KEARNEY – No other school in Nebraska can claim this distinction.
The University of Nebraska at Kearney is the state’s highest-ranked regional university in the latest U.S. News & World Report “Best Colleges” rankings, while maintaining its place among the Midwest’s top public universities and best values.
UNK ranks No. 7 among public regional universities in the Midwest and No. 27 overall in the category, which includes both public and private institutions. No school in Nebraska or the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association ranks higher in those categories.
The university also comes in at No. 7 on the Best Value Schools list for Midwest regional universities and No. 4 among Best Value Schools for In-State Students in the Midwest, highlighting UNK’s combination of academic quality and affordability.
“Being recognized among the Midwest’s top public universities and best values is especially meaningful,” Chancellor Neal Schnoor said. “UNK combines uncompromising academic excellence with affordability to ensure Nebraska students and families can access an exceptional education without taking on unnecessary financial burden. That fuels growth and a thriving future for students and Nebraska.”
UNK moved up one spot from last year in the Top Public Schools ranking, continuing a long-standing tradition of national recognition. The university has now been ranked among the Midwest’s top public regional universities for 19 consecutive years, including 12 times inside the top 10.
Released Tuesday, the U.S. News & World Report rankings provide a data-driven comparison of more than 1,700 colleges and universities using up to 17 measures of academic quality and graduate success. Factors include graduation and retention rates, graduate earnings, peer assessment, financial resources, student-faculty ratio and student outcomes.
UNK’s affordability continues to set it apart. The annual cost for a full-time undergraduate student taking 15 credit hours per semester and living in a double room on campus with a Loper meal plan is $21,767, making UNK the most affordable option among Nebraska universities. In 2024-25, more than 90% of full-time freshmen received scholarships and/or grants, with the average need-based award totaling $12,845.
Programs such as the Nebraska Promise, which covers full tuition for qualifying students with family incomes of $65,000 or less, and the New Nebraskan Scholarship, which allows all out-of-state students to pay the in-state tuition rate, make a UNK education even more accessible.
“I’m proud of our faculty and staff and the work they do every day to create opportunities for students and support their success,” Schnoor said. “UNK provides an exceptional education that prepares students to build successful careers, strengthen communities and make a difference across Nebraska and beyond.”
UNK earned additional recognition in other U.S. News categories, including ranking No. 13 in Best Colleges for Veterans and No. 20 for Top Performers on Social Mobility among regional Midwest universities.
Best Regional Universities Midwest (Nebraska and MIAA schools)
No. 27 – University of Nebraska at Kearney
No. 29 – College of Saint Mary
No. 34 – Nebraska Wesleyan University
No. 58 – Clarkson College
No. 67 – Doane University
No. 74 – University of Central Missouri
No. 78 (tie) – Northwest Missouri State University, Pittsburg State University
No. 84 – Emporia State University
No. 91 – Nebraska Methodist College
No. 101 – Fort Hays State University
No. 110 – Washburn University
No. 115 – Concordia University
No. 117 – Wayne State College
No. 144 (tie) – Chadron State College, Newman University
No. 153 (tie) – Midland University, York University
No. 157-171 – Bellevue University, Missouri Western State University, Peru State College
