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Kentucky University of Toledo Eastern Murray State University WKU Xavier UC Morehead State University Louisville BGSU BSU Kent State| Dalton State College | Northern Kentucky University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
DSC | NKU | ||
| Location | Dalton, GA | Highland Heights, KY | ||
| Setting | Small City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 4,902 | 14,961 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #912 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | daltonstate.edu | nku.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
DSC | NKU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $2,563 | $10,512 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $9,469 | $21,096 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,128 | $11,660 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $5,083 | $8,151 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $6,205 | $11,492 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 89% | 98% |
Admission |
DSC | NKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | - | 6,417 | ||
| Admitted | - | 6,162 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | Open | 96% | ||
| Enrolled % | Open | 21% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.1 | 3.42 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Unavailable | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | |||
| SAT Range | 916/1133 | |||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | |||
| Application Deadline | Jul 1, 2026 | Aug 15, 2026 |
Academics |
DSC | NKU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 20:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
DSC | NKU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 16% | 37% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $32,500 | $39,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 42% | 53% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $14,887 | $24,950 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $153 | $257 |
Diversity |
DSC | NKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 4% | 10% | ||
| % Women | 6% | 24% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 64% | 82% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 22% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 1% | 2% | ||
| % International | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 1% |
Students |
DSC | NKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 99% | 71% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 1% | 28% | ||
Campus |
DSC | NKU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Northern Kentucky University is larger than than DSC based on total student enrollment (14,961 students vs. 4,902 students)
DSC vs. NKU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, DSC or NKU?
- Northern Kentucky University is 310.1% more expensive to attend than DSC for in-state tuition ($10,512.00 vs. $2,563.00)
- Out of state tuition is 122.8% higher at NKU than Dalton State College ($21,096.00 vs. $9,469.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Dalton State College than NKU ($5,083 vs. $8,151)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Dalton State College are 15.1% lower than costs at Northern Kentucky University ($10,128 vs. $11,660)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than Dalton State College (98% vs. 89%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Kentucky University students is 85.2% larger than aid received Dalton State College ($11,492 vs. $6,205)
Which college is harder to get into, DSC or NKU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between NKU or DSC .
- Accepted freshman NKU students have a 0.32 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at DSC (3.1)
DSC vs. NKU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, DSC 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 DSC.
- The graduation rate at NKU is higher than Dalton State College (37% vs. 16%)
- Graduates from Northern Kentucky University earn on average $7,200 more per year than DSC graduates after ten years. ($39,700 vs. $32,500)
- Dalton State College students graduate with a $10,063 lower median federal student loan debt than NKU graduates. ($14,887 vs. $24,950)
- DSC graduates are paying $104 less per month on federal student loans than NKU graduates. ($153 vs. $257)
- More NKU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former DSC students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 42%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/