Cost of Attendance

The Cost of Attendance (COA) is an estimate of the total cost of attending the University of Nebraska at Kearney for one academic year. It is not a bill. Instead, it is a planning tool that helps students and families understand the estimated expenses associated with earning a degree at UNK.

In accordance with federal guidelines, the Cost of Attendance includes estimates for:

• Tuition and fees
• Housing and food
• Books, course materials, supplies, and equipment
• Transportation
• Miscellaneous personal expenses
• Federal student loan fees (if applicable)
• Professional licensure, certification, or first professional credential costs (if applicable)

Your actual costs may differ from these estimates based on your individual circumstances and choices. Factors such as your enrollment level, housing selection, meal plan, transportation needs, and personal spending habits can all affect your total expenses. Additionally, some scholarships and financial aid can only be used toward certain types of costs, so it's important to plan accordingly.

Estimate Your Costs

To estimate your direct costs—expenses billed by UNK—use the UNK Cost Calculator.

How Financial Aid Uses the Cost of Attendance

The Office of Financial Aid uses a standard Cost of Attendance budget to determine your financial aid eligibility before scholarships, grants, loans, or tuition discounts (including the New Nebraskan Scholarship) are applied.

The Cost of Attendance budgets are based on anticipated enrollment, residency status, and living arrangements (on campus, off campus, or with parents). The chart below shows the estimated Cost of Attendance for full-time undergraduate Nebraska residents during the 2026–2027 academic year.

What's Included?

Direct Costs (billed by UNK)

• Tuition
• Fees
• On-campus housing and food (if applicable)

Indirect Costs (not billed by UNK)

• Books and supplies
• Off-campus housing and living expenses
• Transportation
• Miscellaneous personal expenses

Indirect costs are estimated using average student expenses and are included for financial planning purposes.

2026–2027 Full-Time Undergraduate Nebraska Resident Cost of Attendance

 The estimated cost of attendance (COA) provides a standardized estimate of what it may cost to attend the University of Nebraska at Kearney. It reflects the best estimate of expenses a student might reasonably expect to incur. In accordance with federal guidelines, the following components are included in each student’s estimated COA:

• Tuition and fees;
• Living expenses (housing and food);
• Books, course materials, supplies, and equipment;
• Transportation;
• Miscellaneous personal expenses;
• Federal student loan fees, if applicable; and
• Professional licensure, certification, or first professional credential, if applicable.

The COA is not a bill, but a tool to help you understand the potential full cost of attending UNK. Your actual costs may vary based on the choices you make throughout your academic journey. Factors like the number of credits you take each term, your housing selection, meal habits, or other personal decisions can increase or decrease your individual costs beyond what is estimated. Some scholarships and financial aid may only apply to specific types of expenses, so it’s important to plan ahead. 

To estimate your specific cost of attendance, we recommend using UNK's Cost Calculator. Please note that the Cost Calculator will only calculate your direct costs, or items charged by UNK.

The Office of Financial Aid uses a “standard cost of attendance budget” to calculate your estimated educational costs before scholarships, aid, or discounts, including the New Nebraskan Scholarship. The chart below represents typical costs for students during the nine-month academic year based on anticipated enrollment, residency status, and living arrangements (on campus, off campus or with parents). The amounts below represent the cost of attendance for the 2026-2027 academic year. 

What’s Included

• Direct costs (items charged by UNK):
  
  • tuition,
  • fees, and
  • on-campus housing and food.
• Indirect costs (items not paid to UNK)*:
  • books and supplies,
  • off-campus housing,
  • transportation, and
  • miscellaneous personal expenses.

*These are estimates based on average reported expenses of UNK students.