UNK vs. NSU

Should I go to University of Nebraska at Kearney or Northern State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if UNK or NSU 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 Nebraska at Kearney vs. Northern State University comparison
University of Nebraska at Kearney Northern State University College 3 College 4
University of Nebraska at Kearney
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Overview

UNK NSU
Location Kearney, NE Aberdeen, SD
Setting Remote Town Remote Town
Enrollment 6,041 3,344
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #571 #820
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website unk.edu northern.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

UNK NSU
Tuition (In State) $6,220 $7,616
Tuition (Out of State) $12,036 $10,718
Room & Board $11,390 $9,150
Avg Net Price $16,564 $17,264
Avg Grant Aid $7,282 $5,715
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 91%

Admission

UNK NSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,794 1,322
Admitted 5,842 1,033
Acceptance Rate 86% 78.1%
Enrolled % 14.8% 28.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.24 3.37
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/25 18/24
SAT Range 1000/1200 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, 2024

Academics

UNK NSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (24%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (5%)
  • Communication (5%)
  • Business (35%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Biology (4%)

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 34% 37%
% Women 66% 63%
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 85% 69%
% Out-of-State 11% 30%

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 (6,041 students vs. 3,344 students)

UNK vs. NSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UNK or NSU?

  • Northern State University is 22.4% more expensive to attend than UNK for in-state tuition ($7,616.00 vs. $6,220.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 12.3% higher at UNK than Northern State University ($12,036.00 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 ($16,564 vs. $17,264)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern State University are 24.5% lower than costs at University of Nebraska at Kearney ($9,150 vs. $11,390)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Nebraska at Kearney than Northern State University (100% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Nebraska at Kearney students is 27.4% larger than aid received Northern State University ($7,282 vs. $5,715)

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)
  • UNK has a higher acceptance rate (86%) than NSU (78.1%)

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/