University of Nebraska at Kearney

The school would later join the University of Nebraska system in 1989 and would re-brand to its current name in 1991.

• Name — University of Nebraska at Kearney • Former Names — Kearney State Normal School (1905–1921) Kearney State Teachers College (1921–1963) Kearney State College (1963–1991) • Motto — Be Blue. Be Gold. BE BOLD. • Established — 1905 • Type — Public university • Academic Affiliations — Space-grant • Parent — University of Nebraska system • President — Jeffrey P. Gold • Chancellor — Neal Schnoor • Vice Chancellor — Julie Shaffer • Students — 5,699 (fall 2025) • Undergrad — 4,056 (fall 2025) • Postgrad — 1,643 (fall 2025) • City — Kearney, Nebraska • Country — United States • Campus — Rural, 235 acre • Sports Nickname — Lopers • Mascot — Louie the Loper • Sporting Affiliations — NCAA Division II – The MIAA

The University of Nebraska at Kearney was originally formed in 1903 as the Kearney State Normal School. It was formed by the Nebraska State Legislature after $50,000 was appropriated to build the normal school. The school was originally a part of the Nebraska State College System. The school was originally located in different public facilities until the completion of its first building in October 1905. The first president was Augustus O. Thomas. 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. In 1963, the legislature again changed the name of the college, this time to Kearney State College. In 1967, the first building on campus was condemned by the state fire marshal. The auditorium wing of the building was demolished the following year. The rest of the building was demolished in 1984. In 1989, it was announced that Kearney State College would be transferred from the Nebraska State College System to the University of Nebraska system. Said decision was blocked by then-Nebraska Attorney General Robert Spire. The lawsuit was then brought to the Nebraska 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. 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. In July 2026, the university launched its flight school, Loper Flight Academy, operating seven Tecnam P-Mentor aircraft out of Kearney Regional Airport.

The University of Nebraska at Kearney's campus is located in Kearney, 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. 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. Also located on the campus is KLPR, an alternative rock station operated by the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

The Museum of Nebraska Art, founded by the state legislature and located in Kearney since 1986, is administered as a department of the university. The G.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 the National 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.

Undergraduate demographics as of fall 2023 • Race and ethnicity — Total • White — background:cyan • Hispanic — background:green • International student — background:#008080 • Black — background:purple • Two or more races — background:violet • Asian — background:orange • Economic diversity • Low-income — background:red • Affluent — background:black The University of Nebraska at Kearney is a public university operated by the University 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.

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. Additionally, through a partnership with the University of Nebraska Medical Center, the university offers nursing and allied health programs.

• Illustration — Nebraska–Kearney Athletics wordmark The Nebraska–Kearney (UNK) athletic teams are called the Lopers. The university is a member of the Division II level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), primarily competing in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) for most of its sports since the 2012–13 academic year. UNK competes in 17 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include basketball, cross country, football, tennis, track & field (indoor and outdoor) and wrestling; Women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field (indoor and outdoor) and volleyball.

• Emily Balcetis – professor of psychology • Jon Bokenkamp – television writer and producer • Joba Chamberlain – New York Yankees pitcher • Richard Davenport – president of Minnesota State University, Mankato • Tervel Dlagnev – wrestler, bronze medal at 2012 Olympics • Gary Dop – poet • Bob Green – football coach • Marg Helgenberger – actress • Arthur Hobbs – football player • Jack Hoffman – football player • Bart Kofoed – basketball player • Richard G. Kopf – judge, U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska • Tom Kropp – basketball player • Stephen Lawhead – science-fiction author • Ira J. McDonald – Los Angeles City Council member, 1941–45 • Bill Milldyke – broadcast journalist • Harry Northup – actor • Larry L. Peterson – computer scientist • Mahabir Pun – Ramon Magsaysay Award winning Nepalese philanthropist • Randy Rasmussen – former New York Jets player • Tim Schlattmann – co-executive producer of Dexter • Raufeon Stots – two-time NCAA Division II Wrestling champion, current Bellator mixed martial artist • Tauese Sunia – former governor of American Samoa • Kamaru Usman – wrestler • Tyrus – professional wrestler • Don Welch – poet • Ty Danielson – college basketball coach