University of Nebraska-Lincoln College Portrait
University of Nebraska-Lincoln14th and R Streets Lincoln, NE 68588
(402) 472-7211
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is an educational institution of international stature. UNL is a leader in academic excellence, offering world-class learning opportunities, with 162 majors and 285 programs of study. UNL is recognized by the Carnegie Foundation as a Doctoral/Research Extensive university. UNL is ranked by U.S. News among the Top 50 Public National Universities. UNL ranks 68th on Kiplinger's Personal Finance's 100 Best Values in Public Colleges. In July 2011, UNL joined the Big Ten Conference.
Living in the Huskers Community
UNL is located in a vibrant and safe city of 250,000 people that has many of the cultural and entertainment benefits of a much larger city, with the feel of a friendly Midwestern community (see About Lincoln).
More about the University of Nebraska-Lincoln
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is a comprehensive research university with an extraordinary interest in undergraduate learning and teaching excellence. That means you’ll take classes from faculty who create new knowledge. Undergraduates at UNL can participate with faculty in real-world research and creative activities on topics of their choice. And UNL faculty are excellent teachers committed to student success.
Over 24,500 students are enrolled in UNL’s nine colleges: Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Architecture, Arts and Sciences, Business Administration, Education and Human Sciences, Engineering, Hixson-Lied Fine and Performing Arts, Journalism and Mass Communications, and Law.
UNL offers 214 bachelors degree programs. This includes 44 majors in which a student can earn either a BA or BS, and 10 supplemental endorsement programs in Education (see list of majors). At the graduate level, UNL offers 87 masters degree programs and 42 doctoral degree programs. In addition, three professional doctoral (AuD, DPH, JD) and two professional masters (MArch, LLM) degrees, as well as four educational specialist certificates, are also available (see list of programs).
UNL’s City Campus is adjacent to Lincoln’s downtown business district; its East Campus lies two miles northeast of City Campus. UNL’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, from its headquarters on East Campus, extends the university’s services to all Nebraskans through its statewide research and extension programs.
The Big Picture: How many students were on campus in Fall 2011?
More Information
| Total Students | 24,593 | |
|---|---|---|
Undergraduate Snapshot
| Total Undergraduate Students | 19,345 | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | ||
| Women | 8,918 | 46% |
| Men | 10,427 | 54% |
| Race/Ethnicity | ||
| American Indian / Alaskan Native | 66 | <1% |
| Asian | 416 | 2% |
| African American / Black | 464 | 2% |
| Hispanic | 817 | 4% |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 13 | <1% |
| White | 15,935 | 82% |
| Two or More Races | 274 | 1% |
| International | 815 | 4% |
| Race/Ethnicity Not Reported | 545 | 3% |
| Where do UNL undergraduates call home? | |
|---|---|
| Nebraska | 79% |
| Other US States & Territories | 16% |
| Other Countries | 5% |
| How old are UNL undergraduates? | |
| Average Age | 21 |
| Percent of Undergraduates Age 25 or Older | 6% |
New Student Applications (Fall 2011)
New Freshmen High School Background and Test Scores
Test(s) Required for Admission: SAT or ACT recommended
| Test Scores of Enrolled New Freshmen | ACT | SAT |
|---|---|---|
| Composite | 22 - 28 | |
| Math | 22 - 28 | 520 - 670 |
| English | 22 - 29 | |
| Critical Reading | 510 - 660 |
50% of admitted students have test scores within the ranges listed, 25% have scores above, and 25% have scores below.
| High School Background of Enrolled New Freshmen | ||
|---|---|---|
| Percent in top 25% of High School Graduating Class | 53% | |
| Percent in top 50% of High School Graduating Class | 84% | |
| Percent of New Freshmen who submitted HS GPA | 98% | |
| Average High School GPA Data Not Available | ||
Sticker Price: How much does it cost on average?
Typical Undergraduate Costs for 2010-11 without Financial Aid (Full-Time, In-State Students)
Total Typical Cost of Attendance: $20,738.00
It is anticipated that 2012-2013 tuition rates will be finalized and approved by the University of Nebraska Board of Regents at their June 2012 meeting.
Out-of-State & Other Costs
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The cost to attend University of Nebraska-Lincoln varies based on the individual circumstances of students and may be reduced through grants and scholarships.
