Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Kentucky University of Toledo Eastern Murray State University WKU Xavier UIC UC Morehead State University Northeastern Illinois University Louisville BGSU| Chicago State University | Northern Kentucky University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
CSU | NKU | ||
| Location | Chicago, IL | Highland Heights, KY | ||
| Setting | Large City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 2,324 | 14,961 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #849 | #912 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | csu.edu | nku.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
CSU | NKU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $8,040 | $10,512 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $8,040 | $21,096 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,550 | $11,660 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $9,852 | $8,151 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $19,111 | $11,492 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 95% | 98% |
Admission |
CSU | NKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 9,458 | 6,417 | ||
| Admitted | 3,832 | 6,162 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 40.5% | 96% | ||
| Enrolled % | 5.8% | 21% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.18 | 3.42 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Extremely Easy | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 15/19 | 19/25 | ||
| SAT Range | 750/963 | 916/1133 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 15, 2025 |
Academics |
CSU | NKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 10:1 | 18:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
CSU | NKU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 21% | 37% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $38,300 | $39,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 25% | 53% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $31,250 | $24,950 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $323 | $257 |
Diversity |
CSU | NKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 10% | 10% | ||
| % Women | 25% | 24% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 3% | 82% | ||
| % Black | 75% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 8% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 0% | 2% | ||
| % International | 2% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 12% | 1% |
Students |
CSU | NKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 77% | 71% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 20% | 28% | ||
Campus |
CSU | NKU | ||
| 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
- Northern Kentucky University is larger than than CSU based on total student enrollment (14,961 students vs. 2,324 students)
CSU vs. NKU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, CSU or NKU?
- Northern Kentucky University is 30.7% more expensive to attend than CSU for in-state tuition ($10,512.00 vs. $8,040.00)
- Out of state tuition is 162.4% higher at NKU than Chicago State University ($21,096.00 vs. $8,040.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than CSU ($8,151 vs. $9,852)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Chicago State University are 1% lower than costs at Northern Kentucky University ($11,550 vs. $11,660)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than Chicago State University (98% vs. 95%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Chicago State University students is 66.3% larger than aid received Northern Kentucky University ($19,111 vs. $11,492)
CSU vs. NKU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, CSU or NKU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between NKU or CSU .
- The average SAT score at Northern Kentucky University (1068) is 193 points higher than at CSU (875)
- Incoming NKU students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at CSU (18)
- Accepted freshman NKU students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at CSU (3.18)
- NKU has a higher acceptance rate (96%) than CSU (40.5%)
CSU vs. NKU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, CSU 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 CSU.
- The graduation rate at NKU is higher than Chicago State University (37% vs. 21%)
- Graduates from Northern Kentucky University earn on average $1,400 more per year than CSU graduates after ten years. ($39,700 vs. $38,300)
- Northern Kentucky University students graduate with a $6,300 lower median federal student loan debt than CSU graduates. ($24,950 vs. $31,250)
- NKU graduates are paying $66 less per month on federal student loans than CSU graduates. ($257 vs. $323)
- More NKU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSU students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 25%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/