The Kearney Health Opportunities Program (KHOP) is a cooperative program between the University of Nebraska at Kearney and the University of Nebraska Medical Center. The purpose is to recruit high school students from rural Nebraska and prepare them to return and practice healthcare in rural Nebraska. To apply, you must have applied and been admitted to UNK. You will then be able to access the online application through Scholarship Manager on your MyBLUE. The KHOP application deadline is December 1.
Note: In order to be considered for KHOP, a minimum ACT composite score of 23 is required AND students must complete the science portion of the ACT. Superscores are not considered. View full requirements.
Contact
If you have questions about KHOP, contact UNK Health Sciences:
Peggy Abels, abelsp@unk.edu
Phone: 308-865-8260
Discover KHOP
Get an overview of the Kearney Health Opportunities Program and hear from students about why they chose to start their medical careers at UNK.
Benefits of KHOP
- Students selected for KHOP will receive a full tuition scholarship to UNK for up to 120 credit hours.
- Students will follow a special curriculum and participate in professional development activities at UNK that will prepare them for their healthcare program at UNMC.
- Students receive admission to their specified healthcare program at UNMC upon satisfactory completion of all requirements within the prescribed timeline.
- Freshmen students are part of the KHOP Learning Community that includes a Learning Community scholarship. Situated in Centennial Towers West, this vibrant community unites KHOP students and provides four KHOP upperclassmen mentors, nurturing both their academic and personal growth. Students have the advantage of an instant study group of peers who are enrolled in similar courses. They can participate in a mentoring program and various professional development opportunities through CN AHEC.
Who Can Apply?
- Have a sincere interest in becoming a healthcare provider in: Dentistry, Dental Hygiene, Medical Laboratory Science, Medical Nutrition, Medicine, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Pharmacy, Radiography, Physical Therapy, and Physician Assistant.
- Have a willingness to practice healthcare in rural Nebraska.
- Must receive a high school diploma or equivalent.
- Have scored a minimum ACT composite of 23 and must have completed the science portion of the ACT. Superscores are not considered.
- Must be a rural Nebraska resident. Students from the following cities and towns are not considered rural and therefore are not eligible: Omaha, Ralston, Boys Town, Elkhorn, Lincoln, Bellevue, Papillion, LaVista, Chalco, Offutt Air Force Base.*
How to Apply
- The KHOP application deadline is December 1.
- You must apply to UNK and be admitted before you can apply to KHOP.
- Access the online application; click on “Admitted Incoming Freshmen.”
- You must set up a user name and password to complete the online application.
- If you have trouble logging into MyBLUE or have forgotten your NUID, contact the UNK Information Technology Help Desk at 308-865-8363.
“It’s hard to put into words just how much a program like KHOP means. The biggest and most visible benefits are the full-tuition scholarship and guaranteed acceptance into UNMC, but the relationships you build are just as important. Students are able to lean on each other through difficult classes and heavy schedules. That helps us develop relationships with people who have similar career goals, some of whom we may work with in the future.”
*Special Note
The College of Dentistry, College of Nursing, College of Pharmacy, the College of Allied Health Professions, and College of Medicine at UNMC have all agreed on the rural residency status eligibility guidelines for the KHOP/RHOP Programs.