How much would I pay?
Financial Aid: How much help is there to pay?
Scholarships & Grants
- 36% of 2010-11 full-time undergraduates received need-based grants or scholarships; the average award for the year was $7,331.00. Scholarships and grants are financial aid that does not need to be repaid and is sometimes referred to as gift aid.
Annual Need-Based Loans
- 35% of 2010-11 full-time undergraduates received need-based work-study and/or loans (not including parent loans); the average loan for the year was $4,331.00. Loans need to be repaid. Typically, repayment starts once you are no longer enrolled full-time. Please refer to page 12 of the Funding Education Beyond High School guide on the US Department of Education's Federal Student Aid website for more information about Financial Need.
Percent of 2010 Full-time Beginning Students Receiving Each Type of Financial Aid
NOTE: Students may receive aid from more than one source.
UNL Classes & Instructors
| Classroom Environment | |
|---|---|
| Students per Faculty | 21 to 1 |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 30 students | 65% |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 50 students | 86% |
| Total Full-Time Instructional Faculty | 1,045 |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Female | 30% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Persons of Color | 20% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Have the Highest Academic Degree Offered in Their Field of Study | 97% |
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Campus-based Housing
92% of new freshmen live in campus-based housing or residence halls.
41% of all undergraduates live on campus
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Campus Safety
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is a safe campus in a safe city. University Police are well-trained, commissioned, professional police officers capable of handling all types of activities - from the routine to the emergency. UNL helps ensure campus safety by using freestanding "emergency call stations" with direct connect to 911 throughout campus and a network of security cameras that monitor parking facilities, housing units and primary pedestrian areas. The UNL Alert system allows students and others to sign up to be notified by text message, e-mail or telephone in the event of any emergency, and an Emergency Preparedness Web site, along with educational outreach, helps students, faculty and staff plan for and protect themselves for emergencies. A new Threat Assessment Partnership gives a coordinated approach to assessing and mitigating personal threats.
Campus Crime Statistics
Carnegie Classification of Institutional Characteristics
The Carnegie Classification's were created "to reference the great diversity of colleges and universities in the United States, and ... enable [people] to identify groups of roughly comparable institutions." For information on the Carnegie Classifications system, please visit their website: http://classifications.carnegiefoundation.org/
- Basic Type
- Research Universities (very high research activity)
- Size and Setting
- Large four-year, primarily residential
- Enrollment Profile
- High undergraduate
- Undergraduate Profile
- Full-time four-year, more selective, higher transfer-in
- Undergraduate Instructional Program
- Professions plus arts & sciences, high graduate coexistence
- Graduate Instructional Program
- Comprehensive doctoral (no medical/veterinary)
NOTE: Institutional classifications based on the Carnegie 2005 edition.
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Student Activities and Involvement at UNL
Students who are actively involved in their own learning and development are more likely to be successful in college. Colleges and universities offer students a wide variety of opportunities both inside and outside the classroom to become engaged with new ideas, people, and experiences. Institutions measure the effectiveness of these opportunities in a variety of ways to better understand what types of activities and programs students find the most helpful.
Institutions participating in the VSA program measure student involvement on campus using one of four national surveys. Results from the one survey are reported for a common set of questions selected as part of VSA. Following are the selected results from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). The questions have been grouped together in categories that are known to contribute to student learning and development. The results reported below are based on the responses of seniors who participated in the survey.
Group Learning Experiences
- 94% percent of seniors worked with classmates on assignments outside of class.
