The University of Nebraska–Lincoln has enrolled its largest incoming class in nearly a decade, helping undergraduate enrollment reach its highest level since 2021.
UNL enrolled 4,845 first-time freshmen for the fall 2026 semester, an increase of 111 students, or 2.3 percent, from last year. It is the university’s largest freshman class since 2017 and the first to exceed 4,800 students since 2018.
The increase was led by Nebraska students. UNL enrolled 3,658 first-time freshmen from the state, approximately 3.3 percent more than last year and the university’s largest incoming resident class in a decade.
Overall undergraduate enrollment increased by 40 students to 19,416. While the 0.2-percent increase is modest, it marks UNL’s second consecutive year of undergraduate growth. The undergraduate population has increased by 457 students, or 2.4 percent, since 2023.
NU Interim Chancellor, Katherine Ankerson
“Every student who chooses Nebraska represents an opportunity to strengthen our state and our communities,” Interim Chancellor Katherine Ankerson said. “This year’s growth—including a larger first-year class and more first-generation students—shows that more students are seeing Nebraska as a place where they can build their futures.”
The incoming class includes 1,135 first-generation college students, 63 more than last year and an increase of 5.9 percent.
UNL reported increased interest from prospective Nebraska students throughout the recruitment process. Resident applications rose about six percent, admissions increased 4.5 percent and deposits were up approximately four percent. The university received about 19,300 undergraduate applications overall, surpassing its previous high set in 2022.
Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Services and Enrollment Management Monique Snowden credited campus recruitment teams with helping convert that interest into enrollment.
“We’re seeing momentum in the number of applications received, and we’re seeing it carry through to enrollment,” Snowden said. “They’re building relationships with students and families and helping them see what’s possible at Nebraska.”
Admissions personnel and university partners contacted about 85 percent of Nebraska’s high schools during the latest recruitment cycle. UNL has set a goal of reaching 90 percent. The university also expanded its partnership with Nebraska Extension and added a recruiter based in Scottsbluff to provide a year-round presence in western Nebraska.
More than 1,100 first-time freshmen from outside Nebraska also enrolled this fall. Minnesota, Illinois and Kansas are the leading home states among UNL’s nonresident students.
Despite the undergraduate gains, total UNL enrollment declined 1.6 percent to 23,577. Graduate enrollment fell from 3,961 students last year to 3,553 this fall—a decrease of 10.8 percent. UNL said that decline follows national trends associated with reductions in federal research funding.
The university’s student population represents 49 states and 92 of Nebraska’s 93 counties.
Across the University of Nebraska System, first-time freshman enrollment increased by 163 students to 7,987. Total system enrollment declined 1.4 percent, from 49,638 students last year to 48,948 this fall.
The NU System attributed the overall decline to several factors, including lower graduate and international enrollment, students completing their degrees more quickly and long-term demographic changes. International enrollment across the system fell 11 percent to 2,569 students.
The fall enrollment figures are based on the university’s annual sixth-day census, taken this year on August 31.