Learning Without Limits: UNK expands online options for undergraduate students
KEARNEY – After spending her freshman year on campus at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, Karlie Wies made a decision that would reshape her college experience.
The Petersburg native returned to her hometown and transitioned to fully online classes. This move allowed her to continue her education while working part time with the USDA Farm Service Agency in nearby Albion, an opportunity that has since turned into a full-time job offer after graduation.
“I’d always planned to come back to my hometown, but I didn’t think it would happen this quickly,” she said with a smile. “An opportunity presented itself, and online classes provided the flexibility to pursue it. I knew if I passed up the chance to keep working with the USDA, I could be giving up something really great.”
Now a senior business administration major, Wies is among a growing number of undergraduate students at UNK choosing online courses, whether fully remote or as part of a blended schedule.
A shift in how students learn
Over the past decade, undergraduate participation in online education at UNK has increased significantly.
In fall 2015, 259 undergraduate students were enrolled fully online. By fall 2025, that number had grown to 678. Overall, total online enrollment, including graduate programs, increased from 1,652 students in 2015 to 2,172 in 2025.
That trend is also reflected in credit hours. During the 2015-16 fiscal year, UNK delivered 24,887 undergraduate credit hours online. In 2024-25, that number rose to 40,885, a 64% gain.
Interim Dean Megan Adkins, who oversees UNK Online, believes the increase is partly driven by changing student needs.
“Today’s students are juggling a lot of responsibilities,” Adkins said. “They still want a meaningful college experience; they just need flexibility. Online education provides access without asking them to pause their lives.”
UNK has taken a deliberate approach to expanding and strengthening its online programs, focusing on both access and outcomes. The university now offers more than 60 fully online programs, including 18 undergraduate degrees, along with numerous graduate options. At the undergraduate level, programs are designed to integrate workforce-ready skills and create accelerated pathways that allow students to move more efficiently into graduate study and careers.
“Expanding access and removing barriers for students is a clear priority at UNK,” Adkins said. “Our office partners closely with academic programs and employers to thoughtfully grow online courses and degrees that meet student needs while aligning with workforce demands. As a regional public institution, expanding online education also allows UNK to better serve rural Nebraska communities that may not otherwise have access to higher education.”
An opportunity back home
That mission aligns closely with Wies’ experience.
Living at home, she’s been able to help on her family’s farm while continuing her studies and gaining professional experience. In her role with the Farm Service Agency, she assists local producers with crop certification and supports programs related to disaster relief, commodity protection and agricultural loans.
“I enjoy getting to meet all of the people who come into the office, chatting with them and seeing what I can do to help,” Wies said of her work. “Some days it’s a very fast-paced environment, especially during our busy season, but I like that aspect of being able to think on my feet.”
Outside the office, Wies relies on another skill set to succeed in her online classes.
“I’ve always been a disciplined person, and I’ve always had great time management skills,” she said. “That’s important for online education. It’s still your school, and it still comes first, so you have to be really organized and stay on top of everything.”
While the transition to online learning has worked well, Wies admits there are parts of campus life she misses, particularly the relationships she built during her freshman year. Although she’s roughly two hours away now, she continues to feel supported by UNK faculty, who helped her reach her goal of graduating in just three years.
“I’m happy I went online,” Wies said. “It was the best thing I could have done for myself. It led me to an amazing opportunity, so I definitely don’t regret it.”
A blended approach on campus
For some students, online courses complement – rather than replace – the traditional college experience.
UNK senior Kayla Rover has taken that approach, using a mix of online and in-person courses to shape her schedule.
A sports management major with minors in strategic communication and digital marketing, Rover took her first online class the summer before her sophomore year when she was back home in Texas. This semester, most of her classes are online.
She actually prefers in-person learning but recognizes the advantages of online education.
“This semester it’s been great because I’ve had more opportunities to work,” said Rover, who is employed with UNK Athletics. “I have a more flexible schedule because I can focus on my classes whenever I have time.”
For Rover, the combination of online coursework and campus involvement creates balance. She serves as a campus tour guide and is part of the Gamma Phi Beta sorority and Order of Omega honor society.
“My college experience wouldn’t be what it is without those things,” she said. “On the other side, my online classes have given me the opportunity to be more productive and present in those different opportunities.”
Support beyond the screen
As online enrollment grows, UNK continues to invest in student support systems designed to mirror the on-campus experience.
Courses are developed in partnership with instructional designers to ensure quality and accessibility, and they are taught by the same faculty who teach on campus.
“At UNK, our online students have real advisers, engaged faculty and strong academic coaching walking alongside them,” Adkins said. “Students are never just a number – they’re part of the Loper community.”
The goal is not just to expand access, according to Adkins, but to ensure students succeed.
While UNK remains committed to its residential campus, leaders see online education as a central part of its future.
“We will always value our residential campus experience,” Adkins said. “But at UNK, a student is a Loper whether they are learning fully online or in person. Online education allows us to extend the value of a UNK degree to students across Nebraska and beyond while maintaining the same commitment to quality, connection and support.”