University of Nebraska at Kearney College Portrait
University of Nebraska at Kearney905 West 25th Street Kearney, NE 68849
1-800-532-7639
University of Nebraska at Kearney
UNK is committed to providing an outstanding education in a small and personal setting. We are a university that quickly transforms nearly 6,500 students from across the globe into a close-knit, supportive community of friends; it is a place you will forever call "home".
The University of Nebraska at Kearney is a public, residential university that is committed to be one of the nation's premier undergraduate institutions with excellent graduate education, scholarship, and public service. The University of Nebraska at Kearney will achieve national distinction for a high quality, multidimensional learning environment, engagement with community and public interests, and preparation of students to lead responsible and productive lives in a democratic, multicultural society.
Living in the Lopers Community
For a small friendly town, Kearney is big on exciting things to do. With more than 150 different student clubs to explore, you may not choose to step outside our campus walls very often. But when you do, you’ll discover a whole new world of opportunities waiting for you.
UNK's 235-acre campus is located in a residential area of Kearney, home to over 30,000 residents. Approximately 35% of students live on campus in traditional, suite-style, or Greek housing. Students find an abundance of leisure time options, including NCAA Division II athletics as well as excellent music and theatre productions. Students at UNK are active, fun-loving, and always looking for new ways to have fun together both on and off campus. In Kearney, they take advantage of a wide range of outdoor activities and sporting events provided by our scenic location and community spirit.
The Big Picture: How many students were on campus in Fall 2011?
More Information
| Total Students | 7,100 | |
|---|---|---|
Undergraduate Snapshot
| Total Undergraduate Students | 5,442 | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | ||
| Women | 2,952 | 54% |
| Men | 2,490 | 46% |
| Race/Ethnicity | ||
| American Indian / Alaskan Native | 8 | <1% |
| Asian | 36 | 1% |
| African American / Black | 65 | 1% |
| Hispanic | 370 | 7% |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 0 | <1% |
| White | 4,313 | 79% |
| Two or More Races | 53 | 1% |
| International | 461 | 8% |
| Race/Ethnicity Not Reported | 136 | 2% |
| Where do UNK undergraduates call home? | |
|---|---|
| Nebraska | 86% |
| Other US States & Territories | 7% |
| Other Countries | 7% |
| How old are UNK undergraduates? | |
| Average Age | 21 |
| Percent of Undergraduates Age 25 or Older | 11% |
New Student Applications (Fall 2011)
New Freshmen High School Background and Test Scores
Test(s) Required for Admission: SAT or ACT recommended
| Test Scores of Enrolled New Freshmen | ACT | SAT |
|---|---|---|
| Composite | 20 - 25 | |
| Math | 18 - 25 | 450 - 570 |
| English | 19 - 25 | |
| Critical Reading | 440 - 570 |
50% of admitted students have test scores within the ranges listed, 25% have scores above, and 25% have scores below.
| High School Background of Enrolled New Freshmen | ||
|---|---|---|
| Percent in top 25% of High School Graduating Class | 45% | |
| Percent in top 50% of High School Graduating Class | 79% | |
| Percent of New Freshmen who submitted HS GPA | 83% | |
| Average High School GPA (4-point scale) | 3.24 | |
| Percent who submitted High School GPA | 71% | |
Sticker Price: How much does it cost on average?
Typical Undergraduate Costs for 2010-11 without Financial Aid (Full-Time, In-State Students)
Total Typical Cost of Attendance: $18,113.00
Out-of-State & Other Costs
More Information
The cost to attend University of Nebraska at Kearney varies based on the individual circumstances of students and may be reduced through grants and scholarships.
How much would I pay?
Financial Aid: How much help is there to pay?
Scholarships & Grants
- 40% of 2010-11 full-time undergraduates received need-based grants or scholarships; the average award for the year was $6,024.00. Scholarships and grants are financial aid that does not need to be repaid and is sometimes referred to as gift aid.
