Eastern vs. NKU

Should I go to Eastern Kentucky University or Northern Kentucky University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Eastern or NKU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Eastern Kentucky University vs. Northern Kentucky University comparison
Eastern Kentucky University Northern Kentucky University College 3 College 4
Eastern Kentucky University Northern Kentucky University
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Overview

Eastern NKU
Location Richmond, KY Highland Heights, KY
Setting Distant Town Large Suburban
Enrollment 14,324 15,801
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #854 #805
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website eku.edu nku.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Eastern NKU
Tuition (In State) $9,544 $10,208
Tuition (Out of State) $19,922 $20,464
Room & Board $10,360 $11,248
Avg Net Price $10,806 $7,259
Avg Grant Aid $10,583 $11,275
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 100%

Admission

Eastern NKU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 15,821 6,905
Admitted 10,174 5,939
Acceptance Rate 64.3% 86%
Enrolled % 26.9% 27.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.39 3.42
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 17/24 19/25
SAT Range 940/1185 1030/1290
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2024 Aug 15, 2024

Academics

Eastern NKU
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (16%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (14%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Business (26%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)

Outcomes

Eastern NKU
Graduation Rate 38% 37%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,900 $39,700
Making Student Loan Payments 49% 53%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,695 $24,950
Median Loan Payment $245 $257

Diversity

Eastern NKU
% Men 39% 36%
% Women 61% 64%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 85% 82%
% Black 6% 7%
% Hispanic 2% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 2% 3%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

Eastern NKU
% In-State 91% 66%
% Out-of-State 9% 26%

Campus

Eastern NKU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Northern Kentucky University is larger than than Eastern based on total student enrollment (15,801 students vs. 14,324 students)

Eastern vs. NKU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Eastern or NKU?

  • Northern Kentucky University is 7% more expensive to attend than Eastern for in-state tuition ($10,208.00 vs. $9,544.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 2.7% higher at NKU than Eastern Kentucky University ($20,464.00 vs. $19,922.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than Eastern ($7,259 vs. $10,806)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Eastern Kentucky University are 8.6% lower than costs at Northern Kentucky University ($10,360 vs. $11,248)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than Eastern Kentucky University (100% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Kentucky University students is 6.5% larger than aid received Eastern Kentucky University ($11,275 vs. $10,583)

Eastern vs. NKU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Eastern or NKU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between NKU or Eastern .

  • The average SAT score at Northern Kentucky University (1068) is 40 points higher than at Eastern (1028)
  • Incoming NKU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Eastern (22)
  • Accepted freshman NKU students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at Eastern (3.39)
  • NKU has a higher acceptance rate (86%) than Eastern (64.3%)

Eastern vs. NKU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Eastern or NKU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between NKU and Eastern.

  • The graduation rate at Eastern is higher than Northern Kentucky University (38% vs. 37%)
  • Graduates from Northern Kentucky University earn on average $1,800 more per year than Eastern graduates after ten years. ($39,700 vs. $37,900)
  • Eastern Kentucky University students graduate with a $1,255 lower median federal student loan debt than NKU graduates. ($23,695 vs. $24,950)
  • Eastern graduates are paying $12 less per month on federal student loans than NKU graduates. ($245 vs. $257)
  • More NKU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Eastern students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 49%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/