Nebraska Lincoln SAT Scores, GPA, and ACT (2026)
By the Cheetah Prep team · Reviewed July 14, 2026
SAT middle 50 percent
1098 to 1330
Half of enrolled students at Nebraska Lincoln scored in this range on the SAT. One quarter scored above 1330, and one quarter below 1098.
- Average composite
- 1191
- Acceptance rate
- 87.5%
- ACT range
- 22 to 28
- Test policy
- Test optional
- Location
- Lincoln, NE
- Undergraduates
- 19,178
Nebraska Lincoln SAT Scores and Admissions
Admitted students at Nebraska Lincoln post SAT scores of 560 to 670 in Reading and Writing and 538 to 660 in Math, so the verbal section runs slightly ahead of the quant side. Put together, the middle 50 for the full test sits at 1098 to 1330, and the average composite lands at 1191 in the 2024 to 2025 data. For students who took the ACT instead, the middle 50 runs 22 to 28. Anyone comparing Nebraska Lincoln SAT scores against other Big Ten publics will notice the entry point is more forgiving than the conference's most selective campuses.
That matches the admissions picture. The University of Nebraska Lincoln admits 87.5% of applicants. In plain terms, out of every 1,000 students who apply, about 875 get an offer. The bar is real but low, and the students it filters out tend to have weak transcripts, not average test scores. It is a public university in Lincoln, NE, enrolling 19,178 students, big enough for wide course offerings but not one of the mega campuses.
Testing is optional in the 2024 to 2025 cycle, and that changes the math on your score. A number inside the middle 50 is worth sending because it confirms you belong. A number below it can simply stay home while the rest of your file carries the application.
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Nebraska Lincoln SAT Score Breakdown by Section
Here is the section by section SAT profile of enrolled students at Nebraska Lincoln, from the federal College Scorecard.
| Section | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Reading and Writing | 560 | 670 |
| Math | 538 | 660 |
| CompositeTotal SAT | 1098 | 1330 |
The College Board reports section percentiles, not section averages, so an average is shown for the composite only.
Where this sits on the 400 to 1600 scale
1098 to 1330
Nebraska Lincoln Admissions Calculator: What Are Your Chances?
Enter your SAT score and unweighted GPA for an honest read on your chances of getting into Nebraska Lincoln, measured against real enrolled student data instead of a made up percentage.
No SAT score yet? Take the diagnostic and get a real number in about 25 minutes.
How this calculator works: your SAT is compared with Nebraska Lincoln's reported middle 50 percent range from the federal College Scorecard, your GPA is compared with the range admitted students at similarly selective schools typically present, and both are weighed against the school's real acceptance rate. We do not print a made up percent chance. No calculator can see your essays, your course rigor, or your recommendations, and at selective schools those decide close calls. Treat this as an honest read of your academic position, not a prediction.
Chances of Getting Into Nebraska Lincoln by SAT Score
Here is what specific scores mean at Nebraska Lincoln, based on its reported 1098 to 1330 middle 50 percent range. Find the row closest to your score, or use the calculator above for a read on your exact numbers. No made up percentages: each verdict is your real position in the enrolled class.
| SAT score | Where it lands | The honest read |
|---|---|---|
| 950 | Well below the 25th percentile | A 950 is well below the 1098 to 1330 range at Nebraska Lincoln. On testing alone this score does not keep the application in contention, so raising it is the priority. |
| 1050 | Just below the 25th percentile | A 1050 falls just short of Nebraska Lincoln's 25th percentile of 1098. Some students get in below the range, but they usually bring something exceptional elsewhere in the application. |
| 1210 | Inside the middle 50 percent | A 1210 sits inside the 1098 to 1330 range, matching the profile of enrolled students. This is a competitive score here. |
| 1330 | At the 75th percentile | A 1330 matches the 75th percentile at Nebraska Lincoln, stronger than about 3 out of 4 enrolled students. Testing is a clear strength at this level. |
| 1360 | Above the 75th percentile | A 1360 beats the 75th percentile at Nebraska Lincoln. The score is doing all it can; nothing more is gained by retaking. |
How to Raise Your SAT Score to Nebraska Lincoln's Range
The two targets that matter here are 1098, the score that puts you inside the admitted range, and 1330, the score that puts you in the top quarter. Here is the size of the jump from common starting points, with the step by step plan for each one.
