Berea College vs. NKU

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

Berea College NKU
Location Berea, KY Highland Heights, KY
Setting Distant Town Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,433 15,801
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #805
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website berea.edu nku.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Berea College NKU
Tuition (In State) $44,300 $10,208
Tuition (Out of State) $44,300 $20,464
Room & Board $7,742 $11,248
Avg Net Price $2,020 $7,259
Avg Grant Aid $55,298 $11,275
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

Berea College NKU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,217 6,905
Admitted 545 5,939
Acceptance Rate 24.6% 86%
Enrolled % 64.8% 27.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.62 3.42
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Average
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range 23/27 19/25
SAT Range 1136/1298 1030/1290
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 Mar 31, 2025 Aug 15, 2025

Academics

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

Outcomes

Berea College NKU
Graduation Rate - 37%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $36,100 $39,700
Making Student Loan Payments 62% 53%
Median Student Loan Debt $5,800 $24,950
Median Loan Payment $59 $257

Diversity

Berea College NKU
% Men 41% 36%
% Women 59% 64%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 60% 82%
% Black 16% 7%
% Hispanic 8% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 2%
% International 8% 3%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

Berea College NKU
% In-State 45% 66%
% Out-of-State 46% 26%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Northern Kentucky University is larger than than Berea College based on total student enrollment (15,801 students vs. 1,433 students)

Berea College vs. NKU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Berea College or NKU?

  • Berea College is 334% more expensive to attend than NKU for in-state tuition ($44,300.00 vs. $10,208.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 116.5% higher at Berea College than Northern Kentucky University ($44,300.00 vs. $20,464.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Berea College than NKU ($2,020 vs. $7,259)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Berea College are 45.3% lower than costs at Northern Kentucky University ($7,742 vs. $11,248)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Berea College as Northern Kentucky University (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Berea College students is 390.4% larger than aid received Northern Kentucky University ($55,298 vs. $11,275)

Berea College vs. NKU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Berea College (1117) is 49 points higher than at NKU (1068)
  • Incoming Berea College students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at NKU (23)
  • Accepted freshman Berea College students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.62) than students at NKU (3.42)
  • NKU has a higher acceptance rate (86%) than Berea College (24.6%)

Berea College vs. NKU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Berea College or NKU? 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 NKU and Berea College.

  • Graduates from Northern Kentucky University earn on average $3,600 more per year than Berea College graduates after ten years. ($39,700 vs. $36,100)
  • Berea College students graduate with a $19,150 lower median federal student loan debt than NKU graduates. ($5,800 vs. $24,950)
  • Berea College graduates are paying $198 less per month on federal student loans than NKU graduates. ($59 vs. $257)
  • More Berea College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NKU students, three years after graduation. (62% vs. 53%)

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