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Northern Illinois Illinois UIC DePaul EIU IWU Western Illinois University WMU Kentucky Bradley Southern Illinois University University of Toledo| Illinois State University | Northern Kentucky University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
ISU | NKU | ||
| Location | Normal, IL | Highland Heights, KY | ||
| Setting | Small City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 20,683 | 15,801 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #493 | #805 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | illinoisstate.edu | nku.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
ISU | NKU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,840 | $10,208 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $23,681 | $20,464 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,602 | $11,248 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $20,551 | $7,259 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,619 | $11,275 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 97% | 100% |
Admission |
ISU | NKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 19,596 | 6,905 | ||
| Admitted | 16,899 | 5,939 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 86.2% | 86% | ||
| Enrolled % | 23.6% | 27.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.41 | 3.42 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Moderate | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/27 | 19/25 | ||
| SAT Range | 1000/1210 | 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 | Apr 1, 2024 | Aug 15, 2024 |
Academics |
ISU | NKU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 19:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
ISU | NKU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 71% | 37% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $49,000 | $39,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 74% | 53% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,000 | $24,950 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $227 | $257 |
Diversity |
ISU | NKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 42% | 36% | ||
| % Women | 58% | 64% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 77% | 82% | ||
| % Black | 8% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 9% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 2% | ||
| % International | 0% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 1% |
Students |
ISU | NKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 96% | 66% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 3% | 26% | ||
Campus |
ISU | NKU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Illinois State University is larger than than NKU based on total student enrollment (20,683 students vs. 15,801 students)
ISU vs. NKU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, ISU or NKU?
- Illinois State University is 16% more expensive to attend than NKU for in-state tuition ($11,840.00 vs. $10,208.00)
- Out of state tuition is 15.7% higher at ISU than Northern Kentucky University ($23,681.00 vs. $20,464.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than ISU ($7,259 vs. $20,551)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois State University are 6.1% lower than costs at Northern Kentucky University ($10,602 vs. $11,248)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than Illinois State University (100% vs. 97%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois State University students is 3.1% larger than aid received Northern Kentucky University ($11,619 vs. $11,275)
ISU vs. NKU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, ISU or NKU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between NKU or ISU .
- The average SAT score at Illinois State University (1090) is 22 points higher than at NKU (1068)
- Incoming ISU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at NKU (23)
- Accepted freshman NKU students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at ISU (3.41)
- ISU has a higher acceptance rate (86.2%) than NKU (86%)
ISU vs. NKU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, ISU 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 ISU.
- The graduation rate at ISU is higher than Northern Kentucky University (71% vs. 37%)
- Graduates from Illinois State University earn on average $9,300 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($49,000 vs. $39,700)
- Illinois State University students graduate with a $2,950 lower median federal student loan debt than NKU graduates. ($22,000 vs. $24,950)
- ISU graduates are paying $30 less per month on federal student loans than NKU graduates. ($227 vs. $257)
- More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NKU students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 53%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/