Is Abel Hall a good fit for a general first-year assignment?

Yes -- Abel is UNL's largest first-year traditional hall, with double and super-double rooms and community bathrooms. It also houses many of the First-Year Learning Communities and Themed Communities, which are typically grouped on their own floors, so an Abel assignment may or may not include a learning community depending on what your student applied for.

Does Abel Hall have air conditioning?

Yes. UNL's amenities chart states hall complexes include air conditioning, and Abel's own page lists in-room temperature control among the room features.

Can I loft my bed in Abel Hall?

Yes -- beds are loftable/adjustable to a regular (15"), captain's (34"), or lofted (58") setting, and in traditional halls like Abel they arrive already lofted at move-in. You can't bring an outside loft kit or modify the frame beyond what it's designed to accommodate, and UNL's policy states that by lofting your bed you assume some risk of injury. Rails come with every lofted bed; ladders can be requested through the Fix It system.

Lincoln, NE · Big Red Traditional Halls

Abel Hall Dorm Checklist 2026

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Double or super double room, community bathroom (coed hall, 1,004 residents, 13 floors, elevator)

Verified Aug 18, 2026 · housing.unl.edu

Abel is City Campus's largest hall, 1,004 residents. It is paired with Sandoz Hall around the Abel-Sandoz Welcome Center, which holds Abel Dining Center, Husker Heroes, and Herbie's Market.

Bed SizeXL Twin · 36"×80" (36-38" wide)
Under-Bed3 heights: 15", 34", 58" (pre-lofted)
ACYes
On-CampusRequired (first-year, 6+ credit hours; Aug 1 deadline)

✓ In the room

Extra-long twin bed and XL mattress on a loftable framedesk and chairdresser/counterclosetrefrigerator/freezer combo (4.3-4.8 cu ft)mirrorroll shades or blinds/curtainswastebasket and recycle binwired and wireless internetin-room temperature controlfree on-site laundry

✗ Not provided

XL twin beddingtowels and shower shoesmicrowavedesk lampfanhangerscleaning supplies

⊘ Prohibited

Candles/incense and flame-emitting articlesappliances with an open heating element or flame or over 800 wattspets other than fully aquatic fish (25-gal aquarium max)waterbedsstudent-supplied lofts and bed modificationsdisassembling university furniture

Abel's curbside move-in day is Tuesday, August 18, 2026 -- all curbside vehicles report to Memorial Stadium first, and elevators are restricted to staff use during the 8 a.m.-5 p.m. window, so plan on stairs.
UNL notes slight room-to-room variation in dimensions and recommends waiting until move-in to buy anything that requires an exact fit.

Living in Abel Hall: what to know before you pack

The room

Abel Hall rooms are traditional doubles and super doubles: extra-long twin beds on loftable frames, desks with chairs, dresser/counter space, and closets, all provided and required to stay in the room. A refrigerator/freezer combo (4.3-4.8 cu ft) comes standard, so skip packing your own. UNL also supplies a mirror, roll shades or blinds, and a wastebasket and recycle bin -- three things families routinely buy twice. Bathrooms are community-style down the hall, not en-suite. Because Housing flags minor room-to-room variation in exact dimensions, hold off on shelving, rugs, or storage bins sized to the inch until you've seen the space on move-in day. Internet is wired and wireless, and the room has its own in-room temperature control.

Day to day

Abel is the largest hall on City Campus -- 1,004 residents across 13 floors with an elevator -- and it anchors the Abel-Sandoz complex with Sandoz next door. Many of UNL's First-Year Learning Communities and Themed Communities are housed in Abel, generally grouped together on a floor, so a first-year assignment here can come with a built-in academic cohort rather than a purely random draw. Abel Dining Center, Husker Heroes, and Herbie's Market sit in the adjoining Abel-Sandoz Welcome Center, and the hall has front desk services, a nearby fitness room, and plenty of study rooms. Laundry is on site and included in the contract. Every resident is automatically a member of the Residence Hall Association.

Move-in day

Abel Hall's curbside move-in day is Tuesday, August 18, 2026, alongside Sandoz, Kauffman, Selleck, and Village. Every vehicle in your party reports to Memorial Stadium first for check-in, then one vehicle is routed to Abel for unloading while the rest are directed to long-term parking. Arrive no sooner than 30 minutes before your assigned time; that time is emailed to your Huskers account on July 22, 2026. Elevator use is restricted during the 8 a.m.-5 p.m. curbside window, so families are directed to the stairs -- in a 13-floor building that is worth planning around. No U-Hauls, trailers, or campers, and carry fragile items (monitors, laptops, bicycles) up yourself. If you can't make your slot, reschedule in the Housing Portal and use self-serve move-in instead: after 6 p.m. August 16-19, or 10 a.m.-8 p.m. from August 20 on.

