undergrad-partner-school

University of Nebraska at Kearney

Kearney , NE

The University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK) is a public university located in Kearney, Nebraska. Established in 1905, UNK is part of the University of Nebraska System and offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs. The university is known for its strong focus on quality education, hands-on learning experiences, and commitment to academic excellence.

UNK offers over 170 majors and programs across four colleges: the College of Business and Technology, the College of Education, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the College of Health Sciences. The university is dedicated to providing students with a well-rounded education that combines classroom instruction with practical experiences, including internships, research projects, and community service. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 15:1, UNK promotes close relationships between students and professors, fostering a supportive and personalized learning environment.

In addition to academics, UNK offers a vibrant campus life with numerous extracurricular activities, clubs, and organizations for students to get involved in. The university is home to NCAA Division II athletics teams, known as the Lopers, who compete in the MIAA conference. The campus also houses state-of-the-art facilities such as the Health Science Education Complex, the Ron and Carol Cope Center for Health Sciences Simulation, and the Fine Arts Building. Overall, the University of Nebraska at Kearney provides a welcoming, inclusive, and intellectually stimulating environment for students to pursue their educational and personal goals.

University of Nebraska at Kearney is a public comprehensive higher education institution located in Kearney, NE. This academic institution uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 89%. The freshman retention rate at University of Nebraska at Kearney is 80% and the six-year graduation rate is 58%.

Here are some vital information on important things to consider about University of Nebraska at Kearney.

Quick Facts

4,214

Total Number of Undergraduate Students

14:1

Student to Faculty Ratio

58%

Graduation Rate

Admissions

In order to increase your chances of getting admitted, you need to know as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission. Discover some relevant facts about admission policy and requirements at University of Nebraska at Kearney.

According to the newest data, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 4,728 in 2025. University of Nebraska at Kearney has an official test-optional admission policy but takes into consideration standardized test scores if the applicant chooses to submit them. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.

Test Scores

Out of the number of those who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 4% and ACT scores 88%. 2.7% of the first-year students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 9% between 1,200 and 1,399, 67% between 1,000 and 1,199, 18% of the students between 800 and 999, and 6% between 600 and 799. The percent of first-year students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 6, 26 between 24-29, 50 in the range between 18-23, 18 between 12-17, and 0.14 between 6-11.

The ACT composite average score for all the admitted students in 2025 was 22 while the average GPA was 3.54. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into University of Nebraska at Kearney; the same goes for your ACT score.

The SAT Critical Reading average score was 539 for the accepted students, while the average SAT Math score was 527.

Average Test Scores

Retention Rate

The freshman retention rate is defined as the percentage of first-year students who return for their sophomore year at a college or university. This piece of data is important as it can reveal to the prospective students how many freshmen liked the school enough to return to it as sophomores.

The freshman retention rate for University of Nebraska at Kearney was 80% in 2025, a testament to the outstanding educational experience provided by this institution.

Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. This academic institution has the six-year graduation rate of 58%.

Student Body

Choosing a school that is the right match for you is not a simple task. Knowing more about the student population can help you get a better idea of the school's culture and life.

Main Student Body

The total number of students enrolled at University of Nebraska at Kearney in 2025 was 5,882.

The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the school was 4,214, 177 of which were international students. The school admitted a total of 296 transfer students.

Student Population Gender Ratio

With a coeducational student body, the school had 1,538 male and 2,463 female full-time students in 2025. There were 70 full-time graduate male and 195 full-time graduate female students at this school.

Student Population Diversity

In order to enhance a sense of inclusion and belonging among its students, higher education is dedicated to increasing student diversity. Diversity promotes critical thinking, challenges preconceived notions, and encourages intellectual growth, so it helps students develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world. Find out more about different ethnic groups you can meet at University of Nebraska at Kearney.

This school had 33 Asian students and 114 Afro-American students in 2025. 620 students at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 111 as multirace. The school also had 8 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 11 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 14 students whose ethnicity is unknown.

Financial Aid

There are different types of financial support: grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study programs. Check out some recent data to get the information about need-based and non-need-based monetary aid available at University of Nebraska at Kearney.

According to the most recent data, 583 freshmen were awarded financial aid. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $14,493.

Need-based

If you need help with paying for your studies and you meet some eligibility requirements, you may be eligible for need-based aid.

2,167 students received some form of need-based financial aid. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was found to be 2,326. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution totaled $8,146,513, and state $2,469,118. The students of University of Nebraska at Kearney received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $10,242,184, and external in the amount of $4,091,810.

$7,903

Average Amount of Aid Received

Non-Need Based

Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.

305 students, including freshmen, obtained institutional non-need-based financial aid at this institution in 2025. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 118 full-time freshmen. Federal non-need-based scholarships and grants totaled $8,146,513 for students at this institution, while state aid came to $11,316. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $7,973,557. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $1,677,385 USD.

Majors

Faculty

14:1

Student to Faculty Ratio

The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.

According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at University of Nebraska at Kearney was 14:1: that means 14 students per one teacher. The faculty of this school consists of 439 members, according to the most recent data reported. Out of that number, there were 187 male and 252 female faculty members. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at University of Nebraska at Kearney.

Student Population Diversity Graph

0
100
0
100

Campus Life

It is not all about learning and grades at University of Nebraska at Kearney: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Check out some information about campus life at University of Nebraska at Kearney.

Its campus spans 501 acres.

Student Organizations

Student organizations are run by students of an institution, and its membership usually consists only of current students and/or alumni.

That includes sororities and fraternities. At this school, 12.6% of male students are members of social organizations, while that percentage is 10.9 for female students. If you are interested in music, you can join the University of Nebraska at Kearney band or chorus. There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. For students looking to explore media and communication, University of Nebraska at Kearney publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.

Student Services

At University of Nebraska at Kearney, there are many amenities that make life on campus pleasant and safe.

There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. There is a round-the-clock security patrol. The after-hours transportation/escort service is available.

There is a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Veteran's Affairs and Women's Center are available to the students of University of Nebraska at Kearney.

All in all, campus life at University of Nebraska at Kearney is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.

Career Services

Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at University of Nebraska at Kearney.

Career Counselling

At University of Nebraska at Kearney, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students.

FAQ

University of Nebraska at Kearney is located in Kearney, NE.

This school uses standardized test scores for admission.

According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for University of Nebraska at Kearney is 89%.

According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for University of Nebraska at Kearney is 80%.

Contact Information

University of Nebraska at Kearney

2504 9th Avenue

Kearney , NE

68849

308 865-8441

School Website

Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.

Find the best schools for you.

Need help with choosing grad school? We got you.

Get started