Centre College vs. NKU

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

Centre College NKU
Location Danville, KY Highland Heights, KY
Setting Distant Town Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,357 15,801
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #147 #805
Religious Affiliation Presbyterian Church (USA) - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website centre.edu nku.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Centre College NKU
Tuition (In State) $48,070 $10,208
Tuition (Out of State) $48,070 $20,464
Room & Board $12,300 $11,248
Avg Net Price $23,584 $7,259
Avg Grant Aid $37,116 $11,275
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

Centre College NKU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,724 6,905
Admitted 1,712 5,939
Acceptance Rate 62.8% 86%
Enrolled % 23.4% 27.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.62 3.42
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very High Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 27/32 19/25
SAT Range 1195/1470 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 Jan 15, 2025 Aug 15, 2025

Academics

Centre College NKU
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (22%)
  • Foreign Languages (12%)
  • History (12%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Business (26%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)

Outcomes

Centre College NKU
Graduation Rate 82% 37%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $52,500 $39,700
Making Student Loan Payments 79% 53%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $24,950
Median Loan Payment $279 $257

Diversity

Centre College NKU
% Men 48% 36%
% Women 52% 64%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 78% 82%
% Black 5% 7%
% Hispanic 3% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 7% 3%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

Centre College NKU
% In-State 53% 66%
% Out-of-State 40% 26%

Campus

Centre College 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 Centre College based on total student enrollment (15,801 students vs. 1,357 students)

Centre College vs. NKU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Centre College or NKU?

  • Centre College is 370.9% more expensive to attend than NKU for in-state tuition ($48,070.00 vs. $10,208.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 134.9% higher at Centre College than Northern Kentucky University ($48,070.00 vs. $20,464.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than Centre College ($7,259 vs. $23,584)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Kentucky University are 9.4% lower than costs at Centre College ($11,248 vs. $12,300)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Centre College as Northern Kentucky University (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Centre College students is 229.2% larger than aid received Northern Kentucky University ($37,116 vs. $11,275)

Centre College vs. NKU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Centre College (1279) is 211 points higher than at NKU (1068)
  • Incoming Centre College students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at NKU (23)
  • Accepted freshman Centre 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 Centre College (62.8%)

Centre College vs. NKU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Centre 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 Centre College.

  • The graduation rate at Centre College is higher than Northern Kentucky University (82% vs. 37%)
  • Graduates from Centre College earn on average $12,800 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($52,500 vs. $39,700)
  • Northern Kentucky University students graduate with a $2,050 lower median federal student loan debt than Centre College graduates. ($24,950 vs. $27,000)
  • NKU graduates are paying $22 less per month on federal student loans than Centre College graduates. ($257 vs. $279)
  • More Centre College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NKU students, three years after graduation. (79% vs. 53%)

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