Annual Need-Based Loans
- 50% of 2010-11 full-time undergraduates received need-based work-study and/or loans (not including parent loans); the average loan for the year was $4,461.00. Loans need to be repaid. Typically, repayment starts once you are no longer enrolled full-time. Please refer to page 12 of the Funding Education Beyond High School guide on the US Department of Education's Federal Student Aid website for more information about Financial Need.
Percent of 2010 Full-time Beginning Students Receiving Each Type of Financial Aid
NOTE: Students may receive aid from more than one source.
UNK Classes & Instructors
| Classroom Environment | |
|---|---|
| Students per Faculty | 16 to 1 |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 30 students | 74% |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 50 students | 94% |
| Total Full-Time Instructional Faculty | 310 |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Female | 48% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Persons of Color | 8% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Have the Highest Academic Degree Offered in Their Field of Study | 76% |
More Information
Campus-based Housing
88% of new freshmen live in campus-based housing or residence halls.
49% of all undergraduates live on campus
More Information
Campus Safety
The Department of Public Safety at UNK is a highly effective and efficient department, largely because of the close interaction and open lines of communication it has with the University as a whole. The Department offers a full range of police, parking, and hazmat/safety resources, and is at work around the clock to ensure a safe environment for the entire UNK campus community.
Campus Crime Statistics
Carnegie Classification of Institutional Characteristics
The Carnegie Classification's were created "to reference the great diversity of colleges and universities in the United States, and ... enable [people] to identify groups of roughly comparable institutions." For information on the Carnegie Classifications system, please visit their website: http://classifications.carnegiefoundation.org/
- Basic Type
- Master's Colleges and Universities (larger programs)
- Size and Setting
- Medium four-year, primarily residential
- Enrollment Profile
- Very high undergraduate
- Undergraduate Profile
- Full-time four-year, selective, higher transfer-in
- Undergraduate Instructional Program
- Professions plus arts & sciences, some graduate coexistence
- Graduate Instructional Program
- Postbaccalaureate with arts & sciences (education dominant)
NOTE: Institutional classifications based on the Carnegie 2005 edition.
Student Activities and Involvement at UNK
The University of Nebraska Kearney has a strong commitment to enhancing student learning outside of the classroom as well as in the traditional academic setting. Toward this end, a number of programs and services are offered to provide extra-curricular learning opportunities for students. These programs and services address a wide variety of student experiences including living situations, campus involvement, awareness of diversity, leadership development and self awareness.
Institutions participating in the VSA program measure student involvement on campus using one of four national surveys. Results from the one survey are reported for a common set of questions selected as part of VSA. Following are the selected results from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). The questions have been grouped together in categories that are known to contribute to student learning and development. The results reported below are based on the responses of seniors who participated in the survey.
Group Learning Experiences
- 94% percent of seniors worked with classmates on assignments outside of class.
