IU vs. NKU

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

IU NKU
Location Bloomington, IN Highland Heights, KY
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 47,005 15,801
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #200 #805
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website iub.edu nku.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

IU NKU
Tuition (In State) $10,012 $10,208
Tuition (Out of State) $37,685 $20,464
Room & Board $12,228 $11,248
Avg Net Price $16,234 $7,259
Avg Grant Aid $10,336 $11,275
% Receiving Grant Aid 74% 100%

Admission

IU NKU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 50,080 6,905
Admitted 41,272 5,939
Acceptance Rate 82.4% 86%
Enrolled % 23.6% 27.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.74 3.42
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 27/32 19/25
SAT Range 1180/1400 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 Aug 15, 2025

Academics

IU NKU
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (21%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Education (7%)
  • Business (26%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)

Outcomes

IU NKU
Graduation Rate 72% 37%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $56,200 $39,700
Making Student Loan Payments 72% 53%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,500 $24,950
Median Loan Payment $232 $257

Diversity

IU NKU
% Men 51% 36%
% Women 49% 64%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 71% 82%
% Black 4% 7%
% Hispanic 5% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 2%
% International 11% 3%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

IU NKU
% In-State 51% 66%
% Out-of-State 42% 26%

Campus

IU 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

  • Indiana University Bloomington is larger than than NKU based on total student enrollment (47,005 students vs. 15,801 students)

IU vs. NKU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IU or NKU?

  • Northern Kentucky University is 2% more expensive to attend than IU for in-state tuition ($10,208.00 vs. $10,012.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 84.2% higher at IU than Northern Kentucky University ($37,685.00 vs. $20,464.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than IU ($7,259 vs. $16,234)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Kentucky University are 8.7% lower than costs at Indiana University Bloomington ($11,248 vs. $12,228)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than Indiana University Bloomington (100% vs. 74%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Kentucky University students is 9.1% larger than aid received Indiana University Bloomington ($11,275 vs. $10,336)

IU vs. NKU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Indiana University Bloomington (1199) is 131 points higher than at NKU (1068)
  • Incoming IU students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at NKU (23)
  • Accepted freshman IU students have a 0.32 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at NKU (3.42)
  • NKU has a higher acceptance rate (86%) than IU (82.4%)

IU vs. NKU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, IU 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 IU.

  • The graduation rate at IU is higher than Northern Kentucky University (72% vs. 37%)
  • Graduates from Indiana University Bloomington earn on average $16,500 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($56,200 vs. $39,700)
  • Indiana University Bloomington students graduate with a $2,450 lower median federal student loan debt than NKU graduates. ($22,500 vs. $24,950)
  • IU graduates are paying $25 less per month on federal student loans than NKU graduates. ($232 vs. $257)
  • More IU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NKU students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 53%)

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