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A Message from President Gold on the NU System Budget (June 20)

University of Nebraska (NU) System President Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D.

University of Nebraska (NU) System President Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D.

Yesterday, the University of Nebraska Board of Regents approved our budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year. The approved budget includes a 5% tuition increase, as well as more than $20 million in additional cuts across the NU System.

These are not decisions we make lightly.

As I shared with the Board yesterday morning, I understand the impact that rising tuition can have on students and families and have felt these pressures myself as a first-generation college student. And yet, given the financial realities we face—modest state support that does not fully cover inflationary costs or strategic investments, and the significant challenges related to federal funding—we must act to preserve the high-quality, accessible education Nebraskans expect and deserve.

At the same time, the University of Nebraska is committed to doing its part to implement cost-saving measures. Our campus chancellors are working together with our budget team to understand the impact of future enrollment and research grants and contracts, and to make necessary reductions to achieve a structurally sound and balanced budget.

These difficult choices are guided by the strategic plan we developed together—built on five pillars of excellence in teaching, research, engagement, culture and stewardship. This plan is not just a vision; it is our day-to-day roadmap, helping us align our decisions with our highest priorities.

As we move forward, we are also working with our federal delegation to address federal actions that could negatively affect our university. While the landscape continues to evolve, we are staying engaged in national conversations and will continue to communicate about developments that may impact our mission.

Even as we navigate financial constraints and other challenges, we still have much to celebrate:

  • We awarded 7,261 degrees this spring across our four campuses—graduates who will power Nebraska’s workforce and communities.

  • We marked the grand opening of the Catalyst building in Omaha, a public-private redevelopment advancing innovation in medicine and health care.

  • We broke ground on an expanded Biomechanics Research Building at UNO, thanks to generous private support—positioning Nebraska as a global leader in human performance and health science.

  • And yesterday, the Board officially approved Dr. Neal Schnoor as the next chancellor of UNK. I’m confident Dr. Schnoor is the right leader at the right time. He brings deep experience, a clear vision, and the kind of energy that will inspire fresh momentum in Kearney and beyond.

These successes, and many others—from our strategic efforts to launch new degrees in robotics engineering and multidisciplinary studies, to our athletic achievements and student accomplishments—are powerful reminders of who we are and where we’re going.

We are on an odyssey to the extraordinary. Yes, we face challenges. But we are facing them together—with discipline, care, and a shared sense of purpose.

Thank you for all you do for the University of Nebraska and the people we serve. Your feedback on these and other matters is always appreciated.


Sincerely,

Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D.

President, University of Nebraska System


About the University of Nebraska System

The University of Nebraska is the state’s only public university system, made up of four campuses – UNL, UNO, UNK and UNMC – each with a distinct role and mission. Together the campuses enroll more than 50,000 students and employ 16,000 faculty and staff who serve the state, nation and world through education, research and outreach. For more information and news from the University of Nebraska, visit www.nebraska.edu/news.