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CU Boulder CU Denver MSU OSU UCCS UO DU Colorado School of Mines University of Northern Colorado Kentucky Nebraska University of Toledo| Colorado State University Fort Collins | Northern Kentucky University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Colorado State | NKU | ||
| Location | Fort Collins, CO | Highland Heights, KY | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 33,403 | 15,801 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #359 | #805 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | colostate.edu | nku.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Colorado State | NKU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,218 | $10,208 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $30,078 | $20,464 | ||
| Room & Board | $13,728 | $11,248 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $16,926 | $7,259 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,727 | $11,275 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 74% | 100% |
Admission |
Colorado State | NKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 33,122 | 6,905 | ||
| Admitted | 30,066 | 5,939 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 90.8% | 86% | ||
| Enrolled % | 18.5% | 27.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.68 | 3.42 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 23/29 | 19/25 | ||
| SAT Range | 1080/1290 | 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 | Jul 1, 2025 | Aug 15, 2025 |
Academics |
Colorado State | NKU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Colorado State | NKU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 64% | 37% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $51,800 | $39,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 69% | 53% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,004 | $24,950 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $217 | $257 |
Diversity |
Colorado State | NKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 45% | 36% | ||
| % Women | 55% | 64% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 74% | 82% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 11% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 2% | ||
| % International | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 1% |
Students |
Colorado State | NKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 59% | 66% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 40% | 26% | ||
Campus |
Colorado State | NKU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Colorado State University Fort Collins is larger than than NKU based on total student enrollment (33,403 students vs. 15,801 students)
Colorado State vs. NKU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Colorado State or NKU?
- Colorado State University Fort Collins is 0.1% more expensive to attend than NKU for in-state tuition ($10,218.00 vs. $10,208.00)
- Out of state tuition is 47% higher at Colorado State than Northern Kentucky University ($30,078.00 vs. $20,464.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than Colorado State ($7,259 vs. $16,926)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Kentucky University are 22% lower than costs at Colorado State University Fort Collins ($11,248 vs. $13,728)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than Colorado State University Fort Collins (100% vs. 74%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Kentucky University students is 5.1% larger than aid received Colorado State University Fort Collins ($11,275 vs. $10,727)
Colorado State vs. NKU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Colorado State or NKU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between NKU or Colorado State .
- The average SAT score at Colorado State University Fort Collins (1145) is 77 points higher than at NKU (1068)
- Incoming Colorado State students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at NKU (23)
- Accepted freshman Colorado State students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at NKU (3.42)
- Colorado State has a higher acceptance rate (90.8%) than NKU (86%)
Colorado State vs. NKU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Colorado State 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 Colorado State.
- The graduation rate at Colorado State is higher than Northern Kentucky University (64% vs. 37%)
- Graduates from Colorado State University Fort Collins earn on average $12,100 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($51,800 vs. $39,700)
- Colorado State University Fort Collins students graduate with a $3,946 lower median federal student loan debt than NKU graduates. ($21,004 vs. $24,950)
- Colorado State graduates are paying $40 less per month on federal student loans than NKU graduates. ($217 vs. $257)
- More Colorado State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NKU students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 53%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/