Admissions data checked October 9, 2026 by Florida Test Prep.
University of Nebraska-Lincoln reports a middle 50% SAT of 1070 to 1310 (enrolled, fall 2025 7% of class). We use 1190 as a first planning target, then adjust it to the student's diagnostic and timeline. It is not an admission requirement or a guarantee.
| Middle 50% SAT | 1070 to 1310 (enrolled, fall 2025 7% of class) |
| Middle 50% ACT | 21 to 28 |
| Acceptance rate | 87.7% (fall 2025, 18,648 applicants) |
| Testing for 2026-27 | Test optional for fall 2027 admission; a score is still required for UNL's own Chancellor's and Regents merit scholarships (see money below) |
| Type | Public university |
Source: UNL official admissions data. A middle 50% describes the central half of the reported group, not a cutoff.
Nebraska's flagship; only 7% of its fall 2025 class submitted an SAT (81% submitted the ACT instead).
| School | Middle 50% SAT | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|
| Creighton University | 1280 to 1410 | 92.2% |
| University of Nebraska-Lincoln | 1070 to 1310 | 87.7% |
| University of Nebraska at Kearney | 903 to 1158 | 85.7% |
Cohorts differ by school (admitted vs enrolled, and year). See every school with its cohort and source on SAT Scores for Nebraska Colleges.
Nebraska has no statewide SAT/ACT-cutoff scholarship. Its only state-level aid, the Nebraska Opportunity Grant, is need-based and not tied to a test score, so the clearest score-tied money in the state is the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's own automatic merit grid.
UNL Chancellor's Tuition Scholarship (in-state): Up to $8,000/year ($4,000/semester) toward UNL tuition for up to 4 years; renewal needs a 3.500 cumulative GPA.
UNL Regents Scholar Tuition Commitment (in-state): Full UNL undergraduate tuition for up to 120 credit hours or a bachelor's degree, including differential tuition; needs a 3.500 cumulative GPA or the upper 25% of class rank to renew.
The full rules, deadlines and class years are on our Nebraska SAT prep page.
| College | State | Middle 50% SAT |
|---|---|---|
| Appalachian State University | North Carolina | 1110 to 1270 |
| Loyola University New Orleans | Louisiana | 1093 to 1285 |
| Old Dominion University | Virginia | 1120 to 1270 |
| Portland State University | Oregon | 1100 to 1290 |
A score that is competitive at UNL lands in the same part of the range at these schools. Cohorts differ by school, so read each page's notes before comparing.
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Find my teen's target scoreThere is no published minimum; the middle half of the reported group scored 1070 to 1310. A score at or above 1310 puts a student in the top quarter of that group. A score near 1070 is within the range, and grades, coursework and the rest of the application still decide the outcome.
UNL lists its policy as: Test optional for fall 2027 admission; a score is still required for UNL's own Chancellor's and Regents merit scholarships (see money below). Check the official admissions page for your entry term before choosing test dates.
87.7% (fall 2025, 18,648 applicants). Rates vary by program and residency, so read the overall figure as context, not a personal prediction.
No. A middle 50% is a description of last year's group, not a cutoff in either direction. It tells you where a score is competitive, which is the useful part for planning test dates.
Want to know what your teen needs for UNL? Their target, their gap and the weeks to close it are what we map in the free Strategy Session.
Book the free Strategy Session. You leave with your teen's target score, their gap, and a 6 to 12 week plan. Yours to keep either way.
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