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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 school 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%.
Read more about what University of Nebraska at Kearney has to offer based on the most recent data this institution has reported.
Quick Facts
4,214
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
14:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
58%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you know as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission, you can make a better judgment about your eligibility and boost your chances of getting accepted. Learn some vital facts about admission policy and requirements at University of Nebraska at Kearney.
According to the most recent data, this institution 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
4% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 88% submitted ACT scores, out of the overall number of those who submitted test scores. 2.7% of the new 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% between 800 and 999, and 6% of the students between 600 and 799. The percent of incoming freshmen 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 enrolled first-year students, while the average SAT Math score was 527.
Retention Rate
What is the freshman retention rate? The freshman retention rate is the percentage of full-time students who entered the institution as freshmen in the previous academic year and returned for the fall term of the current academic year. When creating your list of possible schools to attend, you should consider the freshman retention rate, among other things.
The freshman retention rate for University of Nebraska at Kearney was 80% in 2025, demonstrating the exceptional quality of the educational experience at this institution.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. The six-year graduation rate at this school is 58%.
Student Body
Figuring out which school is the right fit for you is not a task you should take lightly. Having a better insight into a school's student body helps you learn more about its culture and life.
Main Student Body
The overall number of students enrolled at University of Nebraska at Kearney in 2025 was 5,882.
The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the institution was 4,214, 177 of which were international students. The school admitted a total of 296 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 1,538 male and 2,463 female full-time students in 2025. This school had 70 full-time graduate male and 195 full-time graduate female students at this school.
Student Population Diversity
When it comes to improving a sense of inclusion and belonging among students, there is no denying the importance of student diversity. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of students of Asian origin was 33, and the number of African American students was 114. 620 undergraduate students at this school declared 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.
Cost
Before sending an application to any college or university, the financial component should be taken into consideration. The latest information on the expenses that most students at this school incur are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
Wondering about tuition at University of Nebraska at Kearney? Here is what you need to know.
According to the reports from public county and municipal institutions, tuition fees were $6,690 for area residents. For out-of-state students, tuition fees amounted to $14,610. Tuition costs at University of Nebraska at Kearney for international students equalled $14,610. Fees per academic year required of full-time students reached $1,873 in 2025.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $14,610 | $1,873 | $16,483 |
| In-State | $6,690 | $1,873 | $8,563 |
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 6,690 |
| Total Expense | $ 6,690 |
Financial Aid
Getting some financial support in forms of grants, loans, scholarships or work-study programs can be vital for finishing your studies. Check out some recent data to get informed about need-based and non-need-based monetary aid at University of Nebraska at Kearney.
The most recent records show that 583 freshmen received some sort of financial help. Students of this school received an average of $14,493 in financial help.
Need-based
If you need help with paying for your studies and you meet other eligibility requirements, you may be eligible for need-based aid.
2,167 students acquired 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 added up to $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
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-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.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 305 students overall (including freshmen) at University of Nebraska at Kearney in 2025. 118 full-time freshmen were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid. The total dollar amount of federal non-need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the studens at this school was $8,146,513 while the state aid is $11,316. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need 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 is telling of the importance gender equality has at University of Nebraska at Kearney.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Find out some details about campus life at University of Nebraska at Kearney.
It has a campus size of 501 acres.
Student Organizations
Being a member of a student organization will make you connect better with your fellow students and enjoy your college years more.
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. Those interested in music can join the University of Nebraska at Kearney band or chorus. If the world of acting appeals to you, there is a drama club you can join. For individuals with an interest in media and communication, University of Nebraska at Kearney publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
University of Nebraska at Kearney offers a number of services needed for a pleasant and safe life on campus.
There are emergency phone and alarm devices available around the clock. The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. There is a security patrol that operates 24 hours a day. The transport/escort service operates during late hours.
This school has 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 everything most students need.
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. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students.
FAQ
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University of Nebraska at Kearney is located in Kearney, NE.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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The most recent reported acceptance rate for University of Nebraska at Kearney is 89%.
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The most recent reported freshman retention rate for University of Nebraska at Kearney is 80%.
Contact Information
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.
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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.
