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University of Nebraska at Kearney
Admission at University of Nebraska at Kearney is close to open (89.5%), which shifts the homework to outcomes: check the $50,105 median earnings below before the application.
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University of Nebraska at Kearney anchors the college town of Kearney, NE, where the public campus and town largely share a footprint.
Its highest-earning path is Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions, where graduates median $77,034 four years out. 36.9% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. With 4,088 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 80% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 970 and 1150 — below the NE middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on University of Nebraska at Kearney's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, University of Nebraska at Kearney received 7,253 applications and admitted 6,222 (85.8%), with 910 enrolling.
University of Nebraska at Kearney is test-optional: scores are considered when submitted but not required. The 970–1150 range below describes admitted students who chose to submit — typically University of Nebraska at Kearney's stronger testers — so treat it as the higher end of what gets in.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 480 | 530 | 590 |
| SAT Math | 490 | 530 | 560 |
| ACT Composite | 18 | 21 | 25 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
How University of Nebraska at Kearney compares
| University of Nebraska at Kearney | Nebraska median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 89.5% | 79.8% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $8,676 | $20,640 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $50,105 | $53,909 | $53,781 |
At $50,105, ten-year earnings trail the state median ($53,909). Look at University of Nebraska at Kearney's major-level rows below before reading too much into the campus-wide number.
Cost, size & completion
In-state students pay $8,676 in tuition; crossing a state border raises that to $15,284. For non-residents, University of Nebraska at Kearney's $15,284 is the number to weigh against private options before assuming public means cheaper.
At 4,088 undergrads, University of Nebraska at Kearney is a mid-sized campus by U.S. standards.
57.7% graduate within six years. Roughly 42% don't — ask a University of Nebraska at Kearney tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at University of Nebraska at Kearney
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $77,034 |
| Biology, General | $67,151 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $64,684 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $61,988 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $61,941 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $61,438 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $55,356 |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies | $54,563 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $53,348 |
| Social Work | $53,203 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $52,669 |
| Journalism | $51,659 |
| Psychology, General | $50,360 |
| Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies | $49,584 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $49,521 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $47,600 |
| History | $47,590 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $44,687 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $41,922 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $41,180 |
Median earnings for these 20 University of Nebraska at Kearney programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $50,105 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 19 additional University of Nebraska at Kearney programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for University of Nebraska at Kearney?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 970–1150 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 89.5% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is University of Nebraska at Kearney's acceptance rate?
85.8% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 6,222 admitted from 7,253 applicants.
How much does University of Nebraska at Kearney cost?
In-state tuition is $8,676; out-of-state students pay $15,284. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do University of Nebraska at Kearney graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $50,105 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Nebraska
- University of Nebraska at Omaha — 87% admitted
- Doane University — 98% admitted
- Concordia University-Nebraska — 85.7% admitted
- University of Nebraska-Lincoln — 87.5% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.