Why University of Nebraska?
The University of Nebraska College of Law offers a Big Ten legal education with a strong emphasis on practical skills, leadership development, and unique programs like Space, Cyber, & National Security Law.
University of Nebraska is a moderately selective JD program with an acceptance rate of approximately 60.9%. The median entering 1L profile is a 3.81 GPA and 158 LSAT, with the 25th–75th percentile bands at 3.60–3.98 GPA and 155–161 LSAT. The full-time first-year class is approximately 147 students. Recent graduates have placed most heavily in Nebraska, South Dakota, and Colorado — useful context if your geographic preference shapes your school list. University of Nebraska admitted few or zero transfer students in the most recent reporting cycle — transfer-in slots are extremely limited.
Specialty strengths
Class profile
- US News rank
- #62
- Median GPA
- 3.81
- 25th–75th: 3.60–3.98
- Median LSAT
- 158
- 25th–75th: 155–161
- Acceptance rate
- 60.9%
- Class size (FT 1L)
- 147
- Transfers admitted (2025)
- 0
- ABA 2025 reporting cycle
Top employment markets
- 1Nebraska
- 2South Dakota
- 3Colorado
Where the most recent graduating class concentrated employment, per the school's ABA 509 employment summary. Use this as a signal of where the alumni network and OCI recruiting pipeline are strongest.
Signature clinics
Clinical programs that define University of Nebraska's practical training. Mention specific clinic names in your "Why University of Nebraska" essay where they align with your interests.
- Weibling Entrepreneurship ClinicStudents assist start-up and early-stage businesses across Nebraska with various legal needs.
- First Amendment ClinicStudents work on local and regional cases concerning freedoms of speech, the press, assembly, and petition.
- Housing Justice ClinicStudents represent individuals and families facing eviction through court appearances and client advocacy.
- Nebraska Innocence ClinicStudents review and investigate cases for potential claims of innocence for individuals whose cases originated in Nebraska.
- Criminal ClinicStudents gain hands-on experience in criminal law matters.
- Debtor Defense ClinicStudents work with unrepresented individuals who have had judgments entered against them in collection cases.
Notable journals
Student-edited publications you could write for or cite as a research interest.
- Nebraska Law Review— Comments on national and international law, with a historical focus on Nebraska and Eighth Circuit law.
- Nebraska Journal on Advancing Justice— A peer-reviewed, open-access journal providing a forum for scholarly engagement on issues of advancing justice for all.
- Nebraska Law Review Bulletin— Critiques regional law.
Faculty highlights
Well-known faculty grouped by primary specialty. If a professor's scholarship aligns with your interests, name them in your essay and reference a specific paper or course.
Employment Law
- Richard Moberly· also Disability Law, Law and Technology
Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Kristen Blankley· also Arbitration, Mediation, Legal Ethics
Civil Clinical Law
- Kevin Ruser
Employment and Labor Law
- Steven Willborn· also Employment Discrimination
Juvenile and Family Law
- Eve Brank· also Elder Law, Fourth Amendment
Criminal Law
- Lori Hoetger· also Criminal Procedure, Mental Health Law
Faculty Editor-in-Chief for Nebraska Journal on Advancing Justice
- Danielle Jefferis
Director of the Nebraska Innocence Clinic
- Elizabeth Cole
What makes University of Nebraska distinctive
Programs, history, or institutional features that set this school apart beyond rank.
- ·Offers a first-of-its-kind J.D. concentration and LL.M. degree in Space, Cyber, & National Security Law.
- ·Provides a 3+3 program allowing qualified undergraduates to earn both a bachelor's and J.D. degree in six years.
- ·Offers numerous joint degree programs, including JD/MBA, JD/MPA, JD/MA (Political Science, Journalism, History, Social Gerontology), and JD/PhD (Psychology).
- ·Houses the Clayton K. Yeutter Institute for International Trade and Finance, an interdisciplinary institute focused on international business.
- ·Emphasizes experiential learning, with students gaining practical experience in clinics and professional skills courses.
Using this for your "Why University of Nebraska" essay
Strong "Why X Law School" essays are concrete and specific to the school — not interchangeable templates. Use these facts to anchor your essay, then layer on what you've found from the school's own faculty pages, clinical program descriptions, and journal listings.
Important note: admissions committees actively reject AI-written personal statements and "Why X" essays. Use this page as research material to write your own essay — never as a template to copy. Authentic, specific, personally-grounded reasoning is the only thing that wins these essays.
Frequently asked about University of Nebraska
What is the median GPA and LSAT at University of Nebraska?▾
University of Nebraska's most recent entering 1L class had a median GPA of 3.81 and a median LSAT of 158. The 25th–75th percentile range was 3.60–3.98 GPA and 155–161 LSAT. Per ABA 509 disclosures.
What is University of Nebraska's acceptance rate?▾
University of Nebraska's most recent reported acceptance rate was approximately 60.9%, per ABA 509 disclosures.
What clinics does University of Nebraska offer?▾
University of Nebraska's notable clinical programs include: Weibling Entrepreneurship Clinic, First Amendment Clinic, Housing Justice Clinic, Nebraska Innocence Clinic, Criminal Clinic. Visit the school's official clinical programs page for the full list.
What journals does University of Nebraska publish?▾
University of Nebraska's notable student-edited journals include: Nebraska Law Review, Nebraska Journal on Advancing Justice, Nebraska Law Review Bulletin.
Where do University of Nebraska graduates work?▾
University of Nebraska graduates concentrate employment in Nebraska, South Dakota, Colorado, per the school's most recent ABA 509 employment summary.
Schools similar to University of Nebraska
Other schools at a comparable rank tier — useful for building a transfer list, balanced 0L application list, or essay-research shortlist.
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