Holy Cross College vs. NKU

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

Holy Cross College NKU
Location Notre Dame, IN Highland Heights, KY
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 434 15,801
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #805
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website hcc-nd.edu nku.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Holy Cross College NKU
Tuition (In State) $33,500 $10,208
Tuition (Out of State) $33,500 $20,464
Room & Board $12,000 $11,248
Avg Net Price $22,650 $7,259
Avg Grant Aid $24,381 $11,275
% Receiving Grant Aid 59% 100%

Admission

Holy Cross College NKU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 944 6,905
Admitted 719 5,939
Acceptance Rate 76.2% 86%
Enrolled % 28.2% 27.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.2 3.42
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Very High Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/25
SAT Range 1203/1373 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 28, 2025 Aug 15, 2025

Academics

Holy Cross College NKU
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (39%)
  • Education (15%)
  • Psychology (13%)
  • History (13%)
  • Communication (13%)
  • Business (26%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)

Outcomes

Holy Cross College NKU
Graduation Rate 13% 37%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $43,800 $39,700
Making Student Loan Payments 64% 53%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,125 $24,950
Median Loan Payment $239 $257

Diversity

Holy Cross College NKU
% Men 57% 36%
% Women 43% 64%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 65% 82%
% Black 11% 7%
% Hispanic 10% 3%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 4% 3%
% Unknown Race 4% 1%

Students

Holy Cross College NKU
% In-State 35% 66%
% Out-of-State 61% 26%

Campus

Holy Cross 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 Holy Cross College based on total student enrollment (15,801 students vs. 434 students)

Holy Cross College vs. NKU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Holy Cross College or NKU?

  • Holy Cross College is 228.2% more expensive to attend than NKU for in-state tuition ($33,500.00 vs. $10,208.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 63.7% higher at Holy Cross College than Northern Kentucky University ($33,500.00 vs. $20,464.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than Holy Cross College ($7,259 vs. $22,650)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Kentucky University are 6.7% lower than costs at Holy Cross College ($11,248 vs. $12,000)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than Holy Cross College (100% vs. 59%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Holy Cross College students is 116.2% larger than aid received Northern Kentucky University ($24,381 vs. $11,275)

Holy Cross College vs. NKU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Northern Kentucky University (1068) is 84 points higher than at Holy Cross College (984)
  • Incoming NKU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Holy Cross College (22)
  • Accepted freshman NKU students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at Holy Cross College (3.2)
  • NKU has a higher acceptance rate (86%) than Holy Cross College (76.2%)

Holy Cross College vs. NKU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Holy Cross 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 Holy Cross College.

  • The graduation rate at NKU is higher than Holy Cross College (37% vs. 13%)
  • Graduates from Holy Cross College earn on average $4,100 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($43,800 vs. $39,700)
  • Holy Cross College students graduate with a $1,825 lower median federal student loan debt than NKU graduates. ($23,125 vs. $24,950)
  • Holy Cross College graduates are paying $18 less per month on federal student loans than NKU graduates. ($239 vs. $257)
  • More Holy Cross College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NKU students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 53%)

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