$12,400/yr
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Can be combined with Pell and Nebraska Promise. At UNL it conflicts with the NCPA scholarship, and the foundation notes other awards may conflict too.
💡
Strategic Detail
Need-based scholarship from the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation for first-time freshmen who live in Nebraska, graduated from a Nebraska high school (or earned a GED) and attend a Nebraska public college. UNL lists it at up to $12,400 a year. Competitive: being eligible does not guarantee an award. The application opens November 1 and closes February 1, with decisions before May 1.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Nebraska students with real financial need and solid grades. It can renew for up to five years, and many campuses pair recipients with a Thompson Scholars learning community, so it brings support as well as money.
Full TuitionApp Requiredfirst responder
Nebraska First Responder Pledge
📅 Deadline: Indicate affiliation on the supplemental Scholarship Application (February 1) or contact Husker Hub ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 5 yrs)
Full Tuition
In-state tuition after other scholarships and grants
✔ Stackable
⚠ Nebraska first responders and their dependent children
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Applied after other scholarships and grants, so it covers the tuition that is left.
💡
Strategic Detail
Covers in-state tuition after other scholarships and grants for Nebraska law enforcement officers, corrections and youth detention officers, firefighters and firefighter-paramedics, and their dependent children. First-year students can receive it for up to five years. Requires full-time enrollment, a 3.0 UNL GPA and an annual renewal application. Recipients must commit to living in Nebraska for five years after graduation or repay the tuition that was waived. Dependent children may choose any major; first responders themselves choose from a list of eligible majors.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Children of Nebraska police officers, firefighters, paramedics and corrections officers. Read the five-year stay-in-Nebraska clause before accepting; leaving early means paying it back.
Automaticmilitary
Husker Salute Pledge
📅 Deadline: November 1 · 📢 Results: February 11 ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
$18,000/yr
✔ Stackable
⚠ Military-connected students, spouses, dependents and ROTC participants
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Applies to the nonresident portion of tuition. Confirm how it combines with other awards on your aid offer.
💡
Strategic Detail
Up to $18,000 a year toward the nonresident portion of tuition for four years, no summers, for out-of-state veterans, active duty, National Guard and Reserve members, ROTC participants, and military spouses and dependents. Prorated below 15 credits a semester. Students list their military affiliation on the admission application and upload documentation if asked. Renewal: 3.0 UNL GPA and full-time enrollment.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Out-of-state military families and ROTC students. Most of the out-of-state premium disappears, so a military kid from another state can pay close to Nebraska rates.
App Requiredfirst responder
National First Responder Pledge
📅 Deadline: November 1 · 📢 Results: February 11 ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
$18,000/yr
✔ Stackable
⚠ Out-of-state career first responders and their dependent children
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Applies to the nonresident portion of tuition. Confirm how it combines with other awards on your aid offer.
📄
How to Apply
Apply for admission as a first-year out-of-state student. Visit the First Responder Pledge page for program-specific eligibility documentation and submit all admission materials by May 1.
💡
Strategic Detail
Up to $18,000 a year off the nonresident portion of tuition for four years, no summers, for out-of-state law enforcement officers, firefighters, firefighter-paramedics and their dependent children. The first responder must be employed full time and paid; volunteers do not qualify. Prorated below 15 credits a semester. Renewal: 3.0 UNL GPA and full-time enrollment.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Out-of-state children of career police officers, firefighters and paramedics. Families have to flag the affiliation themselves, so it is easy to miss.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Departmental Scholarships
📅 Deadline: February 1 (supplemental Scholarship Application) ✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Rules vary by department; check your aid offer.
📄
How to Apply
Declared major and department application, usually with faculty recommendations.
💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
Most UNL departments award their scholarships through the supplemental Scholarship Application, which is tailored to the major you declare. Amounts and renewal rules vary by department. Some departments ask for essays on career goals, financial need, background, community involvement or service. If a student is not selected, UNL does not send a notification.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who declare a major, finish the supplemental application early and write specific answers. Undecided students see fewer department awards.
App Requiredesports
Esports Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Through UNL Esports team recruitment ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ Members of UNL's varsity esports team
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
UNL's guidelines do not list combination limits. Confirm with the esports program.
💡
Strategic Detail
Tuition scholarship for students on UNL's varsity esports team, open to in-state and out-of-state students, for up to four years (no summers). The amount is not published. Requires full-time enrollment, a 3.000 cumulative GPA, 24 credits a year and good standing with the team. Out-of-state recipients who later establish Nebraska residency forfeit it.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Competitive gamers good enough to make UNL's varsity roster. Few families know this one exists.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Cornhusker Marching Band Scholarships
📅 Deadline: Auditions: first round in May, final round in August (twirler videos due earlier) ✓ Renews (2 GPA)
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Ask the band office how it combines with your other awards.
📄
How to Apply
Audition and join Cornhusker Marching Band.
