NKU vs. WLC

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

NKU WLC
Location Highland Heights, KY Milwaukee, WI
Setting Large Suburban Large City
Enrollment 15,801 1,086
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #805 #532
Religious Affiliation - Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nku.edu wlc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

NKU WLC
Tuition (In State) $10,208 $33,210
Tuition (Out of State) $20,464 $33,210
Room & Board $11,248 $11,380
Avg Net Price $7,259 $22,682
Avg Grant Aid $11,275 $23,128
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

NKU WLC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,905 1,474
Admitted 5,939 1,383
Acceptance Rate 86% 93.8%
Enrolled % 27.6% 22.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.42 3.54
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/25 22/27
SAT Range 1030/1290 1038/1243
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

Academics

NKU WLC
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (26%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Communication (19%)
  • Education (15%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

NKU WLC
Graduation Rate 37% 63%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $39,700 $43,000
Making Student Loan Payments 53% 77%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,950 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $257 $258

Diversity

NKU WLC
% Men 36% 44%
% Women 64% 56%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 82% 83%
% Black 7% 5%
% Hispanic 3% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 3% 2%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

NKU WLC
% In-State 66% 66%
% Out-of-State 26% 33%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Northern Kentucky University is larger than than WLC based on total student enrollment (15,801 students vs. 1,086 students)

NKU vs. WLC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NKU or WLC?

  • Wisconsin Lutheran College is 225.3% more expensive to attend than NKU for in-state tuition ($33,210.00 vs. $10,208.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 62.3% higher at WLC than Northern Kentucky University ($33,210.00 vs. $20,464.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than WLC ($7,259 vs. $22,682)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Kentucky University are 1.2% lower than costs at Wisconsin Lutheran College ($11,248 vs. $11,380)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University as Wisconsin Lutheran College (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wisconsin Lutheran College students is 105.1% larger than aid received Northern Kentucky University ($23,128 vs. $11,275)

NKU vs. WLC Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Wisconsin Lutheran College (1101) is 33 points higher than at NKU (1068)
  • Incoming WLC students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at NKU (23)
  • Accepted freshman WLC students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.54) than students at NKU (3.42)
  • WLC has a higher acceptance rate (93.8%) than NKU (86%)

NKU vs. WLC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at WLC is higher than Northern Kentucky University (63% vs. 37%)
  • Graduates from Wisconsin Lutheran College earn on average $3,300 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($43,000 vs. $39,700)
  • Northern Kentucky University students graduate with a $50 lower median federal student loan debt than WLC graduates. ($24,950 vs. $25,000)
  • NKU graduates are paying $1 less per month on federal student loans than WLC graduates. ($257 vs. $258)
  • More WLC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NKU students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 53%)

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