Can anyone tell the advantages of Raikes vs Honors. Is there any advantage. Is one more intense as far as classes needed.
As I understand it, Raikes is very specifically for business majors with CS/CE/EE minors or vice versa. Some honors classes in these fields are limited to Raikes students. You can major in anything and be in the University Honors so it may depend on how sure you are of your major. It also may be that the Raikes students are a closer-knit group. They would have many more of their classes together, since they represent only a few major/minor combinations and they live in their own (very nice) dorm (different from the University Honors program.)
I think Raikes is more well-known, probably in large part due to the uniqueness of the program. It’s a great program, but personally, I would only recommend it if your child is very sure of those majors or at lease ask what happens if he/she decides to change majors. The requirement for a minor may also add to the intensity of the program even if the classes themselves are not more intense than other Honors classes.
STEMFamily is right, and I’ll add a few more tidbits. (I have a son in the Raikes program so feel free to ask any specific questions you like, either here or by PM.) The Raikes program is generally geared toward those who want to combine Computer Science and Business as a major and minor (major in one of them, minor in the other); but having said that, I know of one alumna who was pre-med, and I’m sure other combinations are doable if the student is very passionate about their chosen field. The problem is with majors such as Chemical Engineering, for example, is that they have some specialized course requirements - and the Raikes program has its own special course requirements - so it can be very hard to finish everything in four years. Also, FYI, the Raikes program is a susbet of the Honors Program. I’ve known of several students who left the Raikes program, but they stayed at UNL and in the Honors Program.
Some of the Raikes classes (not all but some) are intense. but, if you want to be in the Raikes program, you will have all the help you need in order to stay there. My son was always into tech/programming/nerd stuff and his cohort is his second family. He hasn’t had any trouble with the classes but has helped others who did.
Wow, thanks for the great information!
Does anyone know the retention rate for the Raikes Program?
I’ve asked that, and it’s not a number they share. 
But anecdotally what I’ve heard is that students who leave Raikes do it not because of bad grades per se, but because they weren’t exposed to computer science before college, and they decide that they just don’t like it. Even though it only needs to be a minor, programming is part of most projects, so it can’t be avoided. (During Design Studio projects some students take on a management role but everyone needs to be a competent developer.) Side note: during the summer before you start, they send out some suggested programming lessons and upperclass students offer assistance, and that help continues as long as you need it.