NKU vs. WSU

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

NKU WSU
Location Highland Heights, KY Detroit, MI
Setting Large Suburban Large City
Enrollment 15,801 23,630
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #805 #582
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nku.edu wayne.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

NKU WSU
Tuition (In State) $10,208 $12,933
Tuition (Out of State) $20,464 $29,622
Room & Board $11,248 $11,321
Avg Net Price $7,259 $15,347
Avg Grant Aid $11,275 $10,605
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 96%

Admission

NKU WSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,905 14,002
Admitted 5,939 10,547
Acceptance Rate 86% 75.3%
Enrolled % 27.6% 24.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.42 3.42
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/25 21/28
SAT Range 1030/1290 1040/1260
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 1, 2024

Academics

NKU WSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (26%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

NKU WSU
Graduation Rate 37% 26%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $39,700 $51,000
Making Student Loan Payments 53% 38%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,950 $22,258
Median Loan Payment $257 $230

Diversity

NKU WSU
% Men 36% 40%
% Women 64% 60%
Racial Diversity Very Low High
HBCU No No
% White 82% 57%
% Black 7% 19%
% Hispanic 3% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 3% 2%
% Unknown Race 1% 5%

Students

NKU WSU
% In-State 66% 93%
% Out-of-State 26% 3%

Campus

NKU WSU
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

  • Wayne State University is larger than than NKU based on total student enrollment (23,630 students vs. 15,801 students)

NKU vs. WSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NKU or WSU?

  • Wayne State University is 26.7% more expensive to attend than NKU for in-state tuition ($12,933.00 vs. $10,208.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 44.8% higher at WSU than Northern Kentucky University ($29,622.00 vs. $20,464.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than WSU ($7,259 vs. $15,347)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Kentucky University are 0.6% lower than costs at Wayne State University ($11,248 vs. $11,321)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than Wayne State University (100% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Kentucky University students is 6.3% larger than aid received Wayne State University ($11,275 vs. $10,605)

NKU vs. WSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Wayne State University (1070) is 2 points higher than at NKU (1068)
  • Incoming NKU students have at the same average ACT score (23) as students at WSU (23)
  • Accepted freshman NKU students have at the same average high school GPA (3.42) as students at WSU (3.42)
  • NKU has a higher acceptance rate (86%) than WSU (75.3%)

NKU vs. WSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at NKU is higher than Wayne State University (37% vs. 26%)
  • Graduates from Wayne State University earn on average $11,300 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($51,000 vs. $39,700)
  • Wayne State University students graduate with a $2,692 lower median federal student loan debt than NKU graduates. ($22,258 vs. $24,950)
  • WSU graduates are paying $27 less per month on federal student loans than NKU graduates. ($230 vs. $257)
  • More NKU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WSU students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 38%)

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