UNL Housing Costs

$3,442 Other Living Expenses Typical Cost

What Are the Living Expenses at UNL?

Make the best college choice by understanding the true cost of college. Start by understanding the yearly costs at University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

On this page you will find:

Living Expenses Outline
Room & Board Trends and Total Expenses
Meal Plans and Housing Requirements
References

Housing and Meal Plan Costs at UNL

Housing and meal plans are priced out separately here. The standard student paid $8,120 in 2026, with the price of an average meal plan at $6,000. Taken together, an on-campus student at University of Nebraska-Lincoln budgeted around $21,662 in 2026 across housing, dining, books and other living expenses.

The following table outlines average expected costs for both on-campus and off-campus housing, meals and other expenses at University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Expense	On Campus	Off Campus
Room and Board	$17,120	$17,120
— Housing	$8,120
— Meals	$6,000
Other Living Expenses	$3,442	$3,442
Books and Supplies	$1,100	$1,100
Total	$21,662	$21,662

The Projected Cost of Living On Campus? Four-Year Forecast: $93,510

Like tuition, room and board usually rises a little each year. Projecting the trend helps you plan for all four years instead of only the first.

Over the course of obtaining your degree, expect on-campus living costs near $93,510 in housing, food and other expenses.

Below is how room and board has changed across recent reported years — and where current trends point — at University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Year	Room & Board
Three Years Ago	$15,344
Two Years Ago	$16,010
One Year Ago	$17,298
Most Recent Year (2026)	$17,120
One Year From Now *	$17,780
Two Years From Now *	$18,466
Three Years From Now *	$19,178
Four Years From Now *	$19,918

* estimated

Over the reported period, on-campus housing and dining changed about 3.9% a year over the last three years. If current trends continue, incoming first-year students would pay about $22,322 in their first year.

Continuing the same trend, the final-year cost would be roughly $24,460 in year four — and a two-year student about $23,008 in their second and final year.

Across all four years, on-campus living costs would total approximately $93,510 for a bachelor’s, while two years would run about $45,330 over a two-year associate program.

Plan for Cost Creep

Room and board tends to rise year over year at most schools, so a freshman should expect to pay more by senior year.

Meal Plans and Housing Requirements at UNL

Dining plans vary from school to school. Here, plans are structured around a set number of meals per week — see the maximum plan in the table below. Review the table below for the on-campus housing details this school reports.