With an emphasis on value, UNK climbs to No. 6 on annual ‘Best Colleges’ list

Daelynn Hofaker (Photo by Erika Pritchard, UNK Communications)

KEARNEY – When Daelynn Hofaker was comparing colleges, there were a few must-have items on her checklist.

She was looking for a school where she could branch out and be independent, but she also didn’t want to get lost in the shuffle during her first year on campus. The Sutton native wanted that friendly, small-town feel in a place that offered all of the amenities she needed to succeed.

After touring its close-knit campus, she realized the University of Nebraska at Kearney was the perfect fit.

“It’s a smaller location, yet big enough to have everything you would need,” Hofaker said, referencing campus resources such as the recently renovated Calvin T. Ryan Library, state-of-the-art Wellness Center and new Loper Success Hub.

Affordability was another major factor in her decision to attend UNK, where she’s part of the pre-radiologic technology program.

There are a lot of schools that can prepare you for a health care career, Hofaker noted. “If you can get the same high-quality education here, you might as well get it for cheaper,” she added.

UNK’s reputation for academic excellence, strong student success rates, affordable tuition and accessible financial aid programs is once again reflected in the national “Best Colleges” rankings released today by U.S. News & World Report.

For the 17th consecutive year, the publication puts UNK among the top public regional universities in the Midwest. Climbing two spots to No. 6 on that list, this marks the 10th time UNK has been inside the top 10, including a No. 6 ranking in 2021 and 2020.

UNK is tied for 24th among all Midwest regional universities – both public and private – up five positions from last year. No school in Nebraska or the MIAA is ranked higher.

“The Midwest region is made up of 12 states, so this represents significant success on the part of UNK faculty and staff,” said interim Chancellor Charlie Bicak. “We have routinely been in the top 10 for the last 15 years. I am pleased with the dedication of our faculty and staff to making UNK an excellent place to be a student.”

U.S. News & World Report evaluated nearly 1,500 colleges and universities for this year’s rankings, using up to 17 measures of academic quality to give prospective students and their families detailed information about each school.

The rankings emphasize outcomes for graduating students, including their college debt and ability to find good-paying jobs. Year after year, UNK shines in this area, coming in at No. 5 on the “Best Value” list for Midwest regional universities.

UNK is the most affordable Nebraska university, with an annual cost of $20,473 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. Qualifying Nebraska students with family incomes of $65,000 or less can attend UNK tuition-free through the Nebraska Promise program, and the New Nebraskan Scholarship allows all out-of-state students to pay the in-state tuition rate for traditional, on-campus classes.

More than 85% of all full-time UNK freshmen receive scholarships and/or grants, with the average need-based award totaling $11,388 in 2022-23.

“Students and their families are savvy consumers and the ‘value’ of their investment is one of the top considerations in selecting their college or university,” said Kelly Bartling, vice chancellor of Enrollment Management and Marketing. “‘Value’ is more than discounted tuition, scholarships or aid – it’s the entire experience and the outcome, which often is the expected job or graduate school placement following completion of their program. Knowing that students and alumni see UNK as a good value proposition, and having that validation from U.S. News & World Report, is a good conversation point.”

Hofaker is among the many UNK students who recognize and appreciate this value. She received the prestigious Board of Regents Scholarship, which covers the full cost of tuition during her time at UNK.

“That made it a lot easier to transition to college since I didn’t have to worry about working as much while trying to balance schoolwork and studying,” she said.

Hofaker is employed as a pharmacy technician at Innovative Rx in Kearney, and she’s involved in the Navigators college ministry and campus intramurals. After professional school, she plans to pursue a career in sonography.

“A goal of mine has always been to go into a field that helps others, and I think this profession really allows me to do that,” she said.

In her second year on campus, the UNK sophomore still feels good about her college choice.

“UNK is just a really great school,” Hofaker said. “It’s a very positive place to be.”

UNK “BEST COLLEGES” RANKINGS
No. 5 in Best Value Schools – Regional Universities (Midwest)
No. 6 in Top Public Schools – Regional Universities (Midwest)
No. 10 in Best Colleges for Veterans – Regional Universities (Midwest)
No. 23 in Top Performers on Social Mobility – Regional Universities (Midwest)
No. 24 in Overall Rank – Regional Universities (Midwest)