The University of Nebraska–Lincoln is the state's flagship public research university and a member of the Big Ten. It is best known for agriculture, engineering, business, actuarial science and journalism, with some of the lowest non-resident tuition of any Big Ten university. Choose it for an affordable public degree in a safe, friendly college city.
Lincoln, United States
Official website: unl.edu
#701
Member of the Big Ten academic alliance
R1 — very high research activity
Among the lowest non-resident tuition in the Big Ten
$24,000 – $29,000
International students, non-resident undergraduate and master's rates
$12,000 – $16,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on unl.edu before you apply.
MS Computer Science
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MS Electrical Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MS Business Analytics
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MBA (College of Business)
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MS Agronomy
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
BS Actuarial Science
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
Agriculture — a leading land-grant programme in one of the world's great farming regions.
Actuarial science — a Center of Actuarial Excellence recognised by the Society of Actuaries.
Memorial Stadium — sold out for every home football game since 1962.
Nebraska Innovation Campus — a research park beside the main campus.
Graduates join Kiewit, Union Pacific, Mutual of Omaha, Hudl and Omaha's finance and tech firms.
STEM master's graduates can work in the US for up to three years on OPT.
Actuarial science graduates report placement rates above 90% into insurance and consulting roles.
Agriculture and agronomy alumni work for Bayer, Corteva and agri-tech firms.
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Varies by programme
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Varies by programme
The City Campus sits beside downtown Lincoln, with the student union, library and Memorial Stadium close together, and the East Campus for agriculture two miles away by free bus.
Lincoln is a safe, affordable state capital of about 290,000 people with a lively downtown next to campus. Omaha is an hour away.
Form I-20 issued by Nebraska
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
Undergraduate admission is rolling, with a 1 November 2026 priority date for fall 2027 that gives the best chance at scholarships; international applicants should apply by May to leave time for the visa. Graduate deadlines are set by each programme, with most engineering and computer science master's closing between December and March.
Undergraduates can start in fall (August) or spring (January). Most engineering, computer science and agronomy master's programmes also admit for spring, as does the MBA, while business analytics is fall only. Check your programme's admissions page to confirm.
You need an F-1 student visa. International Student and Scholar Services issues your Form I-20 after you accept the offer and submit proof of funding. Then pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 and book an interview at a US embassy or consulate.
Computer science, electrical engineering, business analytics, the MBA and agronomy attract the most international applicants. Graduate admission needs a bachelor's degree with a GPA of at least 3.0, TOEFL 79 or IELTS 6.5, and the GRE for some programmes. Undergraduate admission is based mainly on grades.
Yes. International undergraduates are automatically considered for merit scholarships worth up to several thousand dollars a year based on their grades, if they apply by the priority date. Graduate students can apply for teaching and research assistantships, which are common in agriculture, engineering and the sciences.
