Nebraska at Kearney SAT Scores, GPA, and ACT (2026)
By the Cheetah Prep team · Reviewed July 15, 2026
SAT middle 50 percent
905 to 1125
Half of enrolled students at Nebraska at Kearney scored in this range on the SAT. One quarter scored above 1125, and one quarter below 905.
- Average composite
- 1118
- Acceptance rate
- 89.5%
- ACT range
- 19 to 26
- Test policy
- Test optional
- Location
- Kearney, NE
- Undergraduates
- 4,088
Nebraska at Kearney SAT Scores and Admissions
Nebraska at Kearney SAT scores land in a middle 50 range of 905 to 1125, and a total inside that band puts you right where most admitted students sit. Score near 1125 and you are at the top edge of the class. Score near 905 and you are still in the running, since this is a school that reads the whole application. The average sits at 1118, close to the upper end, so aiming past the midpoint is a smart plan.
Kearney, NE, is home to this public university and its 4,088 or so students. Its acceptance rate is 89.5%, which means roughly 9 out of 10 applicants get an offer. That open door does not make your score meaningless. A stronger total shifts you from the bottom of the pool toward the top, and it can matter for placement and merit aid. Testing was optional in the most recent federal data, so you can apply without a score. Still, a solid SAT gives the admissions office one more clear reason to say yes, and it gives you leverage the essay alone cannot.
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Nebraska at Kearney SAT Score Breakdown by Section
Here is the section by section SAT profile of enrolled students at Nebraska at Kearney, from the federal College Scorecard.
| Section | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Reading and Writing | 495 | 575 |
| Math | 410 | 550 |
| CompositeTotal SAT | 905 | 1125 |
The College Board reports section percentiles, not section averages, so an average is shown for the composite only.
Where this sits on the 400 to 1600 scale
905 to 1125
Nebraska at Kearney Admissions Calculator: What Are Your Chances?
Enter your SAT score and unweighted GPA for an honest read on your chances of getting into Nebraska at Kearney, measured against real enrolled student data instead of a made up percentage.
No SAT score yet? Take the diagnostic and get a real number in about 25 minutes.
How this calculator works: your SAT is compared with Nebraska at Kearney's reported middle 50 percent range from the federal College Scorecard, your GPA is compared with the range admitted students at similarly selective schools typically present, and both are weighed against the school's real acceptance rate. We do not print a made up percent chance. No calculator can see your essays, your course rigor, or your recommendations, and at selective schools those decide close calls. Treat this as an honest read of your academic position, not a prediction.
Chances of Getting Into Nebraska at Kearney by SAT Score
Here is what specific scores mean at Nebraska at Kearney, based on its reported 905 to 1125 middle 50 percent range. Find the row closest to your score, or use the calculator above for a read on your exact numbers. No made up percentages: each verdict is your real position in the enrolled class.
| SAT score | Where it lands | The honest read |
|---|---|---|
| 760 | Well below the 25th percentile | A 760 is well below the 905 to 1125 range at Nebraska at Kearney. On testing alone this score does not keep the application in contention, so raising it is the priority. |
| 860 | Just below the 25th percentile | A 860 falls just short of Nebraska at Kearney's 25th percentile of 905. Some students get in below the range, but they usually bring something exceptional elsewhere in the application. |
| 1020 | Inside the middle 50 percent | A 1020 sits inside the 905 to 1125 range, matching the profile of enrolled students. This is a competitive score here. |
| 1130 | At the 75th percentile | A 1130 matches the 75th percentile at Nebraska at Kearney, stronger than about 3 out of 4 enrolled students. Testing is a clear strength at this level. |
| 1160 | Above the 75th percentile | A 1160 beats the 75th percentile at Nebraska at Kearney. The score is doing all it can; nothing more is gained by retaking. |
How to Raise Your SAT Score to Nebraska at Kearney's Range
The two targets that matter here are 905, the score that puts you inside the admitted range, and 1125, the score that puts you in the top quarter. Here is the size of the jump from common starting points, with the step by step plan for each one.
| Starting score | To reach 905 | To reach 1125 | The plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1000 | Already there | +125 points | 1000 to 1200 plan |
Not sure where you stand today? The diagnostic gives you a real starting score and a section breakdown in one sitting, so the gap you plan around is your actual gap.
What SAT Score Do You Need for Nebraska at Kearney?
Below 905 and you are under the 25th percentile, so the rest of your file has to carry more weight. Land between 905 and 1125 and you are inside the middle 50, which is exactly where most enrolled students score. Push above 1125 and you sit in the top quarter of the class, which helps for placement and any merit aid the school offers.
The two sections do not ask the same thing here. Reading and Writing runs 495 to 575, while Math runs 410 to 550. The Reading and Writing band sits higher, so that section sets the tougher bar. A reader who is strong on the verbal side has an easier path to the middle of the range. If Math is your weaker section, that 410 to 550 spread gives you room. You do not need a huge Math number to stay in range, but every point you add on Reading and Writing moves you faster toward the 575 top edge and a total above the school average of 1118.