💡
Strategic Detail
Scholarships for members of the Cornhusker Marching Band, including the Jack R. Snider Freshman Band Scholarship. Amounts are not published. Students of any major can audition. Members must be full time and keep a 2.000 cumulative GPA, and continued support depends on staying in the band. Students who receive a band scholarship cannot register for marching band as a zero-credit course.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Strong high school players and color guard members of any major. The band rehearses about 6.5 hours a week, mostly early mornings, so it fits around demanding class schedules.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
UCARE Undergraduate Research Stipend
📅 Deadline: Typically mid-February (confirm on the UCARE site) Non-Renewable
$2,640–$3,600
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Paid as a stipend, separate from tuition scholarships.
📄
How to Apply
Apply with faculty research mentor and proposal.
💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
Paid research or creative project with a UNL faculty mentor. 2026 stipends: $2,640 for a summer project or $3,600 for an academic-year project (about 10 hours a week). Students submit a proposal with a confirmed faculty mentor. Open to all majors. Stipend only; no housing.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who reach out to a professor early, usually in their first or second year, and come in with a project idea.
Full TuitionApp Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
ROTC Scholarships
📅 Deadline: Varies by branch; usually Dec 1–Jan 15 ✓ Renews
Full Tuition
tuition and stipend
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Varies by ROTC branch and year winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Can stack with other scholarships depending on ROTC branch rules.
📄
How to Apply
Apply via national ROTC application or campus program.
✎ Essays🎤 Interview💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
National ROTC covers full tuition; campus awards may range from $5,000–$10,000/year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Highly motivated cadets with strong academics and leadership
Data last verified Oct 19, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
❓ Hidden Gems FAQ
Who qualifies for Nebraska Promise?
Nebraska residents with a family adjusted gross income of $65,000 or less, or anyone Pell-eligible, who enroll full time and keep a 2.5 GPA. There’s no application beyond admission and the FAFSA, which must be filed by May 1.
How does the Buffett Scholarship work at UNL?
It’s a need-based award from the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation for first-time freshmen from Nebraska high schools. UNL lists it at up to $12,400 a year. It’s competitive, the application opens November 1 and closes February 1, and decisions arrive before May 1.
What’s the catch with the Nebraska First Responder Pledge?
It covers in-state tuition after other aid for children of Nebraska police, corrections officers, firefighters and paramedics, for up to five years. In return, recipients commit to living in Nebraska for five years after graduation. Move away early and the waived tuition has to be paid back.
We’re a military family from out of state. What’s available?
The Husker Salute Pledge takes up to $18,000 a year off the nonresident portion of tuition for veterans, service members, ROTC participants, and military spouses and dependents. List the military connection on the admission application and keep a 3.0 GPA.
Does UNL really have esports scholarships?
Yes. UNL’s financial aid office publishes guidelines for an Esports Scholarship for varsity team members, both in-state and out-of-state. The amount isn’t published, and renewal requires a 3.0 GPA and good standing with the team. Reach out to the esports program directly.
When are marching band auditions?
The first round is in May and the final round is in August, well after the other scholarship deadlines. Students of any major can try out, and scholarships include the Jack R. Snider Freshman Band Scholarship.
Is there money for research?
UCARE pays students to do research with a faculty mentor: $2,640 for a summer project or $3,600 for an academic-year project in 2026. Students apply with a proposal and a mentor already lined up, so it pays to start talking to professors early.
UNL runs a University Honors Program rather than a separate honors college. It’s open to every major and built around small seminars and hands-on experiences like study abroad, community internships and research. Admission isn’t automatic: students apply separately after they’re admitted to UNL, through one joint application that also covers two selective programs, the Raikes School of Computer Science and Management and the Nebraska Business Honors Academy.
Who gets in: UNL doesn’t publish a test-score cutoff. Honors faculty and staff review the full application.
Priority deadline: November 15 (decision by December 15). This is also the deadline for Raikes and the Business Honors Academy.
Final Honors deadline: February 15 (decision by March 16), reviewed as space allows.
Already at UNL? Current students can apply by May 10 for fall or December 10 for spring.
Honors Program Scholarships & Funding
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Fund Your Experience Grant (Dr. Patrice Berger Student Experience Fund)
📅 Deadline: Aug 1 (fall); Dec 1 (spring/winter); Apr 1 (summer) · 📢 Results: Within about one month of each application due date Non-Renewable
$1,500
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Can be combined with other scholarships and aid.
📄
How to Apply
Undergraduate Honors students in good standing submit an online Fund Your Experience application with a project description and budget by the posted due dates: Aug 1 (fall use), Dec 1 (spring/winter use), or Apr 1 (summer use).
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Up to $1,500 per application from the Dr. Patrice Berger Student Experience Fund for Honors students doing experiential learning: a qualifying study abroad program of three weeks or more, an unpaid or underpaid internship, a national or regional conference in their field, or costs tied to the Honors Senior Project. The number of awards varies with funding. Priority goes to students who have not received Honors funding before, and preference goes to students with financial need (filing the FAFSA helps). One application per award period.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Honors students with a specific, budgeted plan tied to an Honors experience. First-time Honors funding recipients and students with financial need have the edge.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
HPSAB Honors Scholarship
📅 Deadline: December 1 (most recent posted cycle; confirm on the Honors site) · 📢 Results: Fall semester following the spring application deadline Non-Renewable
$250
✘ Not stackable
👥 ~Two awards annually winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Reserved for students with no current or past Honors scholarship support.
