University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK) vs South Dakota University

Nestled in the heart of the Midwest, the University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK) and the University of South Dakota (USD) stand as two distinct academic havens, each offering a unique educational experience. While both institutions share a commitment to academic excellence, they differ in several key aspects. UNK boasts a higher acceptance rate, making it a more accessible option for aspiring students. USD, on the other hand, has a slightly higher graduation rate, indicating a strong focus on student success. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve into further details, including popular majors, student body demographics, and more, to determine which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
University of Nebraska at Kearney logo

University of Nebraska at Kearney

University of South Dakota logo

University of South Dakota

Overview

Location Kearney, Nebraska Vermillion, South Dakota
Campus setting Town: Distant Town: Distant
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 76.0% 77.0%
Common app member No Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 90.3% 87.0%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $45

Graduate: $45
Undergraduate: $20

Graduate: $35
SAT range 938 - 1133 1050 - 1290
ACT range 18 - 25 19 - 25
Students submitting SAT score 4.0% 3.0%
Students submitting ACT score 86.0% 80.0%
Total number of applicants 6,076 4,272
Total number of admissions given out 5,488 3,717
Admitted students who chose to enroll 958 1,233
Yield rate 17.5% 33.2%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Not required Not required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Not required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $24,300

Out of state: $30,552
In state: $25,657

Out of state: $29,167
Average net price $16,433 $18,974
Tuition
In state: $6,292

Out of state: $12,498
In state: $7,773

Out of state: $11,283
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $5,436

Meal plan: $5,192
Room/dormitory: $4,366

Meal plan: $4,234
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

85.0%
Average amount $7,441
84.0%
Average amount $5,196
Students receiving federal student loan 45.0%
Average amount $4,821
60.0%
Average amount $5,102
Students taking out private loans 5.0%
Average amount $9,368
14.0%
Average amount $9,890

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 4,427
Men 37.7% Women 62.3%
6,987
Men 35.9% Women 64.1%
Graduate students 1,848
Men 30.2% Women 69.8%
2,477
Men 37.2% Women 62.8%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Very Low
Very Low
Out-of-state students 9.9% 39.4%
International students 4.2% 2.7%
Campus local/setting Town: Distant Town: Distant
Dormitory capacity 2,072 2,154
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Nebraska Colorado Kansas Iowa Wyoming South Dakota Iowa Nebraska Minnesota Wisconsin

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Education
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Liberal Arts
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Business
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Liberal Arts
Students to faculty ratio 13:1 14:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 58.0% 60.1%
Dropout rate 11.4% 14.2%
Transferred out 28.0% 24.5%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,208
  • Year 2: $58,479
  • Year 3: $63,133
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $48,641
  • Year 3: $54,125
Special Education and Teaching (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $49,040
  • Year 2: $52,607
  • Year 3: $53,723
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,490
  • Year 2: $48,302
  • Year 3: $53,277
Biology, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $54,246
  • Year 2: $48,432
  • Year 3: $52,603
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $45,894
  • Year 2: $45,618
  • Year 3: $52,491
Fine and Studio Arts (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $53,665
  • Year 2: $48,432
  • Year 3: $51,898
Agricultural Business and Management (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $43,654
  • Year 2: $38,829
  • Year 3: $51,703
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $49,159
  • Year 2: $49,464
  • Year 3: $51,277
Curriculum and Instruction (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $48,157
  • Year 2: $45,500
  • Year 3: $49,659
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $110,722
  • Year 2: $100,951
  • Year 3: $109,099
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $88,473
  • Year 2: $97,071
  • Year 3: $100,634
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $78,587
  • Year 2: $68,778
  • Year 3: $81,751
Public Administration (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $70,456
  • Year 3: $69,478
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,040
  • Year 2: $62,012
  • Year 3: $68,456
Medicine (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,011
  • Year 2: $57,860
  • Year 3: $68,011
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $62,632
  • Year 3: $64,788
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,801
  • Year 2: $65,170
  • Year 3: $64,105
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $52,161
  • Year 2: $62,260
  • Year 3: $63,921
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $46,986
  • Year 2: $52,941
  • Year 3: $61,718

Compare Similar Colleges

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