Kentucky vs. NKU

Should I go to University of Kentucky or Northern Kentucky University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Kentucky 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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University of Kentucky vs. Northern Kentucky University comparison
University of Kentucky Northern Kentucky University College 3 College 4
University of Kentucky Northern Kentucky University
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Overview

Kentucky NKU
Location Lexington, KY Highland Heights, KY
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 31,547 15,801
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #408 #805
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uky.edu nku.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Kentucky NKU
Tuition (In State) $11,496 $10,208
Tuition (Out of State) $30,913 $20,464
Room & Board $14,676 $11,248
Avg Net Price $18,693 $7,259
Avg Grant Aid $14,114 $11,275
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 100%

Admission

Kentucky NKU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 22,109 6,905
Admitted 20,979 5,939
Acceptance Rate 94.9% 86%
Enrolled % 28.9% 27.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.59 3.42
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/28 19/25
SAT Range 1070/1290 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 Feb 15, 2024 Aug 15, 2024

Academics

Kentucky NKU
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (19%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Engineering (8%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Business (26%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)

Outcomes

Kentucky NKU
Graduation Rate 59% 37%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $51,000 $39,700
Making Student Loan Payments 62% 53%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,750 $24,950
Median Loan Payment $235 $257

Diversity

Kentucky NKU
% Men 40% 36%
% Women 60% 64%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 76% 82%
% Black 8% 7%
% Hispanic 4% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 3% 3%
% Unknown Race 3% 1%

Students

Kentucky NKU
% In-State 61% 66%
% Out-of-State 37% 26%

Campus

Kentucky 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

  • University of Kentucky is larger than than NKU based on total student enrollment (31,547 students vs. 15,801 students)

Kentucky vs. NKU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Kentucky or NKU?

  • University of Kentucky is 12.6% more expensive to attend than NKU for in-state tuition ($11,496.00 vs. $10,208.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 51.1% higher at Kentucky than Northern Kentucky University ($30,913.00 vs. $20,464.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than Kentucky ($7,259 vs. $18,693)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Kentucky University are 30.5% lower than costs at University of Kentucky ($11,248 vs. $14,676)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than University of Kentucky (100% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Kentucky students is 25.2% larger than aid received Northern Kentucky University ($14,114 vs. $11,275)

Kentucky vs. NKU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Kentucky (1143) is 75 points higher than at NKU (1068)
  • Incoming Kentucky students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at NKU (23)
  • Accepted freshman Kentucky students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.59) than students at NKU (3.42)
  • Kentucky has a higher acceptance rate (94.9%) than NKU (86%)

Kentucky vs. NKU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Kentucky 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 Kentucky.

  • The graduation rate at Kentucky is higher than Northern Kentucky University (59% vs. 37%)
  • Graduates from University of Kentucky earn on average $11,300 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($51,000 vs. $39,700)
  • University of Kentucky students graduate with a $2,200 lower median federal student loan debt than NKU graduates. ($22,750 vs. $24,950)
  • Kentucky graduates are paying $22 less per month on federal student loans than NKU graduates. ($235 vs. $257)
  • More Kentucky graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NKU students, three years after graduation. (62% vs. 53%)

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