KEARNEY, Neb.— The University of Nebraska at Kearney is once again in the top ten for rankings by U.S. News and World Report.

The 2026 edition of Best Colleges rankings were announced on Tuesday once again putting UNK among the best.

This is the 18th consecutive year the school has been on the list of the "best public regional universities in the Midwest." UNK is ranked eighth this year, the 11th time the university has been in the top ten. UNK dropped 1 place after being tied for seventh last year in the listing.

No other school in Nebraska or in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association is ranked higher.

“These rankings reaffirm UNK’s commitment to academic excellence, experiential learning and student success,” Chancellor Neal Schnoor said in a news release. “I am proud that the dedication and achievements of our faculty, staff and students have again been recognized at the national level.”

The report also ranks all regional universities both public and private. UNK is 24th on this list. This is the same ranking as last year.

UNK is ranked sixth for “Best Value” for this year dropping from second place last year.

University officials say the university stands out in affordability. Over 90% of full-time freshman received some type of financial aid, in 2023-24 the average need-based award was more than $12,000.