Kearney , Nebraska , United States
Total Students
National Ranking
Founding years: 1903-1905
March 1903: The Nebraska Legislature appropriated $50,000 to build a normal school in western Nebraska, touching off a heated competition among several communities bidding to be selected. On September 1, 1903, after 111 ballots, the State Board of Education awarded the school to Kearney for its offer of 20 acres and the Green Terrace apartments for a dormitory.
1905: A.O. Thomas, then superintendent of Kearney Public Schools, was named the normal school’s first president and the inaugural classes were held that summer in Longfellow High School and Whittier Elementary. One week into the fall semester, September 25, classes moved from KPS to the campus Administration building though it featured only temporary stairs, lacked window glass, and required steam engines to deliver heat until the heating plant was completed.
The first decades: 1900s-1920s
“Normal Schools” were devoted to teacher preparation and students could enter after completing 8th grade. In addition to studying math, sciences and history the curriculum included art, language and literature, drama and music, domestic science and woodworking and agriculture. Among many clubs, Recreation Club and Agriculture Club were the most popular. During WWI, enrollment dropped from 451 (1915) to 305 (1918).
1921: The name change reflected a truly significant shift to granting four-year baccalaureate degrees in the liberal arts for teachers. Case Hall (1930) was the first residence hall constructed, with room and board costing $6.50 per week, and the first hall for men, Men’s Hall, opened in 1939. The college celebrated is Golden Anniversary June 15, 1955, attended by members of the first graduating class (1906) and enrollment reached 2,000 in 1961.
Kearney State College: 1963-1991
1963: More than a mere name change, the naming of Kearney State College signified that the institution had become more than a teacher education institution, and that Kearney had a mission unique from the other three former Teachers Colleges. In 1970, the number of faculty swelled to 274 and student enrollment increased to 5,870, requiring construction of the Centennial Towers in 1965 and 1967. For a time, students referred to the college as Nebraska State, using a large “N” on uniforms and cheerleading outfits.
1989: The Nebraska legislature passed a bill moving KSC to the University of Nebraska system. This law was then challenged and reviewed by the Nebraska Supreme Court, and affirmed.
The name change was far from cosmetic and required numerous transformations from reorganizing separate schools into colleges and to revision of institutional, faculty and staff constitutions and bylaws to increased admissions standards among many others. After an initial period of transition, the campus has achieved increasing distinction in academic, scholarly and creative activity, campus renewal and construction, and student success.
Names for UNK since 1903
1903: “Normal schools” in the early 1900s referred to schools training high school graduates to become teachers: Nebraska State Normal School at Kearney.
1921-1962: the college was Nebraska State Teachers College at Kearney.
1963-1990: Kearney State College, part of the Nebraska state college system.
1989: The Nebraska legislature passed a bill moving KSC to the University of Nebraska system. This law was challenged and reviewed by the Nebraska Supreme Court, and affirmed.
1991: University of Nebraska at Kearney becomes official on July 1, 1991.
UNK Mission
The University of Nebraska at Kearney is a public, residential university committed to being one of the nation’s premier undergraduate institutions with excellent graduate education, scholarship, and public service.
UNK Vision
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.
Key to such improvement will be: clear focus on mission imperatives, fidelity to historic core values, and continuous and rigorous self-appraisal or assessment of outcomes.
Students
4,427 undergraduate students and 1,848 graduate students.
Students come to UNK from 92 of the 93 Nebraska counties, 47 states and 56 foreign countries.
Faculty
315 full-time and 141 part-time faculty.
83% of courses are taught by full-time faculty (not graduate assistants or adjuncts).
Nearly 75% of full-time faculty have the highest degrees in their fields.
Student/faculty ratio: 13 to 1.
Academics
UNK offers 121 undergraduate majors, 21 pre-professional programs, 54 graduate programs, and 11 certificates.
Each year, the UNK Honors Program accepts more than 120 freshmen based on a minimum top 25% class rank, a minimum 27 ACT score, letters of reference, extracurricular accomplishments, and essays. At present, there are 400 students in the Honors Program.
UNK’s undergraduate research program is a national model. Campus programs support students working one-on-one with professors to conduct original research and creative projects. More than 30% of UNK students do research outside of class and present their projects at academic conferences.
UNK is the only campus in Nebraska to participate in the National Student Exchange that allows students to attend one of 175 other universities or colleges across the continent for a semester or a year, often at UNK tuition rates.
100% of students participate in experiential learning projects that leads to resume-building expertise.
Student Placement
Many UNK programs have a job placement rate that's almost 100%, including Accounting, Athletic Training, Education (particularly those with endorsements in Biology, Chemistry, Language Arts, Math, Music, Physics, and Special Education), Cyber Systems, Graphic Arts, Industrial Technology, School Psychology, and Speech-Language Pathology.
79% of Nebraska's PK-12 schools have UNK graduates teaching. Almost 43% of all school Superintendents and approximately 30% of all Principals in the state of Nebraska are UNK graduates. Approximately 36% of all School Psychologists and 54% of all ESU School Psychologists in the state of Nebraska are UNK graduates. 21% of all School Counselors in Nebraska are UNK alumni. Approximately 33% of all Speech-Language Pathologists in Nebraska are UNK graduates.
Many UNK graduates become administrative leaders in both the public and private sectors of the state and the nation. Others go on to successfully apply to medical, law, and other professional and graduate schools across the country.
Athletics
Member of NCAA Division II—Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association.
Programs include baseball, softball, football, volleyball, wrestling, women’s swimming and diving, women's soccer, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s tennis, men’s and women’s golf, and men’s and women’s track and field.
Colors: Royal Blue & Old Gold.
Nickname: Lopers (for the Pronghorn Antelope)
UNK athletes are students first. The average cumulative GPA from more than 440 student-athletes participating in 14 varsity sports is 3.32.
Campus Life
More than 180 student organizations, including six sororities and six fraternities.
Seven traditional-style residence halls, one suite-style residence halls, two Greek chapter house complexes, and one university apartment complex.
All residential units are within easy walking distance of the academic buildings, the library, the student union, and the Health and Sports Center.
Campus is comprised of 515 acres, including University Village. UNK has more than 48 buildings including classrooms, labs, residence halls, and athletic venues. The proximity of the campus offers easy access to the city's vibrant and growing community including: cultural events, shopping centers, outdoor recreational facilities, affordable housing, award-winning restaurants, as well as hockey, musical shows, plays, and a variety of concerts, many within walking distance of the campus.
UNK has invested millions renovating or expanding every academic building and residence hall, the College of Education Building, the Nebraskan Student Union, Foster Field, the Antelope/Nester complex of residence halls, which provide apartment style living and many new amenities for students. A new Wellness Center addition to the Health and Sports Center/Cushing Coliseum opened in fall 2014. The new Health Sciences Complex houses the UNMC College of Nursing and College of Allied Health Professions that support numerous programs. Discovery Hall, a 90,000 square foot building, opened in August 2020, housing offices and classrooms for STEM programs.
THE Ranking::
601
QS Ranking::
651
Type of Accommodation::
On Campus ,Off Campus
Annual Cost of living:
14000 USD / year
Average Annual UG Fee:
18904 USD
Average Annual PG Fee:
20484 USD
Application Fee:
N/A