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Former names | Kearney State Normal School (1905–1921) Kearney State Teachers College (1921–1963) Kearney State College (1963–1991) |
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| Motto | Be Blue. Be Gold. BE BOLD. |
| Type | Public university |
| Established | 1905 (1905) |
Parent institution | University of Nebraska system |
Academic affiliations | Space-grant |
| Chancellor | Neal Schnoor |
| President | Jeffrey P. Gold |
| Vice-Chancellor | Julie Shaffer |
| Students | 5,699 (fall 2025)[1] |
| Undergraduates | 4,056 (fall 2025) |
| Postgraduates | 1,643 (fall 2025) |
| Location | , United States 40°42′02″N99°06′03″W / 40.70056°N 99.10083°W /40.70056; -99.10083 |
| Campus | Rural, 235 acres (95 ha) |
| Colors | Blue and gold[2] |
| Nickname | Lopers |
Sporting affiliations | NCAA Division II –The MIAA |
| Mascot | Louie the Loper |
| Website | www |
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TheUniversity of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK) is apublic university inKearney, Nebraska, United States. It is a part of theUniversity of Nebraska system. The university was formed in 1903 by theNebraska State Legislature asKearney State Normal School. The school would later join the University of Nebraska system in 1989 and would re-brand to its current name in 1991.
The University of Nebraska at Kearney was originally formed in 1903 as the Kearney State Normal School. It was formed by theNebraska State Legislature after $50,000 was appropriated to build thenormal school. The school was originally a part of theNebraska State College System.[3] The school was originally located in different public facilities until the completion of its first building in October 1905.[4] The first president wasAugustus O. Thomas.[5]
In 1921, the state legislature changed all normal schools, including Kearney State, to being teachers colleges. This also allowed for the college to offer four-year degrees. Additionally, it changed its name to Kearney State Teachers College.[6] In 1963, the legislature again changed the name of the college, this time to Kearney State College.[7]
In 1989, it was announced that Kearney State College would be transferred from the Nebraska State College System to theUniversity of Nebraska system. Said decision was blocked by then-Nebraska Attorney General Robert Spire.[8] The lawsuit was then brought to theNebraska Supreme Court where it was later cleared the following year. Kearney State College officially re-branded to the University of Nebraska at Kearney in 1991.[9]
In common with other campuses in the NU system, the university faced financial distress in the early 2020s, necessitating schoolwide job and program cuts. In 2023, university leaders planned to eliminate over 24 faculty positions and nine degree programs to begin to mitigate the university's $4.3 million budgetary shortfall.[10]
The University of Nebraska at Kearney's campus is located inKearney, Nebraska, United States. The campus includes 58 buildings and Foster Field. The oldest building on campus is the Alumni House, which was built in 1907.[11]
The university also has an eCampus, offering online undergraduate and graduate degree programs, as well as a blended-learning (online and face-to-face) driver education endorsement program.[12]
Also located on the campus isKLPR, analternative rock station operated by the University of Nebraska at Kearney.[13]
TheMuseum of Nebraska Art, founded by the state legislature and located in Kearney since 1986, is administered as a department of the university.[14] TheG.W. Frank Museum of History and Culture is a Richardsonian Romanesque mansion on the western edge of campus, formerly the residence of the administrator of the Nebraska State Tubercular Hospital. Now listed on theNational Register of Historic Places, the G.W. Frank Museum of History and Culture is open to the public, as well as being used for university functions.[14][15]
| Race and ethnicity | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 73% | ||
| Hispanic | 15% | ||
| International student | 4% | ||
| Black | 3% | ||
| Two or more races | 3% | ||
| Asian | 1% | ||
| Economic diversity | |||
| Low-income[a] | 35% | ||
| Affluent[b] | 65% | ||
The University of Nebraska at Kearney is a public university operated by theUniversity of Nebraska system. As of 2025, the university enrolls 4,130 undergraduate students. The university includes 39 undergraduate fields of study. Major fields of study include Business Administration, Teacher Education and Professional Development, Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies, Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Family Cand Consumer Economics and Related Studies.[16]
The University of Nebraska at Kearney has three colleges for undergraduate degrees. These include the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business and Technology, and the College of Education.[17] Additionally, through a partnership with theUniversity of Nebraska Medical Center, the university offers nursing and allied health programs.[18]
The Nebraska–Kearney (UNK) athletic teams are called the Lopers. The university is a member of theDivision II level of theNational Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), primarily competing in theMid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) for most of its sports since the 2012–13 academic year.[19][20]
UNK competes in 17 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include basketball, cross country, football, tennis, track & field (indoor and outdoor) and wrestling; basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field (indoor and outdoor) and volleyball.
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Established: 1903 –Students: 6,747 (Fall 2015) | |||||
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