Nebraska at Kearney GPA Requirements
Admitted students at Nebraska at Kearney typically present an unweighted GPA around 3.0 to 3.5. That is a broad band, and it fits a school that admits close to 9 in 10 applicants. If your grades sit inside it, you look like a normal member of the class.
Grades earned in harder courses count as much as the number itself. A 3.3 built from honors classes reads stronger than a 3.6 from an easy load. So push into the tougher sections your school offers rather than protect a clean average with soft classes. If your GPA sits at the lower edge of that 3.0 to 3.5 band, a strong SAT is the fastest way to offset it. A total near or above 1125 tells the reader you can handle college work even if a few grades slipped. Grades take years to move. A test score can climb in a matter of weeks with focused practice, which makes it the most efficient lever you have before you apply.
Typical admitted GPA
Admitted students at Nebraska at Kearney typically present a GPA in the 3.0 to 3.5 range on an unweighted 4.0 scale. Steady grades in a reasonable course load are usually enough on the GPA side of the application.
If your GPA sits at or below this range, a strong SAT score is the fastest way to stay competitive, since grades are hard to move late in high school. See where your SAT score really stands and build the plan around the gap.
These are unweighted grades on a 4.0 scale. A school that weights GPA or reports a different scale will show a higher number.
Nebraska at Kearney SAT Testing Policy
Nebraska at Kearney considered scores without requiring them (test optional) in the most recent federal data. Testing policies change year to year, so confirm the current 2026-2027policy on the school's admissions site before you decide whether to submit scores.
Should you submit your score?
Submit your score when it is at or above 1015, the middle of Nebraska at Kearney's range. If you are below 905, the 25th percentile, consider holding your score and letting your grades, essays, and activities carry the application.
Last verified July 15, 2026
Should You Submit Your SAT Score to Nebraska at Kearney?
Nebraska at Kearney was test optional in the most recent federal data, which turns your score into a strategic choice. The folk theory that applying without scores signals weakness is overstated, but the math of what helps is simple: a score that lands inside or above the admitted range works for you, and a score well below it does not.
1020+
Submit
At or above the middle of the admitted range, submitting clearly helps. A real data point beats an open question.
905 to 1020
Lean submit
Inside the range, most counselors say send it: you are within the profile of enrolled students, and holding it back leaves the reader guessing.
Below 905
Usually hold it
Below the 25th percentile the score rarely helps at Nebraska at Kearney. Apply without it, or better, close the gap first. Scores can still matter for merit scholarships elsewhere on your list.
Policy as reported for the 2024-2025 cycle. We verified it against Nebraska at Kearney's own site, where any mid cycle change would appear first.
Nebraska at Kearney ACT Scores: Should You Take the SAT or ACT?
The middle 50 percent of enrolled students at Nebraska at Kearney scored between 19 and 26 on the ACT, alongside the 905 to 1125 SAT range. Like nearly every US college, Nebraska at Kearney states no preference between the two tests. The right move is to take whichever test converts higher for you, using the official concordance below, and send that one.
| ACT composite | SAT equivalent |
|---|---|
| 26 | 1230 to 1250 |
| 25 | 1200 to 1220 |
| 24 | 1160 to 1190 |
| 23 | 1130 to 1150 |
| 22 | 1100 to 1120 |
| 21 | 1060 to 1090 |
| 20 | 1030 to 1050 |
| 19 | 990 to 1020 |
| 18 | 960 to 980 |
SAT equivalents from the official College Board and ACT concordance tables. Highlighted rows fall inside Nebraska at Kearney's ACT middle 50 percent.
How to Get Into Nebraska at Kearney
Set your first target at 905, the 25th percentile, since hitting it keeps you inside the range for Nebraska at Kearney. Then aim for 1125, the 75th percentile, which puts you in the top quarter and strengthens your case for merit aid. A middle goal near the 1118 average is a sensible checkpoint between the two.
Break those totals into section goals. Reading and Writing near 575 and Math near 550 gets you to the top edge. Because Reading and Writing sets the higher bar, spend the first block of study there. Our score plans turn a target like 1125 into weekly section goals you can actually track. Before you map any of that, take a diagnostic to see your current Reading and Writing and Math splits, so you know which section needs the most work. Your next step is simple: get a baseline total, compare it to the 905 to 1125 band, and set the one number you want to hit before you apply.
How Hard Is It to Get Into Nebraska at Kearney?
Nebraska at Kearney admits about 895 of every 1,000 applicants, and enrolls an undergraduate class of about 4,088. That ratio, not any single cutoff, is what makes the admitted profile look the way it does: when a school turns away 105 of every 1,000 people who apply, the students who get in cluster at the top of every measurable scale.
For perspective against the country as a whole: Nebraska at Kearney's 25th percentile score of 905 already beats roughly 23% of all SAT takers nationally, and its 75th percentile of 1125 sits around the 63th percentile. A score that feels middling on this page is an excellent score almost anywhere else, which is worth remembering when you build the rest of your list.
