UNK Online
UNK Online
UNK Earns Multiple No. 1 Rankings for Online Graduate Programs
The University of Nebraska at Kearney continues to lead in online and graduate education, earning high placements on national ranking lists from U.S. News and World Report and Online Master’s Colleges.
UNK was one of only two Nebraska institutions to rank in the top 100 on US News and World Report’s Best Online Master's in Education Program list, landing at No. 64. It was also the only Nebraska school to appear on the Best Online Master's in Education Program for Veterans list at No. 22.
“These rankings reflect the dedication our faculty and staff bring to every student’s academic journey,” said Interim Dean of Graduate Studies and Academic Innovation Dr. Megan Adkins. “We’re proud to offer programs that are not only accessible and affordable, but also nationally recognized for their quality.”
UNK also received 13 national recognitions from Online Master’s Colleges, including three No. 1 rankings and nine top 10 placements.
UNK's 2026 Rankings:
U.S. News & World Report
- Best Online Master’s in Education Programs – No. 64
- Best Online Master’s in Education Programs for Veterans – No. 22
Online Master's Colleges
- Best Online Master’s Programs in Nebraska – No. 1
- Most Affordable Online Master’s in Biology – No. 1
- Best Online Biology Master’s Programs – No. 14
- Most Affordable MBA in Marketing – No. 8
- Best Online Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction – No. 21
- Best Online Spanish Master’s Programs – No. 5
- Most Affordable Online Spanish Master's Programs - No. 6
- Most Affordable Online MFA Creative Writing (English M.A.) – No. 6
- Best Online Master’s in History – No. 10
- Most Affordable Online Master’s in History – No. 5
- Best Online Master’s in Art History (Art Education M.A.Ed.) – No. 8
- Best Online Master’s Programs with No GRE Requirement – No. 38
With a rich history as a teacher education college, UNK continues to innovate and prosper in supporting the next generation of educators.
“I think UNK is known to be one of the best Teacher Education colleges because they prepare their candidates,” said Kearney school principal and UNK alumna Amber Taylor.
This legacy remains evident in the university’s consistent high performance in graduate education rankings.
“We’re proud to see UNK recognized at this level,” said Dr. Adkins. “More important than the ranking itself is knowing our students feel prepared, supported and confident in their next steps. That’s the true measure of our impact.”
UNK offers more than 40 online, in person and blended graduate programs across education, business, science, history, language and the arts. For more information on our top ranked programs, visit unk.edu/graduate.
