IU Northwest vs. Kent State

Deciding between Indiana University Northwest and Kent State University at Kent? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Indiana University Northwest
Kent State University at Kent

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IU Northwest Gary, IN
  • Kent State Kent, OH
  • Setting
  • IU Northwest Small City
  • Kent State Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • IU Northwest 3,041
  • Kent State 26,374
  • Type
  • IU Northwest Public 4 Year
  • Kent State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IU Northwest #875
  • Kent State #807
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IU Northwest -
  • Kent State -
  • Status
  • IU Northwest Non-profit
  • Kent State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IU Northwest
  • Kent State
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IU Northwest $8,424
  • Kent State $13,232
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IU Northwest $22,811
  • Kent State $23,082
  • Room & Board
  • IU Northwest $10,972
  • Kent State $13,794
  • Average Net Price
  • IU Northwest $5,745
  • Kent State $21,278
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IU Northwest $8,327
  • Kent State $10,076
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IU Northwest 76%
  • Kent State 95%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IU Northwest 2,928
  • Kent State 24,611
  • Admitted
  • IU Northwest 2,149
  • Kent State 21,248
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IU Northwest 73.4%
  • Kent State 86.3%
  • Enrolled
  • IU Northwest 23.5%
  • Kent State 20.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IU Northwest 1050
  • Kent State 1130
  • Typical ACT score
  • IU Northwest 22
  • Kent State 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • IU Northwest 3.14
  • Kent State 3.61
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IU Northwest B
  • Kent State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • IU Northwest Easy
  • Kent State Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • IU Northwest Low
  • Kent State
  • ACT Range
  • IU Northwest 18/26
  • Kent State 18/25
  • SAT Range
  • IU Northwest 910/1180
  • Kent State 1010/1240
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IU Northwest Test optional
  • Kent State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • IU Northwest
  • Kent State Aug 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IU Northwest 15:1
  • Kent State 20:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IU Northwest
    • Health Professions (33%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
  • Kent State
    • Business (21%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IU Northwest 23%
  • Kent State 50%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IU Northwest $39,500
  • Kent State $40,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IU Northwest 33%
  • Kent State 46%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IU Northwest $25,030
  • Kent State $25,825
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IU Northwest $258
  • Kent State $267
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IU Northwest 27%
  • Kent State 37%
  • % Women
  • IU Northwest 73%
  • Kent State 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IU Northwest High
  • Kent State Low
  • HBCU
  • IU Northwest No
  • Kent State No
  • % White
  • IU Northwest 55%
  • Kent State 75%
  • % Asian
  • IU Northwest 2%
  • Kent State 1%
  • % Black
  • IU Northwest 18%
  • Kent State 9%
  • % Hispanic
  • IU Northwest 20%
  • Kent State 3%
  • % Native American
  • IU Northwest 0%
  • Kent State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IU Northwest 0%
  • Kent State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IU Northwest 3%
  • Kent State 3%
  • % International
  • IU Northwest 0%
  • Kent State 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IU Northwest 1%
  • Kent State 3%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IU Northwest 95%
  • Kent State 80%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IU Northwest 4%
  • Kent State 16%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • IU Northwest No
  • Kent State Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • IU Northwest No
  • Kent State No
  • Meal Plan
  • IU Northwest No
  • Kent State Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • IU Northwest Yes
  • Kent State Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • IU Northwest Yes
  • Kent State Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Indiana University Northwest in Gary, IN with Kent State University at Kent in Kent, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Kent State University at Kent is larger than IU Northwest based on total student enrollment (26,374 students vs. 3,041 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Indiana University Northwest is located in Gary, IN (Small City setting); Kent State University at Kent is in Kent, OH (Large Suburban setting).
  • Indiana University Northwest is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Kent State University at Kent is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Indiana University Northwest 15:1; Kent State University at Kent 20:1.

IU Northwest vs. Kent State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IU Northwest or Kent State? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Indiana University Northwest than Kent State ($5,745 vs. $21,278).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indiana University Northwest are 20.5% lower than at Kent State University at Kent ($10,972 vs. $13,794).
  • Kent State University at Kent is 57.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than IU Northwest (about $4,808 more per year; $13,232.00 vs. $8,424.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.2% higher at Kent State than at Indiana University Northwest (about $271 more per year; $23,082.00 vs. $22,811.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Kent State University at Kent than at Indiana University Northwest (95% vs. 76%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Kent State University at Kent students is 21% larger than aid received by Indiana University Northwest students ($10,076 vs. $8,327).

IU Northwest vs. Kent State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, IU Northwest or Kent State? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Kent State and IU Northwest.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Kent State University at Kent (1130) is 80 points higher than at IU Northwest (1050).
  • Incoming IU Northwest students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (22 vs. 21 at Kent State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana University Northwest 910/1180; Kent State University at Kent 1010/1240.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana University Northwest 18/26; Kent State University at Kent 18/25.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IU Northwest - Test optional; Kent State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Kent State Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Kent State students have a 0.47 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at IU Northwest (3.14).
  • Kent State has a higher acceptance rate (86.3%) than IU Northwest (73.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23.5% at IU Northwest vs. 20.3% at Kent State.

IU Northwest vs. Kent State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IU Northwest and Kent State? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Kent State University at Kent's six-year graduation rate (50%) is higher than Indiana University Northwest's (23%).
  • Graduates from Kent State University at Kent earn a median of about $800 more per year than IU Northwest graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,300 vs. $39,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Indiana University Northwest graduates have a $795 lower median loan debt than Kent State graduates ($25,030 vs. $25,825).
  • Among borrowers, IU Northwest graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Kent State graduates ($258 vs. $267).
  • More Kent State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IU Northwest students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 33%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.