By Hola Nebraska
The University of Nebraska could raise average tuition by 4.25% for the next academic year if the Board of Regents approves the proposal during its Thursday, June 18 meeting in Lincoln.
The increase has not been approved yet. Regents are expected to consider the university system’s 2026-27 operating budget, which includes the tuition adjustment for students at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, University of Nebraska at Omaha, University of Nebraska at Kearney and University of Nebraska Medical Center.
The meeting is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. in the Board Room at Varner Hall, located at 3835 Holdrege Street in Lincoln.
The vote is scheduled for June 18 in Lincoln
The University of Nebraska Board of Regents has a public meeting scheduled for Thursday, June 18.
The university keeps meeting documents on its official website, including the notice, agenda and materials. The agenda can also be reviewed at the office of the Corporation Secretary of the Board of Regents at Varner Hall.
The June 18 vote will be the next formal step in deciding whether the proposed tuition increase takes effect for the next academic year.
For students and families planning college costs, the decision could affect budgets for tuition, fees, housing, transportation, books, financial aid and payment plans.
The proposal includes an average 4.25% increase
The proposal under consideration includes an average tuition increase of about 4.25% for students across the University of Nebraska system.
The adjustment is part of the 2026-27 operating budget. Because it is a systemwide average, the final impact may vary by campus, program, academic level, residency status and applicable fees.
The university had not approved the increase at the time of publication. Current students, incoming students and families should treat the figure as a pending proposal until regents vote.
The proposal comes after the Board of Regents approved an average 5% tuition increase in 2025 for fiscal year 2025-26, along with additional budget reductions.
The proposal comes amid budget pressure
The University of Nebraska is entering the new budget cycle with pressure from inflation, rising costs and a smaller-than-expected state funding increase.
The budget proposal accounts for a 0.621% increase in state appropriations for fiscal year 2026-27, along with a $5 million reduction in funding for biomedical research.
The university system has also made recent budget cuts. The University of Nebraska reported more than $40 million in reductions, including $27.5 million at the Lincoln campus and $4.5 million at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
In 2025, the university said the tuition increase and budget reductions were aimed at sustaining academic quality, access and financial stability across the system.
Read more: Nebraska Panhandle wildfire tops 23,000 acres
Four campuses are part of the state public university system
The University of Nebraska is the state’s only public university system.
The system includes four main campuses: the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, University of Nebraska at Omaha, University of Nebraska at Kearney and University of Nebraska Medical Center.
Together, the campuses enroll nearly 50,000 students and employ about 16,000 faculty and staff members.
For students in Omaha, Lincoln, Kearney and other Nebraska communities, the vote could change financial planning for the next academic year. The adjustment may also matter for families who rely on scholarships, loans, part-time jobs or payment plans.
The final impact would depend on campus and program
The 4.25% increase has been presented as a systemwide average, not as one flat rate for every student.
The final cost of attendance may change depending on campus, major, enrollment format, residency status, number of credit hours and program-specific fees.
Undergraduate and graduate students will need to review their university accounts, cost-of-attendance estimates and financial aid packages when the university publishes final rates.
Families will also need to account for additional costs, including housing, meals, books, transportation, class materials and required fees.
The increase would be part of the 2026-27 budget
The proposal is not limited to a standalone tuition decision. It is part of the University of Nebraska’s 2026-27 operating budget.
The budget sets resources for campus operations, academic programs, employees, student services, scholarships, research and facility maintenance.
The university has said it is seeking to maintain need-based and merit-based aid programs while facing operating costs and budget pressure.
If the Board of Regents approves the increase on June 18, the university would need to publish or update tuition and cost information for the next academic year.
Final rates would remain pending until after the vote
The 4.25% increase still needs approval from the Board of Regents before it can apply to the next academic year.
If the proposal moves forward, the University of Nebraska would need to update tuition, fee and cost information for each campus and program.
The final cost may vary depending on a student’s major, credit hours, residency status, required fees and financial aid package.
The June 18 decision will determine whether average University of Nebraska tuition rises 4.25% for the next academic year.
Stay informed about what’s happening in your community. Your source for stories that inspire — visit HolaNebraska.org for news, culture and community updates across Nebraska.