Colleges Similar to Nebraska at Kearney: Reach, Match, and Safety Options
Real reported ranges from schools students often consider alongside Nebraska at Kearney, ordered by acceptance rate. Odds are compared on acceptance rate first, because a school with a lower SAT average can still be far harder to get into.
| School | SAT middle 50 percent | Acceptance rate | Odds vs Nebraska at Kearney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska at Kearney | 905 to 1125 | 89.5% | This page |
| Coppin State | 880 to 1020 | 45.8% | Harder to get into than Nebraska at KearneySAT about 65 lower |
| Midland | 963 to 1170 | 66.1% | Harder to get into than Nebraska at KearneySAT about 52 higher |
| Purdue University Northwest | 890 to 1140 | 72.4% | Similar oddssimilar SAT range |
| Mount Union | 910 to 1240 | 78.2% | Similar oddsSAT about 60 higher |
| Creighton | 1243 to 1428 | 79.8% | Similar oddsSAT about 321 higher |
| Nebraska Wesleyan | 1020 to 1290 | 79.8% | Similar oddsSAT about 140 higher |
How Recent Are These Nebraska at Kearney SAT Scores?
Every score, rate, and enrollment figure on this page comes from the US Department of Education College Scorecard, 2024-2025 release, the same federal dataset colleges report into. Testing policy reflects the 2024-2025 admissions cycle. This page was last reviewed July 15, 2026.
Score ranges quoted around the web for Nebraska at Kearney disagree with each other more than you would expect, usually because a site is quoting an older class or an unlabeled estimate. We publish the reported number, label the vintage, and update when the source updates. We also cross checked Nebraska at Kearney's own admissions site, where any change would appear first.
Nebraska at Kearney SAT Scores and GPA: Frequently Asked Questions
What SAT score do you need to get into Nebraska at Kearney?
Nebraska at Kearney's middle 50 percent SAT range is 905 to 1125. Aim for at least 905 to be competitive, and 1125 or higher to be a strong applicant. There is no hard cutoff, but a score in or above this range keeps your application in contention.
Is a 905 a good SAT score for Nebraska at Kearney?
A 905 sits at Nebraska at Kearney's 25th percentile, the lower edge of its middle 50 percent range of 905 to 1125. It keeps you in range, but a score closer to 1125 makes your application stronger.
What is the average SAT score at Nebraska at Kearney?
The average composite SAT score at Nebraska at Kearney is 1118. The middle 50 percent of enrolled students scored between 905 and 1125.
Does Nebraska at Kearney require SAT scores?
No. Nebraska at Kearney was test optional in the most recent federal data, so you can apply without SAT scores. Confirm the current 2026-2027 policy on the school's admissions site before you decide whether to submit.
Is Nebraska at Kearney test optional for 2026-2027?
Nebraska at Kearney was test optional in the most recent federal data, meaning you could apply without scores. Policies change year to year, so verify the 2026-2027 policy on the school's admissions site.
What ACT score do you need for Nebraska at Kearney?
Nebraska at Kearney's middle 50 percent ACT range is 19 to 26. Aim for at least 19 to be competitive and 26 or higher to be a strong applicant. A strong ACT can stand in for the SAT at Nebraska at Kearney.
What GPA do you need to get into Nebraska at Kearney?
Admitted students at Nebraska at Kearney typically present an unweighted GPA in the 3.0 to 3.5 range on the 4.0 scale, based on schools with a comparable acceptance rate. Grades earned in rigorous courses matter as much as the number itself, and a strong SAT score is the fastest way to offset a GPA at the lower edge of that range.
What is Nebraska at Kearney's acceptance rate?
Nebraska at Kearney admits about 89.5% of applicants, which makes it less selective. A strong SAT score still helps your application stand out, especially for selective majors, honors programs, and merit scholarships.
What are my chances of getting into Nebraska at Kearney?
Nebraska at Kearney admits about 89.5% of applicants, so your chances depend on where you sit against the admitted pool. The middle 50 percent of enrolled students scored 905 to 1125 on the SAT and admitted students typically carry an unweighted GPA around 3.0 to 3.5. A score above 1125 puts you in the strongest quarter of the class on testing. Use the admissions calculator on this page to check your own SAT and GPA against Nebraska at Kearney's real numbers.
How can I raise my SAT score for Nebraska at Kearney?
Focus your prep on the section costing you the most points, then follow a study plan built for your target score range. Cheetah Prep has step by step score plans for specific point jumps and unlimited practice questions with worked solutions.
Does Nebraska at Kearney superscore the SAT?
Superscore policies vary by school and change year to year, and Nebraska at Kearney does not report this in the federal data. Check the school's admissions site for its current superscore policy, which tells you whether it combines your best section scores across test dates.
About this page: written and reviewed by the Cheetah Prep team. Last reviewed July 15, 2026.
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