| Starting score | To reach 1098 | To reach 1330 | The plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1000 | +98 points | +330 points | All score plans |
| 1100 | Already there | +230 points | 1100 to 1400 plan |
| 1200 | Already there | +130 points | 1200 to 1400 plan |
Not sure where you stand today? The diagnostic gives you a real starting score and a section breakdown in one sitting, so the gap you plan around is your actual gap.
What SAT Score Do You Need for Nebraska Lincoln?
Read the middle 50 as three zones. Below 1098, you trail 3 out of 4 admitted students, and while the 87.5% admit rate means you may still get in, your application is doing extra work. Inside 1098 to 1330, you look like a typical admit, and the rest of your file decides the outcome. Above 1330, you outscore 3 out of 4 admitted students, which can matter for honors programs and merit money even when admission itself is likely.
The gap between those zones is not small. The distance from the 25th percentile at 1098 to the 75th at 1330 is 232 points, so being inside the range covers a lot of ground. A 1120 and a 1310 are both typical admits, but they read very differently to a scholarship committee.
The section splits shift the target slightly. Reading and Writing sets the higher bar, 560 to 670 against Math's 538 to 660. A student strong in Math but sitting at 540 verbal is below the typical range on the section where Nebraska Lincoln admits score highest, so that is the section to fix first.
Nebraska Lincoln GPA Requirements
Admitted students at Nebraska Lincoln typically present an unweighted GPA around 3.0 to 3.5. That band leaves room for a rough semester or two, and it reflects a school that admits 87.5% of applicants rather than one hunting for perfect transcripts. Most of the entering class earned solid grades in a normal college prep schedule, not a wall of A grades.
Still, the number on its own is only half the story. A 3.3 earned in honors and AP courses reads differently than a 3.3 built on the lightest schedule available, and admissions readers weigh the difficulty of what you took as much as the grade you got. Grade trend matters too. A transcript that climbs from a shaky start reads better than one that drifts down through junior year.
If your GPA sits near the bottom of that band, the fastest offset is a strong SAT. A score at or above 1330 puts you past 3 out of 4 admitted students and gives the file a concrete data point that outweighs a slow start in 9th grade.
Typical admitted GPA
Admitted students at Nebraska Lincoln typically present a GPA in the 3.0 to 3.5 range on an unweighted 4.0 scale. Steady grades in a reasonable course load are usually enough on the GPA side of the application.
If your GPA sits at or below this range, a strong SAT score is the fastest way to stay competitive, since grades are hard to move late in high school. See where your SAT score really stands and build the plan around the gap.
These are unweighted grades on a 4.0 scale. A school that weights GPA or reports a different scale will show a higher number.
Nebraska Lincoln SAT Testing Policy
Nebraska Lincoln considered scores without requiring them (test optional) in the most recent federal data. Testing policies change year to year, so confirm the current 2026-2027policy on the school's admissions site before you decide whether to submit scores.
Should you submit your score?
Submit your score when it is at or above 1214, the middle of Nebraska Lincoln's range. If you are below 1098, the 25th percentile, consider holding your score and letting your grades, essays, and activities carry the application.
Last verified July 14, 2026
Should You Submit Your SAT Score to Nebraska Lincoln?
Nebraska Lincoln was test optional in the most recent federal data, which turns your score into a strategic choice. The folk theory that applying without scores signals weakness is overstated, but the math of what helps is simple: a score that lands inside or above the admitted range works for you, and a score well below it does not.
1210+
Submit
At or above the middle of the admitted range, submitting clearly helps. A real data point beats an open question.
