University of Nebraska at Kearney
Kearney, Nebraska · Public · 4,088 undergraduates · unk.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test optional
Sending scores is your choice
Admit rate
86%
of 5,226 applicants
SAT (middle 50%)
903 to 1158
of enrolled freshmen
Annual cost (2027-28)
$30,350Est.Estimate
$39,700 out of state
Your chances and merit aid at University of Nebraska at Kearney
See where you stand for admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
86% of applicants admitted
Target
Your SAT is inside the range where the middle half of enrolled freshmen scored, and your GPA is in the middle half of freshmen's.
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$39,700
a year in 2027-28, from a $39,700 sticker price (out of state)
What to do with your 1010
Send your score
Your SAT is at or above the median of freshmen who sent scores (1010).
Named scholarships you may qualify for (2)
You meet: the requirements
5 more awards need a higher GPA or score. See every tier
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test optional
You choose whether to send an SAT or ACT score. If you send one, it's considered.
- You can type your scores into the application; official reports come later.
- Performance criteria can be met by 20 ACT, 1040 SAT, top half of class, or 3.0 GPA (plus core courses); others reviewed under Admission by Review.
Source: Admission Procedures for All Entering Freshmen < University of Nebraska at Kearney (Undergraduate Catalog 2026-2027) · Checked October 17, 2026
Who gets in
86%
of applicants were admitted: 4,479 of 5,226 for fall 2025.
Test scores of enrolled freshmen (fall 2025)
The shaded part shows the middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores: a quarter scored below it and a quarter above. 3% of them sent SAT scores and 90% sent ACT scores.
SAT total 903 to 1158
Reading and Writing 470 to 560
Math 430 to 593
ACT composite 18 to 25
How enrolled freshmen scored on the SAT
- 1400 to 16007.1%
- 1200 to 139914%
- 1000 to 119932%
- 800 to 99943%
- 600 to 7993.6%
- 400 to 5990%
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
High school GPA of enrolled freshmen
Average GPA: 3.52
- 4.017%
- 3.75 to 3.9930%
- 3.50 to 3.7416%
- 3.25 to 3.4911%
- 3.00 to 3.2411%
- 2.50 to 2.9911%
- Below 2.505%
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$30,350
a year, in state
$39,700
a year, out of state (tuition $17,100)
- Tuition (in state)$7,750
- Fees$2,280
- Food and housing$13,020
- Books and supplies$840
- Transportation and other$6,460
University of Nebraska at Kearney published $28,657 in state for 2025-26. Its 2027-28 prices aren't out yet.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
What families actually pay
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24 (in-state students), by family income.
- $0 to $30,000$15,830
- $30,001 to $48,000$15,419
- $48,001 to $75,000$15,626
- $75,001 to $110,000$18,858
- Over $110,000$21,819
Financial aid
76%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
$12,845
average need-based grant to freshmen, money you don't repay
26%
of freshmen got merit aid without financial need, $8,860 on average
- FAFSA
- Required for need-based aid. It's the free federal aid form.
- CSS Profile
- Not required. Only the FAFSA is needed.
- Aid priority date: 4/1
- Send your aid forms by this date to be first in line for the college's grant money.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
Merit scholarships
Awards for grades and scores, on top of need-based aid. You don't repay them.
UNK Chancellor's Scholarship
$8,000 a year
Automatic · No separate application
- 3.90+ GPA, 28+ ACT
Deadline: March 1. To keep it: it renews for up to 4 years; the full terms are in your offer letter.
DetailsUNK Distinguished Scholar Award
$5,500 a year
Automatic · No separate application
- 3.70+ GPA, 26+ ACT
Deadline: March 1. To keep it: it renews for up to 4 years; the full terms are in your offer letter.
DetailsLoper Achievement Scholarship
$3,500 a year
Automatic · No separate application
- 3.70+ GPA, 24 to 25 ACT
Deadline: March 1. To keep it: it renews for up to 4 years; the full terms are in your offer letter.
DetailsLoper Recognition Scholarship
$1,500 a year
Automatic · No separate application
- 3.70+ GPA, 22 to 23 ACT
Deadline: March 1. To keep it: it renews for up to 4 years; the full terms are in your offer letter.
Details
Show 8 more scholarships
New Nebraskan Tuition Waiver
Automatic · Out-of-state students · No separate application
Pays the difference between resident and non-resident tuition
- Non-resident; no academic criteria stated
To keep it: stay a full-time student every fall and spring, stay in good academic standing (not on academic probation), and don't enroll in a fully online program.
DetailsPresidential Scholar
Full cost of attendance
Automatic · No separate application
- 3.70+ GPA, 36+ ACT, 36 ACT
Deadline: March 1. To keep it: ask the college for the renewal rules.
