Indiana State vs. NKU

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

Indiana State NKU
Location Terre Haute, IN Highland Heights, KY
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 8,304 14,961
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #912
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website indstate.edu nku.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Indiana State NKU
Tuition (In State) $9,712 $10,512
Tuition (Out of State) $21,454 $21,096
Room & Board $11,483 $11,660
Avg Net Price $13,321 $8,151
Avg Grant Aid $11,442 $11,492
% Receiving Grant Aid 88% 98%

Admission

Indiana State NKU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 13,601 6,417
Admitted 12,445 6,162
Acceptance Rate 91.5% 96%
Enrolled % 12.6% 21%
Avg High School GPA 3.29 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 considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2025

Academics

Indiana State NKU
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (14%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (13%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Business (26%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)

Outcomes

Indiana State NKU
Graduation Rate 42% 37%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,400 $39,700
Making Student Loan Payments 51% 53%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,720 $24,950
Median Loan Payment $245 $257

Diversity

Indiana State NKU
% Men 7% 10%
% Women 12% 24%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 66% 82%
% Black 19% 7%
% Hispanic 4% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 2%
% International 6% 3%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

Indiana State NKU
% In-State 81% 71%
% Out-of-State 18% 28%

Campus

Indiana 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

  • Northern Kentucky University is larger than than Indiana State based on total student enrollment (14,961 students vs. 8,304 students)

Indiana State vs. NKU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Indiana State or NKU?

  • Northern Kentucky University is 8.2% more expensive to attend than Indiana State for in-state tuition ($10,512.00 vs. $9,712.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 1.7% higher at Indiana State than Northern Kentucky University ($21,454.00 vs. $21,096.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than Indiana State ($8,151 vs. $13,321)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indiana State University are 1.5% lower than costs at Northern Kentucky University ($11,483 vs. $11,660)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than Indiana State University (98% vs. 88%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Kentucky University students is 0.4% larger than aid received Indiana State University ($11,492 vs. $11,442)

Indiana State vs. NKU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Northern Kentucky University (1068) is 158 points higher than at Indiana State (910)
  • Incoming NKU students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Indiana State (19)
  • Accepted freshman NKU students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at Indiana State (3.29)
  • NKU has a higher acceptance rate (96%) than Indiana State (91.5%)

Indiana State vs. NKU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Indiana 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 Indiana State.

  • The graduation rate at Indiana State is higher than Northern Kentucky University (42% vs. 37%)
  • Graduates from Indiana State University earn on average $700 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($40,400 vs. $39,700)
  • Indiana State University students graduate with a $1,230 lower median federal student loan debt than NKU graduates. ($23,720 vs. $24,950)
  • Indiana State 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 Indiana State students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 51%)

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