Kearney, Nebraska is home to about 34,024 residents. Median household income is $69,790 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 36.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Nebraska, the top-earning theology-related role is Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary at a median $75,280 annually (BLS, May 2025).
Closest Theology Schools to Kearney
The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer theology programs near Kearney, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Kearney city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.
How We Rank Schools
Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most
recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS).
To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the
U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked
against schools at the same credential level:
BOCSCORE
- Graduation rate 30%
- Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
- Average net price (lower is better) 20%
- Retention rate 15%
- Fully online availability 10%
Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score.
On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Kearney.
Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
Graduation rate
62%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$52,415
Avg net price
$23,965/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats- Retention rate: 79%
- Programs offered: 51
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
56%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$55,045
Avg net price
$23,716/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats- Retention rate: 82%
- Programs offered: 27
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
48%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$52,163
Avg net price
$26,267/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats- Retention rate: 71%
- Programs offered: 32
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
71%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$54,338
Avg net price
$16,590/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats- Retention rate: 74%
- Programs offered: 26
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
78%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$73,911
Avg net price
$31,568/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats- Retention rate: 93%
- Programs offered: 90
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats- Retention rate: 80%
- Programs offered: 1
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Nebraska schools on the Nebraska theology page.
Theology Wages Near Kearney
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage (Nebraska, statewide) |
|---|
| Clergy | $57,520 |
| Director of Religious Activities and Education | $72,500 |
| Religious Worker, All Other | N/A |
| Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary | $75,280 |
Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.
Kearney at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|
| Population | 34,024 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $69,790 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 36.9% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
Other Kearney-Area Cities With Theology Programs
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the highest-paying theology roles in Nebraska?
Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying theology-related roles in Nebraska are: Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary ($75,280), Director of Religious Activities and Education ($72,500), Clergy ($57,520). Wages for Kearney workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.
Should I look at programs in Hastings instead of Kearney?
Hastings, NE is 37.0 miles from Kearney and has its own set of local theology programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Is Kearney an affordable place to study theology?
Kearney’s median household income of $69,790 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Kearney while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Nebraska public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
How do I verify a program is accredited?
Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.
Learn More About Theology Programs
Other Programs Available in Kearney
Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Kearney:
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Data verified: September 1, 2026.
Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.
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