1098 to 1210
Lean submit
Inside the range, most counselors say send it: you are within the profile of enrolled students, and holding it back leaves the reader guessing.
Below 1098
Usually hold it
Below the 25th percentile the score rarely helps at Nebraska Lincoln. Apply without it, or better, close the gap first. Scores can still matter for merit scholarships elsewhere on your list.
Policy as reported for the 2024-2025 cycle. We verified it against Nebraska Lincoln's own site, where any mid cycle change would appear first.
Nebraska Lincoln ACT Scores: Should You Take the SAT or ACT?
The middle 50 percent of enrolled students at Nebraska Lincoln scored between 22 and 28 on the ACT, alongside the 1098 to 1330 SAT range. Like nearly every US college, Nebraska Lincoln states no preference between the two tests. The right move is to take whichever test converts higher for you, using the official concordance below, and send that one.
| ACT composite | SAT equivalent |
|---|---|
| 28 | 1300 to 1320 |
| 27 | 1260 to 1290 |
| 26 | 1230 to 1250 |
| 25 | 1200 to 1220 |
| 24 | 1160 to 1190 |
| 23 | 1130 to 1150 |
| 22 | 1100 to 1120 |
| 21 | 1060 to 1090 |
SAT equivalents from the official College Board and ACT concordance tables. Highlighted rows fall inside Nebraska Lincoln's ACT middle 50 percent.
How to Get Into Nebraska Lincoln
Set two numbers on the wall. The 25th percentile composite is 1098 and the 75th is 1330. Hitting 1098 or better keeps you inside the range of admitted students, and 1330 or better puts you in the top quarter of the class. Section by section, that means clearing 560 in Reading and Writing and 538 in Math at minimum, then pushing toward the 75th percentile marks of 670 and 660 if you want to stand out for scholarships. Our score plans break those composite targets into weekly practice blocks so the gap closes on a schedule instead of by luck.
Since testing is optional here, submit only if your score lands inside or above the middle 50. A 1150 helps you. A 1050 does not, and you are better off leaving it out and letting your transcript speak. You cannot make that call without a real baseline, so take the diagnostic this week and see exactly how far you sit from 1098. If the answer is under 100 points, a few focused weeks of practice can move you from optional to worth sending.
How Hard Is It to Get Into Nebraska Lincoln?
Nebraska Lincoln admits about 875 of every 1,000 applicants, and enrolls an undergraduate class of about 19,178. That ratio, not any single cutoff, is what makes the admitted profile look the way it does: when a school turns away 125 of every 1,000 people who apply, the students who get in cluster at the top of every measurable scale.
For perspective against the country as a whole: Nebraska Lincoln's 25th percentile score of 1098 already beats roughly 58% of all SAT takers nationally, and its 75th percentile of 1330 sits around the 89th percentile. A score that feels middling on this page is an excellent score almost anywhere else, which is worth remembering when you build the rest of your list.
Colleges Similar to Nebraska Lincoln: Reach, Match, and Safety Options
Real reported ranges from schools students often consider alongside Nebraska Lincoln, ordered by acceptance rate. Odds are compared on acceptance rate first, because a school with a lower SAT average can still be far harder to get into.
| School | SAT middle 50 percent | Acceptance rate | Odds vs Nebraska Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska Lincoln | 1098 to 1330 | 87.5% | This page |
| Spelman | 1108 to 1320 | 24.9% | Harder to get into than Nebraska Lincolnsimilar SAT range |
| UCF | 1200 to 1350 | 40.1% | Harder to get into than Nebraska LincolnSAT about 61 higher |
| Texas A&M University College Station | 1150 to 1400 | 57.4% | Harder to get into than Nebraska LincolnSAT about 61 higher |
| CUNY Queens | 1010 to 1290 | 64.3% | Harder to get into than Nebraska LincolnSAT about 64 lower |
| Rhode Island (RI) | 1020 to 1280 | 72.2% | Similar oddsSAT about 64 lower |
| Rowan | 1110 to 1310 | 77.7% | Similar oddssimilar SAT range |
How Recent Are These Nebraska Lincoln SAT Scores?
