C+
Above Average
Score: 60/100
Overall (traditional)
C
Outcome Rating
48/100 · earnings-weighted

University of Nebraska at Kearney

4-Year Public
📍 Kearney, Nebraska 68849
University of Nebraska at Kearney campus, Kearney, NE
University of Nebraska at Kearney campus, Kearney, NE. Photo: Ammodramus, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.
Outcomes
B
73/100
Affordability
C+
57/100
Resources
C+
59/100
Experience
B
73/100
Prestige
C
40/100

Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology

Quick Stats

6,017
Total Enrollment
60%
Graduation Rate
77%
Retention Rate
13.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
86%
Acceptance Rate
$16,249
Avg Net Price
🏠 Housing Market Near University of Nebraska at Kearney ▼

5% of first-year students live off campus and not with family (U.S. Dept. of Education, IPEDS). Upper-year students at most universities move off campus at much higher rates, so near-campus rental demand is typically larger than this figure suggests.

The campus ZIP (68849) has no residential market, so these figures average 2 nearby ZIP codes within 6 miles of campus (68845, 68847).

Avg Home Value
$321,648
Avg Monthly Rent
$1,563
1-Year Change
+5.6%

Earnings, Debt & Completion

What happens to students who enroll at University of Nebraska at Kearney, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

$50,105
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$43,241
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$19,500
Median debt at graduation
57.7%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
1,118
Average SAT
22
Median ACT
36.9%
Students receiving Pell grants

Typical debt at graduation equals about 39% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.

Earnings rank: 36th percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (NE wage index 0.94). This drives the Outcome Rating.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.

Earnings by Major at University of Nebraska at Kearney

Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.

Major1 yr after4 yrs aftervs. nationalRank (pay)Rank (wage-adj.)Median debt
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions—$77,034+9%#85 of 253#83$24,989
Biology—$67,151+17%#146 of 841#91$18,900
Business Administration, Management and Operations$48,861$64,684-5%#596 of 1176#540$18,199
Computer and Information Sciences$60,771$61,988-33%#429 of 459#429—
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies$35,726$61,941+28%#17 of 137#13—
Agricultural Business and Management$61,152$61,438-8%#52 of 77#49—
Criminal Justice and Corrections$40,128$55,356+-0%#313 of 660#276$19,250
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies$28,241$54,563+7%#17 of 63#14$21,000
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services—$53,348-9%#176 of 215#173$21,970
Social Work$39,218$53,203+3%#174 of 420#151$19,000
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$34,385$52,669-3%#329 of 610#309$22,541
Journalism$36,703$51,659-8%#125 of 187#112$22,602
Psychology$34,055$50,360-1%#494 of 1027#393$21,300
Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies$38,009$49,584-7%#13 of 19#12$17,751
Fine and Studio Arts$40,501$49,521+20%#65 of 423#39$13,920
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities$29,471$47,600-10%#342 of 476#335$13,250
History$39,340$47,590-6%#307 of 459#282—
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas$42,001$44,687-13%#309 of 345#315$19,113
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$38,853$41,922-12%#604 of 680#612$20,000
English Language and Literature$35,419$41,180-15%#481 of 576#473$22,756

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.

For parents & investors

The University of Nebraska at Kearney Town Property Report

  • Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 68847 (4.3% cap, Kearney)

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🏆 Where University of Nebraska at Kearney Ranks

Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.

#8
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions, Other
of 24 schools
#14
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas, Other
of 28 schools
#19
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies
of 32 schools
#29
Operations Management and Supervision
of 48 schools

Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $6,480 $14,130
Room $6,058
Board $5,508
Total Cost (On-Campus) $26,086 $32,044

Financial Aid

93%
Receive Any Aid
33%
Receive Pell Grants
40%
Take Out Loans
$16,249
Avg Net Price

Net Price by Family Income

Family Income Average Net Price
$0 - $30,000$13,187
$30,001 - $48,000$13,627
$48,001 - $75,000$14,549
$75,001 - $110,000$18,575
$110,001+$20,731

Programs & Career Paths

Top Degree Programs

Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.

