NKU vs. UTC

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

NKU UTC
Location Highland Heights, KY Chattanooga, TN
Setting Large Suburban Midsize City
Enrollment 15,801 11,283
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #805 #788
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nku.edu utc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

NKU UTC
Tuition (In State) $10,208 $7,992
Tuition (Out of State) $20,464 $24,110
Room & Board $11,248 $9,500
Avg Net Price $7,259 $14,417
Avg Grant Aid $11,275 $9,309
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 94%

Admission

NKU UTC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,905 8,345
Admitted 5,939 6,897
Acceptance Rate 86% 82.6%
Enrolled % 27.6% 32.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.42 3.61
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/25 20/26
SAT Range 1030/1290 1023/1210
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 May 1, 2024

Academics

NKU UTC
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 (22%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)

Outcomes

NKU UTC
Graduation Rate 37% 39%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $39,700 $40,600
Making Student Loan Payments 53% 56%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,950 $20,792
Median Loan Payment $257 $214

Diversity

NKU UTC
% Men 36% 42%
% Women 64% 58%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 82% 75%
% Black 7% 11%
% Hispanic 3% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 7%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

NKU UTC
% In-State 66% 89%
% Out-of-State 26% 11%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Northern Kentucky University is larger than than UTC based on total student enrollment (15,801 students vs. 11,283 students)

NKU vs. UTC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NKU or UTC?

  • Northern Kentucky University is 27.7% more expensive to attend than UTC for in-state tuition ($10,208.00 vs. $7,992.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 17.8% higher at UTC than Northern Kentucky University ($24,110.00 vs. $20,464.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than UTC ($7,259 vs. $14,417)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga are 18.4% lower than costs at Northern Kentucky University ($9,500 vs. $11,248)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (100% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Kentucky University students is 21.1% larger than aid received The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga ($11,275 vs. $9,309)

NKU vs. UTC Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (1087) is 19 points higher than at NKU (1068)
  • Incoming UTC students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at NKU (23)
  • Accepted freshman UTC students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at NKU (3.42)
  • NKU has a higher acceptance rate (86%) than UTC (82.6%)

NKU vs. UTC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, NKU or UTC? 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 UTC and NKU.

  • The graduation rate at UTC is higher than Northern Kentucky University (39% vs. 37%)
  • Graduates from The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga earn on average $900 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($40,600 vs. $39,700)
  • The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga students graduate with a $4,158 lower median federal student loan debt than NKU graduates. ($20,792 vs. $24,950)
  • UTC graduates are paying $43 less per month on federal student loans than NKU graduates. ($214 vs. $257)
  • More UTC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NKU students, three years after graduation. (56% vs. 53%)

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