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Kentucky Middle Tennessee State University WCU University of Toledo Tennessee Eastern Austin Peay State University ECU Murray State University WKU Xavier UC| Northern Kentucky University | East Tennessee State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
NKU | ETSU | ||
| Location | Highland Heights, KY | Johnson City, TN | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 14,961 | 13,586 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #912 | #702 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | nku.edu | etsu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
NKU | ETSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,512 | $7,950 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $21,096 | $11,790 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,660 | $10,270 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $8,151 | $16,033 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,492 | $9,228 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 85% |
Admission |
NKU | ETSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,417 | 9,903 | ||
| Admitted | 6,162 | 8,622 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 96% | 87.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21% | 24.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.33 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 19/26 | ||
| SAT Range | 916/1133 | 950/1170 | ||
| 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 15, 2025 |
Academics |
NKU | ETSU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
NKU | ETSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 37% | 44% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,700 | $40,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 53% | 50% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,950 | $20,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $257 | $211 |
Diversity |
NKU | ETSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 10% | 7% | ||
| % Women | 24% | 14% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 82% | 82% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 2% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 3% | ||
| % International | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
NKU | ETSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 71% | 78% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 28% | 20% | ||
Campus |
NKU | ETSU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Northern Kentucky University is larger than than ETSU based on total student enrollment (14,961 students vs. 13,586 students)
NKU vs. ETSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, NKU or ETSU?
- Northern Kentucky University is 32.2% more expensive to attend than ETSU for in-state tuition ($10,512.00 vs. $7,950.00)
- Out of state tuition is 78.9% higher at NKU than East Tennessee State University ($21,096.00 vs. $11,790.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than ETSU ($8,151 vs. $16,033)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at East Tennessee State University are 13.5% lower than costs at Northern Kentucky University ($10,270 vs. $11,660)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than East Tennessee State University (98% vs. 85%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Kentucky University students is 24.5% larger than aid received East Tennessee State University ($11,492 vs. $9,228)
NKU vs. ETSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, NKU or ETSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between ETSU or NKU .
- The average SAT score at Northern Kentucky University (1068) is the same at ETSU (1068)
- Incoming NKU students have at the same average ACT score (23) as students at ETSU (23)
- Accepted freshman NKU students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at ETSU (3.33)
- NKU has a higher acceptance rate (96%) than ETSU (87.1%)
NKU vs. ETSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, NKU or ETSU? 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 ETSU and NKU.
- The graduation rate at ETSU is higher than Northern Kentucky University (44% vs. 37%)
- Graduates from East Tennessee State University earn on average $300 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($40,000 vs. $39,700)
- East Tennessee State University students graduate with a $4,450 lower median federal student loan debt than NKU graduates. ($20,500 vs. $24,950)
- ETSU graduates are paying $46 less per month on federal student loans than NKU graduates. ($211 vs. $257)
- More NKU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ETSU students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 50%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/