AT 7,100, UNK FALL HEADCOUNT ENROLLMENT JUMPS 5.1 PERCENT TO THE HIGHEST IN 14 YEARS

Curt Carlson
Vice Chancellor for University Relations, 308.865.8529

University of Nebraska at Kearney Chancellor Doug Kristensen today announced a fall enrollment at UNK of 7,100 students, the highest headcount in 14 years and the highest rate (5.1 percent) of increase in at least 20 years.

Among the increases are a 23 percent jump over last fall in students transferring from other universities, a 16.3 percent increase in online enrollment and an 8.8 percent increase in students from outside Nebraska. Further, students are enrolled from all 93 Nebraska counties, 49 states (only Rhode Island is missing) and 53 countries.

“Enrollment this year is another indicator that UNK is moving forward in quality and reputation,” Chancellor Kristensen said. “Students are recognizing the changes taking place at UNK, and they want to be part of a top university.”

Not only does fall enrollment reflect an increase in the number of students, the ACT scores of the incoming class have improved as well. The average ACT of this year’s incoming class is a record-breaking 22.7, and for the 155 first-time Honors program students, the average ACT is 28.3, also holding at historically high levels.

“Even though our first-time freshmen numbers are down by a small margin this year (after a 15% increase last year), freshmen numbers in total are the highest we have seen since 2004,” said Dusty Newton, director of Undergraduate Admissions.

Mirroring the headcount numbers, student credit hours have also increased— 4.7 percent in undergraduate hours and 1.3 percent for graduate students. Total student credit hours are at 80,737, the highest in at least a decade. Credit hour numbers are up in all four of the academic colleges, as well as in the Graduate School.

“The high student credit hour numbers are indicative of the very significant investment our faculty makes in what we do best at UNK, high quality teaching,” said Dr. Charles J. Bicak, senior vice chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs. “This is obviously well known across the state of Nebraska and beyond.”

In minority student growth, Hispanic students lead the way with a record 93 students in the incoming freshmen class. The number of international students increased by 4 percent to 481. The total non-resident student population is at an all-time high of 1,391.

“We have made great efforts over a period of years to advance academically at UNK, to renew our campus, and to cement the partnership with Kearney that has been so beneficial for our students,” Chancellor Kristensen said. “Underneath the statistics, there’s a lot to be proud of here.”