University of South Alabama vs. UNK

Should I go to University of South Alabama or University of Nebraska at Kearney? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if University of South Alabama or UNK is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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University of South Alabama vs. University of Nebraska at Kearney comparison
University of South Alabama University of Nebraska at Kearney College 3 College 4
University of South Alabama University of Nebraska at Kearney
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Overview

University of South Alabama UNK
Location Mobile, AL Kearney, NE
Setting Midsize City Remote Town
Enrollment 13,438 6,041
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #684 #571
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website southalabama.edu unk.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

University of South Alabama UNK
Tuition (In State) $8,616 $6,220
Tuition (Out of State) $17,232 $12,036
Room & Board $8,510 $11,390
Avg Net Price $15,664 $16,564
Avg Grant Aid $7,686 $7,282
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 100%

Admission

University of South Alabama UNK
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 12,550 6,794
Admitted 8,203 5,842
Acceptance Rate 65.4% 86%
Enrolled % 19.7% 14.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.69 3.24
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Moderate Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 20/26 19/25
SAT Range 1003/1200 1000/1200
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jul 15, 2025 Aug 15, 2025

Academics

University of South Alabama UNK
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (27%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Engineering (6%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • Business (24%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (5%)
  • Communication (5%)

Outcomes

University of South Alabama UNK
Graduation Rate 39% 61%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $45,200 $43,400
Making Student Loan Payments 45% 71%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,500 $21,250
Median Loan Payment $253 $219

Diversity

University of South Alabama UNK
% Men 32% 34%
% Women 68% 66%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 59% 79%
% Black 24% 2%
% Hispanic 3% 11%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 5% 5%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

University of South Alabama UNK
% In-State 73% 85%
% Out-of-State 25% 11%

Campus

University of South Alabama UNK
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of South Alabama is larger than than UNK based on total student enrollment (13,438 students vs. 6,041 students)

University of South Alabama vs. UNK Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of South Alabama or UNK?

  • University of South Alabama is 38.5% more expensive to attend than UNK for in-state tuition ($8,616.00 vs. $6,220.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 43.2% higher at University of South Alabama than University of Nebraska at Kearney ($17,232.00 vs. $12,036.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of South Alabama than UNK ($15,664 vs. $16,564)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Alabama are 33.8% lower than costs at University of Nebraska at Kearney ($8,510 vs. $11,390)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Nebraska at Kearney than University of South Alabama (100% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of South Alabama students is 5.5% larger than aid received University of Nebraska at Kearney ($7,686 vs. $7,282)

University of South Alabama vs. UNK Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, University of South Alabama or UNK? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UNK or University of South Alabama .

  • The average SAT score at University of Nebraska at Kearney (1049) is 4 points higher than at University of South Alabama (1045)
  • Incoming University of South Alabama students have at the same average ACT score (23) as students at UNK (23)
  • Accepted freshman University of South Alabama students have a 0.45 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at UNK (3.24)
  • UNK has a higher acceptance rate (86%) than University of South Alabama (65.4%)

University of South Alabama vs. UNK Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, University of South Alabama or UNK? 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 UNK and University of South Alabama.

  • The graduation rate at UNK is higher than University of South Alabama (61% vs. 39%)
  • Graduates from University of South Alabama earn on average $1,800 more per year than UNK graduates after ten years. ($45,200 vs. $43,400)
  • University of Nebraska at Kearney students graduate with a $3,250 lower median federal student loan debt than University of South Alabama graduates. ($21,250 vs. $24,500)
  • UNK graduates are paying $34 less per month on federal student loans than University of South Alabama graduates. ($219 vs. $253)
  • More UNK graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of South Alabama students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 45%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/