University of Nebraska at Kearney

Public · Moderately Selective · NE

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School data & stats

TypePublic

LocationNE · Midwest

SettingRural

Undergrads4,088

Student:faculty14:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate35.7%

6-yr grad rate57.7%

Drop-out rate20%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$9k

Out-of-state tuition$15k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity26.6%

Gender diversity61.7%

International4.3%

Identity—

Overview

UNK is the University of Nebraska system's residential undergraduate campus, located in the central Platte River valley and built to serve the state's rural communities with a traditional four-year college experience rather than a large research-university scale.

Academics

Teacher education is a long-standing strength, and health-science pathways connect students to the University of Nebraska Medical Center's programs and clinical opportunities. Class sizes stay small across most majors, consistent with the campus's identity as the system's teaching-focused undergraduate hub.

Campus & student life

UNK draws heavily from rural and small-town Nebraska, and campus traditions reflect that: Division II athletics, a genuinely residential student body unusual for the region, and a close-knit social scene centered on a compact, walkable campus.

Getting in

Admission is straightforward and access-oriented, weighted toward solid high school preparation rather than a highly selective holistic process, consistent with the university's role as an accessible option within the Nebraska system.

After graduation

Education graduates place widely across rural and small-town Nebraska school districts, and health-science graduates often continue into Nebraska Medical Center-affiliated training, with an alumni network concentrated in central and western Nebraska.

unk.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate89.5%

Enrolled mid-50%SAT 905–1125 · ACT 19–26

Test policyoptional

Rec letters0

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

AdmissionRolling

Applying