Have you ever thought about attending an American university after you graduate from high school? Are you concerned that campus life in the United States might be overwhelming and that your English ability might not be good enough? If so, Nebraska can help. Our two-week American Campus Experience Program (ACEP) is designed to introduce international high school students to academic life in the U.S. and to help them build the skills and confidence they need to be successful in their future studies.
Why attend this program?
Academic Language Skills
Enhance your written and oral language skills by practicing academic writing, participating in group discussions and giving oral presentations.
College Workshops
Gain exposure to a variety of academic disciplines in which you might want to major through interactive workshops hosted by UNL colleges and departments.
Campus and U.S. Culture
Experience U.S. university culture and expectations through living in a campus residence hall and taking part in fun activities.
Cross-cultural Friendships
Develop friendships with students from the U.S. and other cultures while developing confidence in your own communication skills.
Program Information
Program Dates
July 21 to August 1, 2025
Participants should arrive on July 20 and depart on August 2, 2025. Transportation will be provided for arrivals and departures from the Lincoln Airport (LNK) on July 20 and August 2, 2025. Note that we cannot provide transportation for the airport in Omaha; therefore, we highly recommend participants use the Lincoln airport only.
Program Costs
Program Cost: $3,000
This cost includes all workshops, activities and events, housing, food, and transportation for the the two-week program.
Housing
Housing and food are included in the program costs and will be arranged for you by the ACEP program coordinator. The coordinator will provide more details about the exact locations as that information becomes available.
Housing
Because living on campus is an essential part of the overall experience, each participant will be assigned a roommate (whenever possible) and will stay in one of our traditional style residential facilities. A linen package will be provided that includes sheets, pillow, and comforter (blanket). A daily towel exchange is also included. Note that bathrooms and showers are communal on each floor and separated by gender. You can learn more about traditional style halls at the housing website:
Meals
Participants will eat at one of our several campus dining centers on campus. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included in the meal plan. You can learn more about the facilities by visiting our Dining Services website:
Health Insurance
Students are required to have health insurance for the duration of the program. Participants are advised to purchase travel insurance from a provider in their home country. UNL will provide transportation to and from medical facilities during medical emergencies. We will also have a CPR trained staff member available at all times.
Application and Payment
Application:
Attendees must be between the ages of 14-18 for this program. You must turn 14 by the starting date of the program. Apply for the program using the online application below (or click on one of the Apply Now links on this page). You will receive email confirmation once the form is received and the ACEP coordinator will reach out to you with more information by email.
Application Deadline: June 13, 2025
Application Fee: None
American Campus Experience Application
Payment Information:
Once your application has been approved, you will receive a link to our online payment system along with detailed instructions. Payment is handled through a third party vendor called StarRezEvents. Note that a $90 fee will be added to your bill to cover the credit card processing fee.
UNL Youth Safety Policy
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln has implemented a Youth Activity Safety Policy to provide a safe environment for youths participating in UNL sponsored activities, clinics or conferences. Our policy includes safe interaction guidelines as well as background and sex registry checks for Activity Workers. This policy will help to protect participating youths from potential misconduct incidents and help provide a safe, educational and enjoyable activity/program experience.
Activity Workers
- All Activity Workers must successfully pass a sex offender registry search for Nebraska and the state(s) they reside.
- All Activity Workers driving activity vehicles must successfully pass a Driving Record Check.
- In the case of an emergency or accident involving your youth, parents/guardians will be notified, following notification of the appropriate emergency personnel.
- All UNL activities will comply with UNL’s Youth Activities Safety Guidelines.
Disciplinary Action
The activity directors of University-sponsored activities, clinics and conferences reserve the right to immediately dismiss any youth from the activity, clinic or conference who is found to have violated behavioral expectations. Dismissed youth will be sent home at their expense and will be responsible for all other expenses associated with their dismissal. Parent(s)/guardian(s) will be immediately notified of the youth’s dismissal.