Every score, rate, and enrollment figure on this page comes from the US Department of Education College Scorecard, 2024-2025 release, the same federal dataset colleges report into. Testing policy reflects the 2024-2025 admissions cycle. This page was last reviewed July 14, 2026.
Score ranges quoted around the web for Nebraska Lincoln disagree with each other more than you would expect, usually because a site is quoting an older class or an unlabeled estimate. We publish the reported number, label the vintage, and update when the source updates. We also cross checked Nebraska Lincoln's own admissions site, where any change would appear first.
Nebraska Lincoln SAT Scores and GPA: Frequently Asked Questions
What SAT score do you need to get into Nebraska Lincoln?
Nebraska Lincoln's middle 50 percent SAT range is 1098 to 1330. Aim for at least 1098 to be competitive, and 1330 or higher to be a strong applicant. There is no hard cutoff, but a score in or above this range keeps your application in contention.
Is a 1098 a good SAT score for Nebraska Lincoln?
A 1098 sits at Nebraska Lincoln's 25th percentile, the lower edge of its middle 50 percent range of 1098 to 1330. It keeps you in range, but a score closer to 1330 makes your application stronger.
What is the average SAT score at Nebraska Lincoln?
The average composite SAT score at Nebraska Lincoln is 1191. The middle 50 percent of enrolled students scored between 1098 and 1330.
Does Nebraska Lincoln require SAT scores?
No. Nebraska Lincoln was test optional in the most recent federal data, so you can apply without SAT scores. Confirm the current 2026-2027 policy on the school's admissions site before you decide whether to submit.
Is Nebraska Lincoln test optional for 2026-2027?
Nebraska Lincoln was test optional in the most recent federal data, meaning you could apply without scores. Policies change year to year, so verify the 2026-2027 policy on the school's admissions site.
What ACT score do you need for Nebraska Lincoln?
Nebraska Lincoln's middle 50 percent ACT range is 22 to 28. Aim for at least 22 to be competitive and 28 or higher to be a strong applicant. A strong ACT can stand in for the SAT at Nebraska Lincoln.
What GPA do you need to get into Nebraska Lincoln?
Admitted students at Nebraska Lincoln typically present an unweighted GPA in the 3.0 to 3.5 range on the 4.0 scale, based on schools with a comparable acceptance rate. Grades earned in rigorous courses matter as much as the number itself, and a strong SAT score is the fastest way to offset a GPA at the lower edge of that range.
What is Nebraska Lincoln's acceptance rate?
Nebraska Lincoln admits about 87.5% of applicants, which makes it less selective. A strong SAT score still helps your application stand out, especially for selective majors, honors programs, and merit scholarships.
What are my chances of getting into Nebraska Lincoln?
Nebraska Lincoln admits about 87.5% of applicants, so your chances depend on where you sit against the admitted pool. The middle 50 percent of enrolled students scored 1098 to 1330 on the SAT and admitted students typically carry an unweighted GPA around 3.0 to 3.5. A score above 1330 puts you in the strongest quarter of the class on testing. Use the admissions calculator on this page to check your own SAT and GPA against Nebraska Lincoln's real numbers.
How can I raise my SAT score for Nebraska Lincoln?
Focus your prep on the section costing you the most points, then follow a study plan built for your target score range. Cheetah Prep has step by step score plans for specific point jumps and unlimited practice questions with worked solutions.
Does Nebraska Lincoln superscore the SAT?
Superscore policies vary by school and change year to year, and Nebraska Lincoln does not report this in the federal data. Check the school's admissions site for its current superscore policy, which tells you whether it combines your best section scores across test dates.
About this page: written and reviewed by the Cheetah Prep team. Last reviewed July 14, 2026.
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