NKU vs. St. Cloud State University

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

NKU St. Cloud State University
Location Highland Heights, KY Saint Cloud, MN
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 15,801 10,420
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #805 #710
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nku.edu stcloudstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

NKU St. Cloud State University
Tuition (In State) $10,208 $8,811
Tuition (Out of State) $20,464 $18,695
Room & Board $11,248 $9,950
Avg Net Price $7,259 $14,065
Avg Grant Aid $11,275 $6,042
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 98%

Admission

NKU St. Cloud State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,905 4,810
Admitted 5,939 4,583
Acceptance Rate 86% 95.3%
Enrolled % 27.6% 16.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.42 3.4
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/25 18/24
SAT Range 1030/1290 1027/1200
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, 2024 Aug 15, 2024

Academics

NKU St. Cloud State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (26%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Business (27%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Social Sciences (5%)

Outcomes

NKU St. Cloud State University
Graduation Rate 37% 48%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $39,700 $46,700
Making Student Loan Payments 53% 67%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,950 $22,500
Median Loan Payment $257 $232

Diversity

NKU St. Cloud State University
% Men 36% 43%
% Women 64% 57%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 82% 73%
% Black 7% 7%
% Hispanic 3% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 3% 7%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

NKU St. Cloud State University
% In-State 66% 75%
% Out-of-State 26% 11%

Campus

NKU St. Cloud State University
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 St. Cloud State University based on total student enrollment (15,801 students vs. 10,420 students)

NKU vs. St. Cloud State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NKU or St. Cloud State University?

  • Northern Kentucky University is 15.9% more expensive to attend than St. Cloud State University for in-state tuition ($10,208.00 vs. $8,811.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 9.5% higher at NKU than Saint Cloud State University ($20,464.00 vs. $18,695.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than St. Cloud State University ($7,259 vs. $14,065)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Saint Cloud State University are 13% lower than costs at Northern Kentucky University ($9,950 vs. $11,248)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than Saint Cloud State University (100% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Kentucky University students is 86.6% larger than aid received Saint Cloud State University ($11,275 vs. $6,042)

NKU vs. St. Cloud State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Northern Kentucky University (1068) is 38 points higher than at St. Cloud State University (1030)
  • Incoming NKU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at St. Cloud State University (22)
  • Accepted freshman NKU students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at St. Cloud State University (3.4)
  • St. Cloud State University has a higher acceptance rate (95.3%) than NKU (86%)

NKU vs. St. Cloud State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, NKU or St. Cloud State University? 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 St. Cloud State University and NKU.

  • The graduation rate at St. Cloud State University is higher than Northern Kentucky University (48% vs. 37%)
  • Graduates from Saint Cloud State University earn on average $7,000 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($46,700 vs. $39,700)
  • Saint Cloud State University students graduate with a $2,450 lower median federal student loan debt than NKU graduates. ($22,500 vs. $24,950)
  • St. Cloud State University graduates are paying $25 less per month on federal student loans than NKU graduates. ($232 vs. $257)
  • More St. Cloud State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NKU students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 53%)

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