- 51% of seniors tutored or taught other students
- 28% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week participating in co-curricular activities such as student organizations and intramural sports
Active Learning Experiences
- 74% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week preparing for class
- 19% of seniors worked on a research project with a faculty member
- 50% of seniors participated in an internship, practicum, or field experience
- 72% of seniors participated in community service or volunteer work
- 10% of seniors participated in study abroad
- 96% of seniors made at least one class presentation last year
Institutional Commitment to Student Learning and Success
- 98% of seniors believe this institution provides support for student success
- 78% of seniors rated the quality of academic advising at this institution as good or excellent
- 65% of seniors reported that this institution provided help in coping with work, family and other non-academic responsibilities
- 94% of seniors reported working harder than they thought they could to meet an instructor's standards or expectations
Student Interaction with Campus Faculty and Staff
- 62% of seniors believed that the campus staff were helpful, considerate, or flexible
- 83% of seniors believed that faculty are available, helpful, or sympathetic
- 97% of seniors reported that faculty members provided prompt feedback on their academic performance
- 74% of seniors discussed readings or ideas with faculty members outside of class
Experiences with Diverse Groups of People and Ideas
- 57% of seniors reported that they often tried to understand someone else's point of view
- 92% of seniors reported their experience at this institution contributed to their understanding people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds
- 40% of seniors often had serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity
Student Satisfaction
- 85% of seniors would attend this institution if they started over again
- 89% of seniors rated their entire educational experience as good or excellent
- 88% of seniors reported that other students were friendly or supportive
Evaluation of Experiences
Survey Administration Process
Survey Information
Majors and Degrees
| Degrees awarded at University of Nebraska at Kearney in 2010-11 | |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 865 |
| Master's | 361 |
| Total | 1,226 |
More Information
| Areas of Study with the largest number of bachelor's degrees awarded in 2010-11 | |
|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 24% |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 13% |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 5% |
| Journalism | 5% |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 4% |
| Links to degree programs at University of Nebraska at Kearney |
|---|
Bachelor'sMaster's |
Future Plans of Bachelor's Degree Recipients
Survey Administration Process
Student Success & Progress Rate
A 81% four-year success and progress rate means that 81% of students starting in Fall 2005 either graduated or are still enrolled at a higher education institution four years later.
More Information
Counts for the Fall 2005 entering class shown in the graph above.
- 1,062 First-Time, Full-Time Students
- 361 Full-Time Transfer Students
Success & Progress Rate Table
Retention of Freshman Class
First-time students in Fall 2010 that returned for their second year: 77%
More Information
Student Learning at University of Nebraska at Kearney
All colleges and universities use multiple approaches to measure student learning. Many of these are specific to particular disciplines, many are coordinated with accrediting agencies, and many are based on outcomes after students have graduated.
The Office of Assessment at UNK works together with members of the university community to promote effective assessment of student learning. We view assessment as a dynamic, formative, and faculty-driven process with the purpose of understanding and optimizing student learning.
In collaboration with the faculty, students, and academic departments and programs on campus, the office of assessment supports a Culture of Learning at UNK. The focus is on continuous improvement of teaching and learning through inquiry and the collecting and reporting of evidence to answer the following questions:
What should graduates know, be able to do, and value?
Have graduates of UNK acquired the essential learning for professional and personal success?
How have the institution and its programs contributed to student growth and long term success?
Learning Assessment Examples
Pilot Project to Measure Core Learning Outcomes
Colleges and universities participating in the College Portrait measure the typical improvement in students' abilities to think, reason, and write using one of three tests. This is part of a pilot project to better understand and compare what students learn between their freshman and senior years at different colleges and universities.
2010 - 11 Results from the College Assessment of Academic Proficiency (CAAP)
The Collegiate Assessment of Academic Proficiency (CAAP) measures critical thinking and written communication using two test modules -- critical thinking and a writing essay. The critical thinking and writing scores are reported separately below.
Test Administration Process
Test Information
Critical Thinking Results for First-time, Full-time Students
The increase in learning on the performance task is at or near what would be expected at an institution testing students of similar academic abilities.
Freshman Score: 63
Senior Score: 65
CAAP score range: 40 to 80
Average ACT scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 24
Senior Score: 24
Average SAT scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 1107
Senior Score: 1143
Writing Essay Results for First-time, Full-time Students
The increase in learning on the performance task is at or near what would be expected at an institution testing students of similar academic abilities.
Freshman Score: 3
Senior Score: 4
CAAP score range: 1 to 6
Average ACT scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 23
Senior Score: 25
Average SAT scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 0
Senior Score: 1143
Critical Thinking Results for Full-time Transfer Students
The increase in learning on the performance task is at or near what would be expected at an institution testing students of similar academic abilities.
Freshman Score: 0
Senior Score: 0
CAAP score range: 40 to 80
Writing Essay Results for Full-time Transfer Students
The increase in learning on the performance task is at or near what would be expected at an institution testing students of similar academic abilities.
Freshman Score: 0
Senior Score: 0
CAAP score range: 1 to 6