University of Northern Colorado vs. UNK

Deciding between University of Northern Colorado and University of Nebraska at Kearney? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of Northern Colorado
University of Nebraska at Kearney

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • University of Northern Colorado Greeley, CO
  • UNK Kearney, NE
  • Setting
  • University of Northern Colorado Small City
  • UNK Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • University of Northern Colorado 8,869
  • UNK 5,881
  • Type
  • University of Northern Colorado Public 4 Year
  • UNK Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • University of Northern Colorado #680
  • UNK #544
  • Religious Affiliation
  • University of Northern Colorado -
  • UNK -
  • Status
  • University of Northern Colorado Non-profit
  • UNK Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • University of Northern Colorado
  • UNK

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • University of Northern Colorado $12,416
  • UNK $8,676
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • University of Northern Colorado $27,266
  • UNK $15,284
  • Room & Board
  • University of Northern Colorado $16,154
  • UNK $12,198
  • Average Net Price
  • University of Northern Colorado $19,376
  • UNK $16,287
  • Average Grant Aid
  • University of Northern Colorado $9,992
  • UNK $9,776
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • University of Northern Colorado 95%
  • UNK 89%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • University of Northern Colorado 11,127
  • UNK 5,283
  • Admitted
  • University of Northern Colorado 9,553
  • UNK 4,728
  • Acceptance Rate
  • University of Northern Colorado 85.9%
  • UNK 89.5%
  • Enrolled
  • University of Northern Colorado 13%
  • UNK 18.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • University of Northern Colorado 1070
  • UNK 1020
  • Typical ACT score
  • University of Northern Colorado 23
  • UNK 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • University of Northern Colorado 3.53
  • UNK 3.24
  • Typical High School Grades
  • University of Northern Colorado A-
  • UNK B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • University of Northern Colorado Easy
  • UNK Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • University of Northern Colorado
  • UNK
  • ACT Range
  • University of Northern Colorado 21/26
  • UNK 19/26
  • SAT Range
  • University of Northern Colorado 950/1190
  • UNK 905/1125
  • Submit Test Scores
  • University of Northern Colorado Test optional
  • UNK Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • University of Northern Colorado Aug 1, 2027
  • UNK Aug 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • University of Northern Colorado 14:1
  • UNK 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • University of Northern Colorado
    • General Studies (14%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Communication (8%)
  • UNK
    • Business (24%)
    • Education (20%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (5%)
    • Communication (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • University of Northern Colorado 46%
  • UNK 61%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • University of Northern Colorado $44,600
  • UNK $43,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • University of Northern Colorado 62%
  • UNK 71%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • University of Northern Colorado $21,970
  • UNK $21,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • University of Northern Colorado $227
  • UNK $219

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • University of Northern Colorado 32%
  • UNK 36%
  • % Women
  • University of Northern Colorado 68%
  • UNK 64%
  • Racial Diversity
  • University of Northern Colorado Medium
  • UNK Low
  • HBCU
  • University of Northern Colorado No
  • UNK No
  • % White
  • University of Northern Colorado 56%
  • UNK 79%
  • % Asian
  • University of Northern Colorado 2%
  • UNK 1%
  • % Black
  • University of Northern Colorado 4%
  • UNK 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • University of Northern Colorado 18%
  • UNK 11%
  • % Native American
  • University of Northern Colorado 0%
  • UNK 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • University of Northern Colorado 0%
  • UNK 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • University of Northern Colorado 4%
  • UNK 2%
  • % International
  • University of Northern Colorado 1%
  • UNK 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • University of Northern Colorado 15%
  • UNK 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • University of Northern Colorado 86%
  • UNK 87%
  • % Out-of-State
  • University of Northern Colorado 12%
  • UNK 10%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • University of Northern Colorado Yes
  • UNK Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • University of Northern Colorado No
  • UNK No
  • Meal Plan
  • University of Northern Colorado Yes
  • UNK Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • University of Northern Colorado No
  • UNK No
  • Daycare Facility
  • University of Northern Colorado No
  • UNK Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, CO with University of Nebraska at Kearney in Kearney, NE on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Northern Colorado is larger than UNK based on total student enrollment (8,869 students vs. 5,881 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Northern Colorado is located in Greeley, CO (Small City setting); University of Nebraska at Kearney is in Kearney, NE (Remote Town setting).
  • University of Northern Colorado is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Nebraska at Kearney is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Northern Colorado 14:1; University of Nebraska at Kearney 14:1.

University of Northern Colorado vs. UNK Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of Northern Colorado or UNK? 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 University of Nebraska at Kearney than University of Northern Colorado ($16,287 vs. $19,376).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Nebraska at Kearney are 24.5% lower than at University of Northern Colorado ($12,198 vs. $16,154).
  • University of Northern Colorado is 43.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than UNK (about $3,740 more per year; $12,416.00 vs. $8,676.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 78.4% higher at University of Northern Colorado than at University of Nebraska at Kearney (about $11,982 more per year; $27,266.00 vs. $15,284.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Northern Colorado than at University of Nebraska at Kearney (95% vs. 89%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Northern Colorado students is 2.2% larger than aid received by University of Nebraska at Kearney students ($9,992 vs. $9,776).

University of Northern Colorado vs. UNK Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, University of Northern Colorado or UNK? 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 UNK and University of Northern Colorado.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Northern Colorado (1070) is 50 points higher than at UNK (1020).
  • Incoming University of Northern Colorado students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (23 vs. 22 at UNK).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Northern Colorado 950/1190; University of Nebraska at Kearney 905/1125.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Northern Colorado 21/26; University of Nebraska at Kearney 19/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: University of Northern Colorado - Test optional; UNK - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: University of Northern Colorado Aug 1, 2027; UNK Aug 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman University of Northern Colorado students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.53) than students at UNK (3.24).
  • UNK has a higher acceptance rate (89.5%) than University of Northern Colorado (85.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13% at University of Northern Colorado vs. 18.5% at UNK.

University of Northern Colorado vs. UNK Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for University of Northern Colorado and UNK? 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 University of Northern Colorado's (46%).
  • Graduates from University of Northern Colorado earn a median of about $1,200 more per year than UNK graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,600 vs. $43,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Nebraska at Kearney graduates have a $720 lower median loan debt than University of Northern Colorado graduates ($21,250 vs. $21,970).
  • Among borrowers, UNK graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than University of Northern Colorado graduates ($219 vs. $227).
  • More UNK graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Northern Colorado students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 62%)

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.