Elementary Education and Teaching 157 grads/yr Business Administration and Management, General 153 grads/yr Curriculum and Instruction 104 grads/yr Biology/Biological Sciences, General 95 grads/yr Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services 65 grads/yr General Studies 60 grads/yr History, General 59 grads/yr Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions, Other 58 grads/yr Educational Leadership and Administration, General 56 grads/yr Special Education and Teaching, General 49 grads/yr Physical Education Teaching and Coaching 49 grads/yr Research and Experimental Psychology, Other 47 grads/yr Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 47 grads/yr Social Work 43 grads/yr English Language and Literature, General 37 grads/yr Art/Art Studies, General 35 grads/yr Communication Sciences and Disorders, General 33 grads/yr Operations Management and Supervision 33 grads/yr Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas, Other 27 grads/yr Family and Consumer Economics and Related Services, Other 24 grads/yr

Related Career Paths

Careers that graduates from University of Nebraska at Kearney's top programs commonly pursue.

Education teachers, postsecondary
$72k/yr 74,900 jobs
Elementary school teachers, except special education
$62k/yr 1,422,700 jobs
Chief executives
$206k/yr 309,400 jobs
Compensation and benefits managers
$140k/yr 20,900 jobs
Human resources managers
$140k/yr 221,900 jobs
Sales managers
$138k/yr 619,500 jobs
Managers, all other
$137k/yr 1,333,700 jobs
Training and development managers
$127k/yr 46,400 jobs

Student Demographics

6,017
Total Students
66%
Women
86%
Traditional Age (18-24)
5%
Off-Campus Renters

👥 Race & Ethnicity

White 77%
Hispanic 13%
Black 2%
Asian 1%
Two or More 3%
Non-Resident 4%

🏠 Living Arrangements

On Campus 92%
Off-Campus (Renters) 5%
With Family 3%
🏘️ Rental Demand: ~319 students need off-campus housing

💻 Learning Mode

In-Person 29%
Hybrid (Some Online) 31%
Fully Online 39%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 86%
25-64 (Adult) 12%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at University of Nebraska at Kearney?
University of Nebraska at Kearney has an acceptance rate of 86%. This indicates a less selective admissions process with good chances for qualified applicants.
How much does it cost to attend University of Nebraska at Kearney?
Tuition at University of Nebraska at Kearney is $6,480 for in-state students and $14,130 for out-of-state students . However, the average net price after financial aid is $16,249.
What is the graduation rate at University of Nebraska at Kearney?
The graduation rate at University of Nebraska at Kearney is 60%. This is a solid graduation rate, showing that most students who enroll successfully complete their degrees.
Is University of Nebraska at Kearney a good school?
University of Nebraska at Kearney has a Repit College Score of 60/100 (Grade: C+). Our rating evaluates five key factors:
  • Outcomes (B): Graduation and retention rates
  • Affordability (C+): Net cost and financial aid access
  • Resources (C+): Class sizes and selectivity
  • Experience (B): Campus life and learning format
  • Prestige (C): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend University of Nebraska at Kearney?
University of Nebraska at Kearney has a total enrollment of 6,017 students. Most students (86%) are traditional college-age (18-24).
Is there rental demand near University of Nebraska at Kearney?
Yes! Approximately 5% of students at University of Nebraska at Kearney live off-campus (not with family). That's roughly 319 students who need rental housing near campus.

Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for University of Nebraska at Kearney — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →

🎓 Similar Colleges to University of Nebraska at Kearney

Compare with other 4-Year public institutions of similar size.

C+
University of Nebraska at Omaha
Omaha, NE · 15,015 students
C+
Wayne State College
Wayne, NE · 4,807 students
C+
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, NE · 3,786 students
C
Chadron State College
Chadron, NE · 2,205 students
B
Creighton University
Omaha, NE · 8,255 students
C+
Bellevue University
Bellevue, NE · 14,476 students

Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology