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University of Nebraska at Kearney

Kearney, NE

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ProgramOfficial Program Page

Program snapshot

Admissions

No PrescreenAudition RequiredNo InterviewUniversity App Required

Audition format

In-Person Only

Program

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ProgramOfficial Program Page

Program snapshot

Admissions

No PrescreenAudition RequiredNo InterviewUniversity App Required

Audition format

In-Person Only

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BA Music

General

ProgramOfficial Program Page

Program snapshot

Admissions

No PrescreenAudition RequiredNo InterviewUniversity App Required

Audition format

In-Person Only

Program Recognition

Bachelor of Arts in Music, 120 credit hours — a liberal arts music degree pairing applied study with a required foreign language sequence and a minor or second major

Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM); UNK has held NASM accreditation since 1976 (most recent comprehensive review 2023)

Training

Core sequence in music theory, music history, and applied music, anchored by private studio lessons on the student's principal instrument or voice

Built for double-majoring: the foreign-language + minor/second-major structure lets students combine music with a second academic field

Performance & Productions

Ensemble opportunities include the Kearney Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Chamber Orchestra, and Jazz-Rock Ensemble

Choral groups include the Choraleers, Collegium, Men's Chorus, and Women's Chorus, plus the auditioned show choir The Nebraskats (Broadway and pop repertoire with choreography)

Professional Development

100% employment rate for music graduates in their field (2020-2024)

Value

Music program awards over $200,000 in scholarships annually, open to both majors and minors; one entrance audition doubles as the scholarship audition

Non-residents qualify for the New Nebraskan Scholarship, which covers the gap between resident and non-resident tuition with no separate application

School info

Snapshot

Avg GPA (W)

3.54

Admit rate

89%

school-wide

Grad rate

58%

Enrollment

4.1K

Earnings

$50K

10yr after

Costs & aid

In-state tuition

$8,922

Before aid

Out-of-state tuition

$16,134

Before aid

Cost of attendance

$28,536

Before aid

Average net price

$16,242

After aid

Cost Of Attendance · unk.edu College Scorecard

Program info updated 1d ago

Program Highlights

Program Recognition

Bachelor of Arts in Music, 120 credit hours — a liberal arts music degree pairing applied study with a required foreign language sequence and a minor or second major

Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM); UNK has held NASM accreditation since 1976 (most recent comprehensive review 2023)

Training

Core sequence in music theory, music history, and applied music, anchored by private studio lessons on the student's principal instrument or voice

Built for double-majoring: the foreign-language + minor/second-major structure lets students combine music with a second academic field

Performance & Productions

Ensemble opportunities include the Kearney Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Chamber Orchestra, and Jazz-Rock Ensemble

Choral groups include the Choraleers, Collegium, Men's Chorus, and Women's Chorus, plus the auditioned show choir The Nebraskats (Broadway and pop repertoire with choreography)

Professional Development

100% employment rate for music graduates in their field (2020-2024)

Value

Music program awards over $200,000 in scholarships annually, open to both majors and minors; one entrance audition doubles as the scholarship audition

Non-residents qualify for the New Nebraskan Scholarship, which covers the gap between resident and non-resident tuition with no separate application

Program Highlights

Program Recognition

Bachelor of Arts in Music, 120 credit hours — a liberal arts music degree pairing applied study with a required foreign language sequence and a minor or second major

Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM); UNK has held NASM accreditation since 1976 (most recent comprehensive review 2023)

Training

Core sequence in music theory, music history, and applied music, anchored by private studio lessons on the student's principal instrument or voice

Built for double-majoring: the foreign-language + minor/second-major structure lets students combine music with a second academic field

Performance & Productions

Ensemble opportunities include the Kearney Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Chamber Orchestra, and Jazz-Rock Ensemble

Choral groups include the Choraleers, Collegium, Men's Chorus, and Women's Chorus, plus the auditioned show choir The Nebraskats (Broadway and pop repertoire with choreography)

Professional Development

100% employment rate for music graduates in their field (2020-2024)

Value

Music program awards over $200,000 in scholarships annually, open to both majors and minors; one entrance audition doubles as the scholarship audition

Non-residents qualify for the New Nebraskan Scholarship, which covers the gap between resident and non-resident tuition with no separate application

Key Info

Enrollment Term

Fall 2026

These Fall 2026 enrollment dates have passed — dates for the next cycle aren't available yet.

University AppApplication

Apply

School Website

Fee

$45

Deadline

Regular DecisionRolling

Apply · unk.edu

Program AppApplication

Auditions

On-Campus (Kearney)

Jan 23, 2026Feb 13 & 28, 2026Mar 2, 2026

OmahaFeb 14, 2026

ScottsbluffFeb 27, 2026

Audition Info · unk.edu

Audition Requirements

These requirements are from the Fall 2026 entry cycle. Fall 2027 requirements are typically posted between August and October and usually change only slightly — confirm on the official source before submitting.

Repertoire

Prepare prepared literature on your principal instrument or voice (the performance area with which you most closely identify)

Voice: two contrasting songs from memory — e.g. a folksong arrangement, an art song in English, or an old Italian song; a Broadway musical selection is also appropriate

Brass: two etudes or short concert/contest pieces (one lyrical, one technical)

Woodwinds: two movements or selections in contrasting styles

Strings: two contrasting pieces or etudes at the minimum Suzuki Book III-IV level for your instrument

Percussion: two short selections in contrasting styles at Grade 3-4 level on two instruments

Guitar: two contrasting pieces using fingering and strumming techniques

Organ: one Bach Little Prelude and Fugue (or comparable) and one hymn

Piano: two short selections of comparable or greater difficulty than the two-part Inventions of J.S. Bach

Accompaniment

Bring your own accompanist, use a UNK-provided accompanist, or perform with pre-recorded accompaniment you provide

To use a UNK accompanist, email your audition selections to Dr. Tim Farrell at least two weeks before your audition

Audition Info · unk.edu

Good to Know

Application Logistics

Apply to UNK before auditioning

No separate audition application portal required

Placement Exams

Admitted students take music theory and piano skills diagnostic exams on the audition day — for course placement and advising only, not admission

Students who do not pass the theory placement exam enroll in MUS 098 Fundamentals of Music

Important Notes

Rolling admissions. No fixed application deadline

Students who do not meet admission requirements may be admitted provisionally

Departmental approval required to change applied music area or academic program after acceptance

What's The Process

Audition Expectations

Admission to the music program as a major or minor requires an entrance audition on your principal instrument or voice

In-person audition strongly encouraged for full consideration

Remote audition possible only for students unable to attend due to extreme distance — contact Dr. John Petzet at petzetj@unk.edu to arrange

Audition consists of an individual performance of prepared literature; instrumentalists also complete a short sight-reading demonstration

Plan to spend time on campus meeting music faculty and exploring the university

Scholarship Info

Music Scholarships

Over $200,000 awarded annually across the music program

Available to both majors and minors

Entrance audition doubles as scholarship audition

Some scholarships may require participation in two ensembles per semester

Tuition Benefit

In-state tuition available to all students through New Nebraskan Scholarship ($234/credit hour)

School info

Snapshot

Avg GPA (W)

3.54

Admit rate

89%

school-wide

Grad rate

58%

Enrollment

4.1K

Earnings

$50K

10yr after

Costs & aid

In-state tuition

$8,922

Before aid

Out-of-state tuition

$16,134

Before aid

Cost of attendance

$28,536

Before aid

Average net price

$16,242

After aid

Cost Of Attendance · unk.edu College Scorecard

Program Recognition

Bachelor of Arts in Music, 120 credit hours — a liberal arts music degree pairing applied study with a required foreign language sequence and a minor or second major

Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM); UNK has held NASM accreditation since 1976 (most recent comprehensive review 2023)

Training

Core sequence in music theory, music history, and applied music, anchored by private studio lessons on the student's principal instrument or voice

Built for double-majoring: the foreign-language + minor/second-major structure lets students combine music with a second academic field

Performance & Productions

Ensemble opportunities include the Kearney Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Chamber Orchestra, and Jazz-Rock Ensemble

Choral groups include the Choraleers, Collegium, Men's Chorus, and Women's Chorus, plus the auditioned show choir The Nebraskats (Broadway and pop repertoire with choreography)

Professional Development

100% employment rate for music graduates in their field (2020-2024)

Value

Music program awards over $200,000 in scholarships annually, open to both majors and minors; one entrance audition doubles as the scholarship audition

Non-residents qualify for the New Nebraskan Scholarship, which covers the gap between resident and non-resident tuition with no separate application

Updated 1d ago