DetailsRegents Scholarship
Full tuition
Automatic · In-state students · No separate application
- 3.70+ GPA, 32+ ACT, Nebraska residents; 32+ ACT
Deadline: March 1. To keep it: it renews until you reach 120 credit hours; the full terms are in your scholarship agreement.
DetailsRon and Carol Cope UNK Scholarship
$4,000 a year
Competitive · Application required
Deadline: March 1. To keep it: ask the college for the renewal rules.
DetailsHonors Program Omaha World Herald Scholarships
Full cost of attendance
Competitive · Application required
Deadline: December 1. To keep it: ask the college for the renewal rules.
DetailsKearney Health Opportunities Program (KHOP)
Full tuition
Competitive · In-state students · Application required
- 23+ ACT, Rural Nebraska resident; expected ACT 23+
Deadline: December 1. To keep it: ask the college for the renewal rules.
DetailsKearney Law Opportunities Program (KLOP)
Full tuition
Competitive · In-state students · Application required
- 3.50+ GPA, 27+ ACT, Rural Nebraska resident; expected ACT 27+
Deadline: November 15. To keep it: ask the college for the renewal rules.
DetailsNebraska Good Life Opportunities Program
Full tuition
Competitive · Application required
- 3.50+ GPA, Commitment to public service
Deadline: December 1. To keep it: ask the college for the renewal rules.
Details
Nebraska programs for residents
Nebraska Career Scholarship - University of Nebraska
$10,000 to $25,000 a year
State program · In-state students
- 20+ ACT, First-time freshman, ACT 20-27; First-time freshman enrolled in eligible program of study (designated workforce programs; special education)$10,000
- 28+ ACT, First-time freshman, ACT 28+; First-time freshman enrolled in eligible program of study (designated workforce programs; special education)$25,000
Compare awards across colleges with the merit aid calculator.
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
27 of 27
Earn credit with a score of 3
24 exams
A 3-credit course is worth
about $780Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition for in-state students
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits | Counts as |
|---|---|---|---|
| Art History | 3 | 3 | Art 120 |
| Biology | 3 | 4 | Biology 103 |
| Biology | 4 | 8 | Biology 103 + Department recommended precise course |
| Calculus AB | 3 | 5 | Math 115 |
| Calculus BC | 3 | 5 | MATH 115 |
| Calculus BC | 4 | 10 | Math 115 & 202 |
| Chemistry | 3 | 4 | Chemistry 145 |
| Chemistry | 4 | 4 | Chemistry 160 & 160/Lab |
| Computer Science A | 3 | 4 | Cyber Systems 103 |
| Computer Science Principles | 3 | 3 | General Elective Credit |
| English Language and Composition | 3 | 3 | English 101 |
| English Literature and Composition | 3 | 3 | English 101 |
| European History | 3 | 3 | History 210 |
| European History | 5 | 6 | History 210 & 211 |
| French Language and Culture | 3 | 6 | French 200 & 201 |
| French Language and Culture | 4 | 9 | French 200, 201, 205 |
| German Language and Culture | 3 | 6 | German 200 & 201 |
| German Language and Culture | 4 | 9 | German 200, 201, 205 |
| Human Geography | 4 | 3 | Geography 106 |
| Macroeconomics | 3 | 3 | Economics 270 |
| Microeconomics | 3 | 3 | Economics 271 |
| Music Theory | 3 | 3 | Department recommended precise course. |
| Physics 1 | 3 | 4 | PHYS 205 (no lab) |
| Physics 1 | 5 | 8 | PHYS 205 and PHYS 206 (no labs) |
| Physics 2 | 3 | 4 | PHYS 206 (no lab) |
| Physics 2 | 5 | 8 | PHYS 205 and PHYS 206 (no labs) |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 4 | 4 | PHYS 276 (no lab) |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 4 | 4 | PHYS 275 (no lab) |
| Psychology | 3 | 3 | Psychology 203 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 3 | 6 | Spanish 200 & 201 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 4 | 9 | Spanish 200, 201, 205 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 3 | 6 | Spanish 200 & 201 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 4 | 9 | Spanish 200, 201, 205 |
| Statistics | 3 | 3 | Statistics 241 |
| United States Government and Politics | 3 | 3 | Political Science 110 |
| United States History | 3 | 3 | History 250 |
| United States History | 5 | 6 | History 250, 251 |
| World History: Modern | 3 | 3 | History 212 |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
62%
Come back for a second year
80%
Typical earnings
$55,176
a year, 10 years after starting here
- University of Nebraska at Kearney$72,368
- All colleges$71,390
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 19 majors here have earnings data.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with University of Nebraska at Kearney. The University of Nebraska at Kearney logo is a trademark of the college.