UNK vs. Black Hills State University

Should I go to University of Nebraska at Kearney or Black Hills State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if UNK or Black Hills State University 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools
University of Nebraska at Kearney vs. Black Hills State University comparison
University of Nebraska at Kearney Black Hills State University College 3 College 4
University of Nebraska at Kearney Black Hills State University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

UNK Black Hills State University
Location Kearney, NE Spearfish, SD
Setting Remote Town Remote Town
Enrollment 6,041 3,425
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #571 #1006
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website unk.edu bhsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

UNK Black Hills State University
Tuition (In State) $6,220 $7,700
Tuition (Out of State) $12,036 $10,800
Room & Board $11,390 $7,528
Avg Net Price $16,564 $16,782
Avg Grant Aid $7,282 $4,986
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

UNK Black Hills State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,794 1,579
Admitted 5,842 1,526
Acceptance Rate 86% 96.6%
Enrolled % 14.8% 31.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.24 3.22
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/25 18/24
SAT Range 1000/1200 970/1085
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, 2024

Academics

UNK Black Hills State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (24%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (5%)
  • Communication (5%)
  • Education (21%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Psychology (6%)

Outcomes

UNK Black Hills State University
Graduation Rate 61% 28%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $43,400 $38,800
Making Student Loan Payments 71% 62%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,250 $25,478
Median Loan Payment $219 $263

Diversity

UNK Black Hills State University
% Men 34% 37%
% Women 66% 63%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 79% 83%
% Black 2% 2%
% Hispanic 11% 5%
% Native American 0% 4%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 4%
% International 5% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

UNK Black Hills State University
% In-State 85% 57%
% Out-of-State 11% 42%

Campus

UNK Black Hills State University
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 Black Hills State University based on total student enrollment (6,041 students vs. 3,425 students)

UNK vs. Black Hills State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UNK or Black Hills State University?

  • Black Hills State University is 23.8% more expensive to attend than UNK for in-state tuition ($7,700.00 vs. $6,220.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 11.4% higher at UNK than Black Hills State University ($12,036.00 vs. $10,800.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Nebraska at Kearney than Black Hills State University ($16,564 vs. $16,782)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Black Hills State University are 51.3% lower than costs at University of Nebraska at Kearney ($7,528 vs. $11,390)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at University of Nebraska at Kearney as Black Hills State University (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Nebraska at Kearney students is 46% larger than aid received Black Hills State University ($7,282 vs. $4,986)

UNK vs. Black Hills State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Nebraska at Kearney (1049) is 61 points higher than at Black Hills State University (988)
  • Incoming UNK students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Black Hills State University (21)
  • Accepted freshman UNK students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.24) than students at Black Hills State University (3.22)
  • Black Hills State University has a higher acceptance rate (96.6%) than UNK (86%)

UNK vs. Black Hills State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, UNK or Black Hills State University? 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 Black Hills State University and UNK.

  • The graduation rate at UNK is higher than Black Hills State University (61% vs. 28%)
  • Graduates from University of Nebraska at Kearney earn on average $4,600 more per year than Black Hills State University graduates after ten years. ($43,400 vs. $38,800)
  • University of Nebraska at Kearney students graduate with a $4,228 lower median federal student loan debt than Black Hills State University graduates. ($21,250 vs. $25,478)
  • UNK graduates are paying $44 less per month on federal student loans than Black Hills State University graduates. ($219 vs. $263)
  • More UNK graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Black Hills State University 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/