Students attending UNK come from all around the world, including the University’s home base – Nebraska.
Of the 5,699 students attending UNK, 4,760 are from Nebraska, coming from 90 counties across the state.
“Serving rural Nebraska is the heart of what we do,” said Kelly Bartling, vice chancellor for enrollment management and marketing. “Our students are diverse, and we want to make sure that we’re attractive to any and all students who want to take a look at UNK.”
A majority of the students enrolled at UNK come from approximately 50-100 miles from Kearney.
Bartling said students are mostly aware of the universities in their vicinity, which can become a complicating factor for rural students.
“If you don’t have a college or university within 50 miles, then you have some choices to make, and in many cases, some prospective students are choosing to not attend,” Bartling said.
While UNK does not target messages specifically to rural students, Bartling said the University can target specific locations with messages and advertising that may resonate with rural students.
Kyle Means, director of marketing, said there are mixed perceptions on how people view UNK’s size.
“I really do feel like UNK, from a size standpoint, meets the needs of students looking for both types of universities, meaning big and small,” Means said. “But, with that said, we definitely cater to students who thrive in an environment where they feel well-supported, and where they feel strongly connected.”
UNK offers multiple programs for students looking to work in rural Nebraska after graduation, such as the Kearney Law Opportunities Program and the Kearney Health Opportunities Program.
Bartling said the University works closely with the College of Business and Technology and university business partners, as well as schools and private and public school districts throughout the region.
“UNK’s rural identity is very much central to who we are and our mission, right?,” Bartling said. “So we are established to serve the needs of the people of Nebraska, but specifically in our region, and that’s both in terms of workforce development (and) partnerships with communities and organizations, but it’s primarily in educating the people who live in this part of the state.”
One concept, called “Grow the Good Life,” was started to create more relationships between students and employers in Nebraska.
Dustin Favinger, senior director of career development and graduate programs, said that 80% of academic internships within the College of Business and Technology are in Nebraska.
“The concept is we want to go in and help schools,” Favinger said. “We want to show them what kind of paths that they can have if they enroll in a program within our college, but then also, we want to show employers that if you want to grow your pipeline, you can come here and do it here.”
Bartling said the University is working to continue to show people what makes UNK unique.
“I get a little bit worried from time to time that people think that rural is less than or something that they don’t want to be part of,” Bartling said. “But, on the other hand, I feel like rural is also something that we need to embrace, because that’s our identity.”