Room ideas

See The Raised Bed styled

The frame goes up, and the floor underneath comes back as storage.

Styled render — not a photo of Abel Hall.

Dorm shopping guides: Mini fridge · Surge protector · Storage bins · Mattress topper · Desk lamp · Bedding sets · Twin XL sheets · Shower caddy · Towels · Shower shoes · Laundry hamper · Area rug · Mirror · Over-door organizer · Closet organizers · Fans (no AC) · Loft bed setup

Sources & verification — last checked Aug 18, 2026

Abel Hall FAQ

Is Abel Hall a good fit for a general first-year assignment?: Yes -- Abel is UNL's largest first-year traditional hall, with double and super-double rooms and community bathrooms. It also houses many of the First-Year Learning Communities and Themed Communities, which are typically grouped on their own floors, so an Abel assignment may or may not include a learning community depending on what your student applied for.
Does Abel Hall have air conditioning?: Yes. UNL's amenities chart states hall complexes include air conditioning, and Abel's own page lists in-room temperature control among the room features.
Can I loft my bed in Abel Hall?: Yes -- beds are loftable/adjustable to a regular (15"), captain's (34"), or lofted (58") setting, and in traditional halls like Abel they arrive already lofted at move-in. You can't bring an outside loft kit or modify the frame beyond what it's designed to accommodate, and UNL's policy states that by lofting your bed you assume some risk of injury. Rails come with every lofted bed; ladders can be requested through the Fix It system.
Is Abel Hall a good hall to live in?: That depends on what you're optimizing for, but here's what's verified: Abel Hall has XL Twin · 36"×80" (36-38" wide) beds with 3 heights: 15", 34", 58" (pre-lofted) of under-bed storage, and is fully air conditioned. University of Nebraska-Lincoln provides Extra-long twin bed and XL mattress on a loftable frame, desk and chair, dresser/counter, closet, refrigerator/freezer combo (4.3-4.8 cu ft), mirror, roll shades or blinds/curtains, wastebasket and recycle bin, wired and wireless internet, in-room temperature control, free on-site laundry in every room. Compare those specifics against your priorities — or see how Abel Hall stacks up against University of Nebraska-Lincoln's other halls above.

Thinking About Living in Abel Hall Next Year?

If you're choosing housing for next year rather than packing for move-in, here's what's already verified about Abel Hall: it has XL Twin · 36"×80" (36-38" wide) beds with 3 heights: 15", 34", 58" (pre-lofted) of under-bed clearance, and the room is air conditioned. On top of that, the room comes with Extra-long twin bed and XL mattress on a loftable frame, desk and chair, dresser/counter, closet, refrigerator/freezer combo (4.3-4.8 cu ft), mirror, roll shades or blinds/curtains, wastebasket and recycle bin, wired and wireless internet, in-room temperature control, free on-site laundry; you'll need to bring XL twin bedding, towels and shower shoes, microwave, desk lamp, fan, hangers, cleaning supplies yourself; Candles/incense and flame-emitting articles, appliances with an open heating element or flame or over 800 watts, pets other than fully aquatic fish (25-gal aquarium max), waterbeds, student-supplied lofts and bed modifications, disassembling university furniture isn't allowed. The full day-to-day breakdown above covers the room, the building, and move-in day in more depth.

Still weighing this hall against others? Our guide on how to pick a dorm covers what actually matters, or see University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s other halls below.

More University of Nebraska-Lincoln halls

Each hall has its own verified checklist — pick yours for room-specific dimensions and packing lists.

← All University of Nebraska-Lincoln halls

Abel Hall Dorm Checklist 2026

Living in Abel Hall: what to know before you pack

The room

Day to day

Move-in day

See The Raised Bed styled

Everything for your Abel Hall room

Bedding

Fan — optional

Bathroom

Personal Care & Grooming

Self-Care Essentials

Storage & Organization

Closet Space-Savers

Tech & Power

Laundry

Desk & Study

Health & Safety

Comfort & Room

Kitchen & Dining

Misc Essentials

Move-In Day Gear

Abel Hall FAQ

Thinking About Living in Abel Hall Next Year?

More University of Nebraska-Lincoln halls