📄
How to Apply
Current Honors students complete the HPSAB Scholarship online application through Canvas, including short-answer responses about their Honors involvement and financial circumstances, by the posted deadline in late April.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
The Honors Program Student Advisory Board awards $250 to two Honors students each cycle. Applicants must be in good standing and must never have received Honors scholarship support before. Submitted online with UNL credentials.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Two engaged Honors students a year who have never had Honors funding and can explain their involvement and need clearly in short answers.
Data last verified Oct 19, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Honors funding at UNL is mostly about paying for experiences, not tuition. The big tuition money still comes from the automatic and supplemental application awards above.
Deadline Note: The Honors application has a 60-minute timeout and strips out formatting. Have your student write responses in a document first, then paste them in. UNL also needs the transcript before it will review the application.
The Programs Inside Honors
Raikes School of Computer Science and Management: a cohort program that blends computing and business. Every Raikes student is also in University Honors.
Nebraska Business Honors Academy: an honors track for business students, also part of University Honors.
Fund Your Experience grants: up to $1,500 for study abroad, unpaid internships, conferences or Senior Project costs.
University Honors Program FAQs (Nebraska)
Is Honors admission automatic for high scorers?
No. Every student fills out the Honors application after being admitted to UNL. Strong test scores help, but there’s no published score that guarantees a spot.
Does Honors come with a scholarship?
Not an automatic one. Honors funding comes through grants like Fund Your Experience (up to $1,500) and a small HPSAB award ($250 to two students a cycle). Tuition money comes from UNL’s merit and supplemental application awards.
Can my student apply to Raikes or the Business Honors Academy too?
Yes, on the same joint application. Both have a November 15 deadline, so plan around that date rather than the later February Honors deadline.
How big is the Honors community?
UNL says its Honors programs together enroll about 10% of the university, so it feels small inside a big Big Ten campus.
Can my student join after starting at UNL?
Yes. Current students apply with their college GPA, a short essay on why they want Honors, and a one-page resume.
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln is the state’s flagship and land-grant university, a Big Ten school with a big research footprint, in a capital city of about 300,000 people. Families tend to think football first, but the academic story is really about practical, career-connected programs: agriculture, engineering, business, education, computer science and the life sciences.
Hidden Strength: Entrepreneurship and the Raikes School. UNL’s undergraduate entrepreneurship program ranks #35 globally in The Princeton Review, according to the university. The Raikes School of Computer Science and Management is one of the more distinctive programs in the Midwest: a small honors cohort that pairs computing with business and real client projects.
Agriculture and Natural Resources: As Nebraska’s land-grant school, UNL’s agriculture, food science and natural resources programs run deep, from agricultural systems technology to fisheries and wildlife.
Engineering: A full lineup that includes agricultural, biological systems, chemical, civil, computer, construction, electrical, mechanical and software engineering. Most qualify for the state’s Nebraska Career Scholarship.
Business: The College of Business adds the Nebraska Business Honors Academy for top students and charges differential tuition, which Regents and Achievement awards cover.
Education and Life Sciences: Teacher prep (including special education), biological sciences, biochemistry and nutrition all feed in-demand Nebraska jobs, and several qualify for the Nebraska Career Scholarship.
Research Access: UNL says it employs 180 researchers on the Stanford/Elsevier top 2% list, and undergraduates can get paid to work with them through UCARE.
🔗 Official University of Nebraska–Lincoln Links
Use UNL’s official pages below to double-check deadlines, scholarship rules, costs and admissions data. When anything here differs from what the university posts, the university’s page wins.
Here’s the honest picture of Nebraska. For in-state families, it might be the most generous flagship in the Midwest: a full ride for a perfect ACT, full tuition through Regents, and free tuition through Nebraska Promise for families at or under $65,000. For out-of-state families, the New Nebraskan and Legacy awards knock a big chunk off the nonresident price, though UNL’s version of MSEP has to be earned rather than handed out.
The money at UNL rewards families who get organized early. Apply by November 1, fill out the supplemental Scholarship Application before February 1, file the FAFSA, and if you live in Nebraska, apply for the Buffett Scholarship too. Do those four things and your student will see nearly every dollar they’re eligible for on February 11.
Your kid did everything right. That does not mean the money follows.
Most families build a college list first and think about scholarships second, which is backwards. This free four-part series shows you where the money actually comes from, and how to build a list around it.
After the series, about once a month, sometimes twice during application season. No drip funnels, no affiliate pitches, and we never sell your information. Unsubscribe anytime.
Written by Leo Dimilo
Leo is the founder of CollegeReadyParent. He went through the college money maze with his own daughter and built this site to give other families the plain-English version he wished he’d had. More about Leo →
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