

York, NEprivate nonprofitwww.york.edu/
Admit rate has ranged 48%–66% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
York University in York, Nebraska, is a small, private institution that defines itself by accessibility and a practical, hands-on approach to education. With a selective but not exclusive admissions process, it offers a focused range of undergraduate programs where students can expect direct faculty interaction. The campus vibe is intimate and community-oriented, though its size and location mean social life is largely self-generated and centered on campus-organized clubs and activities.
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Outcomes & value
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Campus & location
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
York University operates as a selective institution, with an of 52%. The middle 50% SAT range for admitted students is 880–1110, and the middle 50% ACT range is 16–23. The average unweighted GPA of admitted students is reported to be around 3.02. The university's admissions process is not among the nation's most competitive, positioning it as an accessible option for students with solid academic records. There is no available data in the provided sources regarding Early Decision policies, application , or whether demonstrated interest is a considered factor in admissions decisions for this specific institution.
The academic experience at York is defined by a focused, undergraduate-centered curriculum across approximately 45 areas of study. Programs span business, sciences, psychology, and education, emphasizing the development of practical knowledge and skills. The university promotes a hands-on learning environment, though specific details about flagship programs or distinctive pedagogical approaches are not detailed in the provided sources. The structure follows a traditional major system, where a student's primary academic focus involves completing a defined set of courses in a chosen discipline.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Student life at York University is actively cultivated through on-campus organizations and events. The university's student life is described as "energized with dozens of clubs, activities, organizations, devotionals, and sports programs." External reviews note a "beautiful and welcoming" campus atmosphere. However, a significant characteristic shaping the social experience is the university's nature as a commuter school; one student review starkly notes that the social scene is "severely lacking" and the campus becomes "a ghost town after 5:30 and on weekends." This suggests that a vibrant, residential college-town experience is not the norm, and student engagement is largely dependent on structured, daytime campus programming.
Graduation and post-graduate outcomes at York University present a mixed picture. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. One source indicates that over a recent five-year period, 45% of students earned their bachelor's degree within six years. Data on postgraduate earnings is limited; one source referencing a similarly named but different institution cites a median alumni salary of $42,583, but this cannot be reliably attributed to York University in Nebraska. The provided canonical figure for median earnings ten years after entry is $44,130. There is no available data on first-year retention rates, postgraduate study, or specific career placement outcomes from the provided sources.
York University positions itself as an affordable private institution, with an average after aid of $20,951. The university offers a net price calculator for prospective students to estimate their individual cost. Financial aid opportunities, including scholarships, are promoted as a means to supplement the university's tuition. One source notes the net price for federal loan recipients in the 2022-2023 academic year was $17,780. There is no information in the provided sources regarding a policy of meeting 100% of demonstrated financial need or a no-loan financial aid policy for low-income students.
York University stands out for its role as a small, accessible private university in the rural Midwest. Its defining characteristic is a straightforward, no-frills approach to undergraduate education. It offers a clear path for students seeking a focused degree from a faith-based institution without the intense competition or high price tag of a national research university. The community is close-knit by necessity, fostering direct student-faculty interaction. However, its identity is also shaped by its limitations: as a commuter school, it lacks the immersive, 24/7 residential campus culture found at larger institutions. It is a practical choice for students who prioritize a supportive, structured academic environment over a bustling collegiate social scene, and who are comfortable creating their own community within a quiet setting.