A Strong Foundation

Always a place of restlessness and high ambition, this was the first institution in the American West to grant the Ph.D. degree. It established the world's first undergraduate psychology laboratory. The discipline of ecology was born here, and the campuses are today reflective of that tradition, being recognized as botanical gardens and arboreta. An early institutional interest in literature and the arts provided the foundations for today's Prairie Schooner literary magazine, for the University of Nebraska Press, and for the Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery and Sculpture Garden, which houses one of the world's most significant collections of 20th century American art.

A strong history is important, but not as important as a vital present. Today, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln is one of the nation's leading teaching institutions, and a research leader with a wide array of grant-funded projects aimed at broadening knowledge in the sciences and humanities.

 

Husker Pride, Deep Down Inside

Nebraska Cornhusker athletics have always stood for excellence both on and off the field. From winning two of three games against Notre Dame's famed Four Horsemen in the 1920s, to the five national championships won since 1970, Husker football has always been the centerpiece of Nebraska spirit. But it doesn't end there. Husker athletic teams excel in many other sports as well, with recent national championships in volleyball and bowling, and numerous conference championships. The marching band, 'The Pride of All Nebraska,' has been honored with the prestigious Sudler Award from the John Philip Sousa Foundation, given annually to the nation's top collegiate marching band. And Husker athletes are students first. Cornhuskers have been honored with more Academic All-American awards, both in football and in all sports combined, than athletes of any other university.

 

At Home in Lincoln

Lincoln offers all the amenities of a midsize regional city of 250,000. Ranked in the Top 10 in many quality of life, safety, environmental and other studies, this is a remarkably comfortable and friendly place; when you're here, you're among friends. With more parkland per capita than any other city in the United States and an intricate trails network, Lincoln offers a wealth of outdoor diversions. Lincoln is also one of the fastest growing metro areas in the Midwest, with abundant employment opportunities.

Downtown Lincoln lies at the southern edge of UNL's City Campus, and is seasoned by coffee houses, theaters, specialty shops and restaurants offering cuisines from around the world. Shopping opportunities are everywhere, with national retailers anchoring large malls in both east and south Lincoln. Boutiques, galleries and salons are located in neighborhoods throughout the city. Lincoln is a great place to make friends and to be, or become, yourself.

 

Legend and Legacy

The University of Nebraska – Lincoln has been home to many legendary figures, including the literary naturalist Loren Eiseley, geneticist George Beadle, artists Aaron Douglas and Weldon Kees, social researcher Alvin Johnson, investor Warren Buffett, comedian Johnny Carson, diva Barbara Hendricks, artist and engineer Harold Edgerton, soldier John J. Pershing, authors Willa Cather and Mari Sandoz, and many others. Today, students are building on this legacy through their research involvement in fields as diverse as sociology, geosciences, virology and agricultural sciences.

 

On Becoming a UNL Student

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