UNK vs. WSC

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Nebraska at Kearney in Kearney, NE with Wayne State College in Wayne, NE on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Nebraska at Kearney is larger than WSC based on total student enrollment (5,881 students vs. 4,666 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of Nebraska at Kearney is located in Kearney, NE (Remote Town setting); Wayne State College is in Wayne, NE (Rural Fringe setting).
• University of Nebraska at Kearney is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Wayne State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Nebraska at Kearney 14:1; Wayne State College 19:1.

UNK vs. WSC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UNK or WSC? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Wayne State College than UNK ($16,060 vs. $16,287).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wayne State College are 16.9% lower than at University of Nebraska at Kearney ($10,142 vs. $12,198).
• University of Nebraska at Kearney is 5.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than WSC (about $460 more per year; $8,676.00 vs. $8,216.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 86% higher at UNK than at Wayne State College (about $7,068 more per year; $15,284.00 vs. $8,216.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Wayne State College than at University of Nebraska at Kearney (95% vs. 89%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Nebraska at Kearney students is 50% larger than aid received by Wayne State College students ($9,776 vs. $6,517).

UNK vs. WSC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UNK or WSC? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between WSC and UNK.

• Wayne State College reports an open admissions policy.
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Nebraska at Kearney 905/1125.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Nebraska at Kearney 19/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UNK - Test optional; WSC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: UNK Aug 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman WSC students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.36) than students at UNK (3.24).

UNK vs. WSC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UNK and WSC? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• University of Nebraska at Kearney's six-year graduation rate (61%) is higher than Wayne State College's (51%).
• Graduates from University of Nebraska at Kearney earn a median of about $4,000 more per year than WSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,400 vs. $39,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Wayne State College graduates have a $1,200 lower median loan debt than UNK graduates ($20,050 vs. $21,250).
• Among borrowers, WSC graduates have an estimated $12 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UNK graduates ($207 vs. $219).
• More UNK graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WSC students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 67%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.