- 58% of seniors tutored or taught other students
- 26% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week participating in co-curricular activities such as student organizations and intramural sports
Active Learning Experiences
- 88% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week preparing for class
- 26% of seniors worked on a research project with a faculty member
- 58% of seniors participated in an internship, practicum, or field experience
- 64% of seniors participated in community service or volunteer work
- 20% of seniors participated in study abroad
- 96% of seniors made at least one class presentation last year
Institutional Commitment to Student Learning and Success
- 95% of seniors believe this institution provides support for student success
- 67% of seniors rated the quality of academic advising at this institution as good or excellent
- 53% of seniors reported that this institution provided help in coping with work, family and other non-academic responsibilities
- 92% of seniors reported working harder than they thought they could to meet an instructor's standards or expectations
Student Interaction with Campus Faculty and Staff
- 56% of seniors believed that the campus staff were helpful, considerate, or flexible
- 73% of seniors believed that faculty are available, helpful, or sympathetic
- 94% of seniors reported that faculty members provided prompt feedback on their academic performance
- 65% of seniors discussed readings or ideas with faculty members outside of class
Experiences with Diverse Groups of People and Ideas
- 63% of seniors reported that they often tried to understand someone else's point of view
- 86% of seniors reported their experience at this institution contributed to their understanding people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds
- 43% of seniors often had serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity
Student Satisfaction
- 83% of seniors would attend this institution if they started over again
- 82% of seniors rated their entire educational experience as good or excellent
- 83% of seniors reported that other students were friendly or supportive
Evaluation of Experiences
Survey Administration Process
Survey Information
Majors and Degrees
| Degrees awarded at University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2010-11 | |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 3,621 |
| Master's | 874 |
| Doctoral | 426 |
| Total | 4,921 |
More Information
| Areas of Study with the largest number of bachelor's degrees awarded in 2010-11 | |
|---|---|
| BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT, MARKETING, AND RELATED SUPPORT SERVICES | 21% |
| EDUCATION | 19% |
| AGRICULTURE, AGRICULTURE OPERATIONS, AND RELATED SCIENCES | 12% |
| ENGINEERING | 11% |
| SOCIAL SCIENCES | 10% |
| Links to degree programs at University of Nebraska-Lincoln |
|---|
Bachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral |
Student Success & Progress Rate
A 89% four-year success and progress rate means that 89% of students starting in Fall 2005 either graduated or are still enrolled at a higher education institution four years later.
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Counts for the Fall 2005 entering class shown in the graph above.
- 3,538 First-Time, Full-Time Students
- 833 Full-Time Transfer Students
Success & Progress Rate Table
Retention of Freshman Class
First-time students in Fall 2010 that returned for their second year: 84%
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Student Learning at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
All colleges and universities use multiple approaches to measure student learning. Many of these are specific to particular disciplines, many are coordinated with accrediting agencies, and many are based on outcomes after students have graduated.
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln is a major research institution that places extraordinary emphasis on undergraduate learning and teaching. Our investment in undergraduate education reflects a core value: Learning that prepares students for lifetime success and leadership. This institutional commitment is realized through a three-stage process of outcomes assessment occurring at the institutional, college and program level. These three stages are: 1) Determining what the desired student learning outcomes are; 2) Identifying the best measures for determining whether these outcomes have been realized; and 3) Using the results of these measures to either confirm or improve instructional and curricular practice. The adoption of learning outcomes is seen as central to academic program quality and we have boldly adopted an outcomes-based approach to our new general education program, Achievement-Centered Education (ACE). In short, we fully understand that learning is the aim of all teaching and that identifying and verifying learning outcomes is an index of quality teaching. Our efforts to develop appropriate assessment programs will be and should be a continuous work in progress.
Learning Assessment Examples
Pilot Project to Measure Core Learning Outcomes
Colleges and universities participating in the College Portrait measure the typical improvement in students' abilities to think, reason, and write using one of three tests. This is part of a pilot project to better understand and compare what students learn between their freshman and senior years at different colleges and universities.
2010 - 11 Results from the College Assessment of Academic Proficiency (CAAP)
The Collegiate Assessment of Academic Proficiency (CAAP) measures critical thinking and written communication using two test modules -- critical thinking and a writing essay. The critical thinking and writing scores are reported separately below.
Test Administration Process
Test Information
Critical Thinking Results for First-time, Full-time Students
The increase in learning on the performance task is at or near what would be expected at an institution testing students of similar academic abilities.
Freshman Score: 62
Senior Score: 65
CAAP score range: 40 to 80
Average ACT scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 24
Senior Score: 24
Writing Essay Results for First-time, Full-time Students
The increase in learning on the performance task is at or near what would be expected at an institution testing students of similar academic abilities.
Freshman Score: 3
Senior Score: 3
CAAP score range: 1 to 6
Average ACT scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 25
Senior Score: 25