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WKU Kentucky University of Toledo Murray State University Xavier UC Morehead State University Louisville BGSU Cumberland College BSU ETSU| Eastern Kentucky University | Northern Kentucky University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Eastern | NKU | ||
| Location | Richmond, KY | Highland Heights, KY | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 15,008 | 14,961 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #873 | #912 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | eku.edu | nku.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Eastern | NKU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $9,830 | $10,512 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $20,520 | $21,096 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,735 | $11,660 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $10,852 | $8,151 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,460 | $11,492 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 98% |
Admission |
Eastern | NKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 17,082 | 6,417 | ||
| Admitted | 13,340 | 6,162 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 78.1% | 96% | ||
| Enrolled % | 20.9% | 21% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.39 | 3.42 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Easy | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 17/24 | 19/25 | ||
| SAT Range | 930/1190 | 916/1133 | ||
| 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 1, 2026 | Aug 15, 2026 |
Academics |
Eastern | NKU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Eastern | NKU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 38% | 37% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $37,900 | $39,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 49% | 53% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,695 | $24,950 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $245 | $257 |
Diversity |
Eastern | NKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 4% | 10% | ||
| % Women | 11% | 24% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 85% | 82% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 2% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 2% | ||
| % International | 2% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
Eastern | NKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 92% | 71% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 8% | 28% | ||
Campus |
Eastern | 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
- Eastern Kentucky University is larger than than NKU based on total student enrollment (15,008 students vs. 14,961 students)
Eastern vs. NKU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Eastern or NKU?
- Northern Kentucky University is 6.9% more expensive to attend than Eastern for in-state tuition ($10,512.00 vs. $9,830.00)
- Out of state tuition is 2.8% higher at NKU than Eastern Kentucky University ($21,096.00 vs. $20,520.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than Eastern ($8,151 vs. $10,852)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Kentucky University are 0.6% lower than costs at Eastern Kentucky University ($11,660 vs. $11,735)
- The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Eastern Kentucky University as Northern Kentucky University (98% vs. 98%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Kentucky University students is 0.3% larger than aid received Eastern Kentucky University ($11,492 vs. $11,460)
Eastern vs. NKU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Eastern or NKU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between NKU or Eastern .
- The average SAT score at Northern Kentucky University (1068) is 40 points higher than at Eastern (1028)
- Incoming NKU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Eastern (22)
- Accepted freshman NKU students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at Eastern (3.39)
- NKU has a higher acceptance rate (96%) than Eastern (78.1%)
Eastern vs. NKU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Eastern 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 Eastern.
- The graduation rate at Eastern is higher than Northern Kentucky University (38% vs. 37%)
- Graduates from Northern Kentucky University earn on average $1,800 more per year than Eastern graduates after ten years. ($39,700 vs. $37,900)
- Eastern Kentucky University students graduate with a $1,255 lower median federal student loan debt than NKU graduates. ($23,695 vs. $24,950)
- Eastern graduates are paying $12 less per month on federal student loans than NKU graduates. ($245 vs. $257)
- More NKU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Eastern students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 49%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/