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WSC South Dakota State University Nebraska UNOMAHA KU USD Northwest Pitt State Winona State University Fort Hays State University Augustana Chadron State College| University of Nebraska at Kearney | Northern State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
UNK | NSU | ||
| Location | Kearney, NE | Aberdeen, SD | ||
| Setting | Remote Town | Remote Town | ||
| Enrollment | 6,017 | 3,521 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #574 | #871 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | unk.edu | northern.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
UNK | NSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $6,450 | $7,616 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $12,418 | $10,718 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,936 | $10,300 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $16,249 | $16,873 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $8,779 | $5,565 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 86% | 93% |
Admission |
UNK | NSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,253 | 1,082 | ||
| Admitted | 6,222 | 1,004 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 85.8% | 92.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 14.6% | 31.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.24 | 3.37 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Easy | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 18/25 | 18/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 970/1150 | 800/1150 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 15, 2026 |
Academics |
UNK | NSU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
UNK | NSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 61% | 42% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $43,400 | $37,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 71% | 63% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,250 | $24,399 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $219 | $252 |
Diversity |
UNK | NSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 8% | 4% | ||
| % Women | 22% | 13% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 79% | 83% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 11% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 3% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 2% | ||
| % International | 5% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 0% |
Students |
UNK | NSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 86% | 72% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 9% | 28% | ||
Campus |
UNK | NSU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Nebraska at Kearney is larger than than NSU based on total student enrollment (6,017 students vs. 3,521 students)
UNK vs. NSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, UNK or NSU?
- Northern State University is 18.1% more expensive to attend than UNK for in-state tuition ($7,616.00 vs. $6,450.00)
- Out of state tuition is 15.9% higher at UNK than Northern State University ($12,418.00 vs. $10,718.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Nebraska at Kearney than NSU ($16,249 vs. $16,873)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern State University are 15.9% lower than costs at University of Nebraska at Kearney ($10,300 vs. $11,936)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northern State University than University of Nebraska at Kearney (93% vs. 86%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Nebraska at Kearney students is 57.8% larger than aid received Northern State University ($8,779 vs. $5,565)
UNK vs. NSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, UNK or NSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between NSU or UNK .
- The average SAT score at University of Nebraska at Kearney (1049) is 25 points higher than at NSU (1024)
- Incoming UNK students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at NSU (22)
- Accepted freshman NSU students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.37) than students at UNK (3.24)
- NSU has a higher acceptance rate (92.8%) than UNK (85.8%)
UNK vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, UNK or NSU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between NSU and UNK.
- The graduation rate at UNK is higher than Northern State University (61% vs. 42%)
- Graduates from University of Nebraska at Kearney earn on average $6,000 more per year than NSU graduates after ten years. ($43,400 vs. $37,400)
- University of Nebraska at Kearney students graduate with a $3,149 lower median federal student loan debt than NSU graduates. ($21,250 vs. $24,399)
- UNK graduates are paying $33 less per month on federal student loans than NSU graduates. ($219 vs. $252)
- More UNK graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 63%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/