University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK)
Public four-year university in Kearney, NE that costs an average of $17,891 a year after financial aid, admits 89% of applicants and graduates 62% of full-time students.
Net price / year
$17,891
Acceptance rate
89%
Graduation rate
62%
Earnings after 10 yrs
$55,176
PublicTown (distant)4,088 undergraduates
Cost of UNK
| Total cost of attendance (per year) | $27,218 |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $8,922 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state | $16,134 |
| Housing and food (on campus) | $12,908 |
| Books and supplies | $818 |
| Average net price after aid | $17,891 |
Net price by family income
| Family income | Average net price / year |
|---|---|
| $0–30,000 | $15,830 |
| $30,001–48,000 | $15,419 |
| $48,001–75,000 | $15,626 |
| $75,001–110,000 | $18,858 |
| $110,001+ | $21,819 |
Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships (in-state students). Get your own estimate with UNK's net price calculator ↗.
Admissions
| Acceptance rate | 89% |
|---|---|
| Average SAT | 1,118 |
| SAT reading (25th–75th percentile) | 495–575 |
| SAT math (25th–75th percentile) | 410–550 |
| ACT composite (25th–75th percentile) | 19–26 |
| Test scores | Considered but not required |
Graduation, earnings and debt
| Graduation rate | 62% |
|---|---|
| First-year retention | 80% |
| Median earnings 6 years after enrolling | $47,161 |
| Median earnings 10 years after enrolling | $55,176 |
| Rank in Nebraska (earnings) | 15th of 20 similar colleges |
| Median debt of graduates | $17,500 |
| Typical monthly loan payment | $199 (10-year plan) |
| Students with Pell grants | 41% |
| Students with federal loans | 35% |
Majors and programs at UNK
Earnings one year after graduation and median debt, by program. Click a program for details and comparisons.
Bachelor's degree programs (39)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 318 | $57,947 | $15,025 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | 20 | $56,489 | — |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 50 | $50,977 | $15,000 |
| Journalism | 36 | $44,875 | — |
| Social Work | 87 | $44,638 | $19,472 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 52 | $44,162 | $18,550 |
| History | 44 | $40,299 | $18,400 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 86 | $39,285 | $17,937 |
| Psychology | — | $38,461 | — |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 103 | $38,247 | $14,500 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 270 | $37,879 | $16,167 |
| English Language and Literature | 43 | $37,296 | $22,725 |
| Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies | 54 | $36,437 | $24,000 |
| Biology | 73 | $36,058 | $15,000 |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies | 92 | $35,165 | $17,300 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 37 | $33,860 | $18,645 |
| Air Transportation | 16 | — | — |
| Chemistry | 14 | — | — |
| Communication and Media Studies | 1 | — | — |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | 32 | — | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences | 41 | — | — |
| Design and Applied Arts | 19 | — | — |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 9 | — | — |
| Economics | — | — | — |
| Geography and Cartography | 3 | — | — |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs | — | — | — |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | 7 | — | — |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | 16 | — | — |
| Mathematics | 13 | — | — |
| Music | 20 | — | — |
| Philosophy | 4 | — | — |
| Physics | 5 | — | — |
| Political Science and Government | 29 | — | — |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 91 | — | $17,159 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | 21 | — | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 4 | — | — |
| Sociology | 24 | — | — |
| Special Education and Teaching | 36 | — | — |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 38 | — | $16,125 |
Certificate programs (2)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | — | — | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 31 | — | — |
Master's degree programs (18)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 42 | $68,342 | — |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 99 | $65,780 | $19,800 |
| Biology | 133 | $59,611 | $32,679 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 33 | $57,228 | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 135 | $56,944 | $15,925 |
| Special Education and Teaching | 61 | $55,698 | $13,022 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | 31 | $54,619 | — |
| English Language and Literature | 31 | $54,470 | — |
| History | 66 | $53,265 | $30,905 |
| Curriculum and Instruction | 189 | $53,243 | $19,125 |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | 102 | $52,611 | $41,881 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 7 | — | — |
| Communication and Media Studies | 5 | — | — |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 2 | — | — |
| Music | 17 | — | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 27 | — | — |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 14 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 22 | — | — |
Graduate certificate programs (3)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | 15 | $61,141 | — |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 19 | — | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | — | — | — |
Similar colleges in Nebraska
| College | City | Net price / yr | Acceptance | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne State College | Wayne | $15,534 | — | $50,482 |
| Chadron State College | Chadron | $12,662 | — | $51,365 |
| University of Nebraska at Omaha | Omaha | $12,898 | 87% | $59,749 |
| Peru State College | Peru | $10,005 | — | $47,905 |
| University of Nebraska Medical Center | Omaha | — | — | $81,009 |
| University of Nebraska-Lincoln | Lincoln | $16,214 | 87% | $61,819 |
About UNK
| Type | Public four-year university |
|---|---|
| Location | Kearney, NE |
| Setting | Town (distant) |
| Undergraduates | 4,088 |
| Student-to-faculty ratio | 14 to 1 |
| Accreditor | Higher Learning Commission |
| Website | unk.edu ↗ |
Frequently asked questions
What is UNK's acceptance rate?
University of Nebraska at Kearney admits 89% of applicants. Admitted students average 1,118 on the SAT.
How much does UNK cost per year?
The full cost of attendance is $27,218 a year (tuition and fees: $8,922 in-state, $16,134 out-of-state). After grants and scholarships the average student pays $17,891 a year, and students from families earning under $30,000 pay about $15,830.
How much do UNK graduates earn?
Former students earn a median of $55,176 a year, 10 years after first enrolling — 15th of 20 similar colleges in Nebraska. The best-paid bachelor's program is business administration, management and operations ($57,947 a year after graduation).
What is UNK's graduation rate?
62% of full-time students graduate within six years, and 80% of first-year students return for a second year.