Bradley vs. NKU

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

Bradley NKU
Location Peoria, IL Highland Heights, KY
Setting Midsize City Large Suburban
Enrollment 5,552 15,801
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #231 #805
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bradley.edu nku.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bradley NKU
Tuition (In State) $37,380 $10,208
Tuition (Out of State) $37,380 $20,464
Room & Board $12,196 $11,248
Avg Net Price $24,053 $7,259
Avg Grant Aid $26,693 $11,275
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

Bradley NKU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 11,352 6,905
Admitted 8,530 5,939
Acceptance Rate 75.1% 86%
Enrolled % 12.1% 27.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.83 3.42
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 24/30 19/25
SAT Range 1050/1280 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 Aug 15, 2025

Academics

Bradley NKU
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (18%)
  • Engineering (13%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Business (26%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)

Outcomes

Bradley NKU
Graduation Rate 75% 37%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $56,800 $39,700
Making Student Loan Payments 75% 53%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $24,950
Median Loan Payment $279 $257

Diversity

Bradley NKU
% Men 45% 36%
% Women 55% 64%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 64% 82%
% Black 5% 7%
% Hispanic 6% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 2%
% International 1% 3%
% Unknown Race 20% 1%

Students

Bradley NKU
% In-State 87% 66%
% Out-of-State 12% 26%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Northern Kentucky University is larger than than Bradley based on total student enrollment (15,801 students vs. 5,552 students)

Bradley vs. NKU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bradley or NKU?

  • Bradley University is 266.2% more expensive to attend than NKU for in-state tuition ($37,380.00 vs. $10,208.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 82.7% higher at Bradley than Northern Kentucky University ($37,380.00 vs. $20,464.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than Bradley ($7,259 vs. $24,053)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Kentucky University are 8.4% lower than costs at Bradley University ($11,248 vs. $12,196)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Bradley University as Northern Kentucky University (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bradley University students is 136.7% larger than aid received Northern Kentucky University ($26,693 vs. $11,275)

Bradley vs. NKU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Bradley University (1163) is 95 points higher than at NKU (1068)
  • Incoming Bradley students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at NKU (23)
  • Accepted freshman Bradley students have a 0.41 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at NKU (3.42)
  • NKU has a higher acceptance rate (86%) than Bradley (75.1%)

Bradley vs. NKU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Bradley 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 Bradley.

  • The graduation rate at Bradley is higher than Northern Kentucky University (75% vs. 37%)
  • Graduates from Bradley University earn on average $17,100 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($56,800 vs. $39,700)
  • Northern Kentucky University students graduate with a $2,050 lower median federal student loan debt than Bradley graduates. ($24,950 vs. $27,000)
  • NKU graduates are paying $22 less per month on federal student loans than Bradley graduates. ($257 vs. $279)
  • More Bradley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NKU students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 53%)

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