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Kentucky University of Toledo Purdue Calumet Eastern BSU Murray State University WKU Xavier UC Morehead State University DePaul Louisville| Indiana University Northwest | Northern Kentucky University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
IU Northwest | NKU | ||
| Location | Gary, IN | Highland Heights, KY | ||
| Setting | Small City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 3,045 | 14,961 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #850 | #912 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | iun.edu | nku.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
IU Northwest | NKU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $7,492 | $10,512 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $21,356 | $21,096 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,244 | $11,660 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $5,553 | $8,151 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $8,153 | $11,492 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 66% | 98% |
Admission |
IU Northwest | NKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 2,820 | 6,417 | ||
| Admitted | 2,163 | 6,162 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 76.7% | 96% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21.7% | 21% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.14 | 3.42 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Moderate | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/27 | 19/25 | ||
| SAT Range | 940/1170 | 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 15, 2026 |
Academics |
IU Northwest | NKU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 14:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
IU Northwest | NKU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 23% | 37% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,500 | $39,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 33% | 53% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,030 | $24,950 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $257 |
Diversity |
IU Northwest | NKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 2% | 10% | ||
| % Women | 6% | 24% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 55% | 82% | ||
| % Black | 18% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 20% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 2% | ||
| % International | 0% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
IU Northwest | NKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 95% | 71% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 5% | 28% | ||
Campus |
IU Northwest | NKU | ||
| Campus Housing | No | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | No | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Northern Kentucky University is larger than than IU Northwest based on total student enrollment (14,961 students vs. 3,045 students)
IU Northwest vs. NKU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, IU Northwest or NKU?
- Northern Kentucky University is 40.3% more expensive to attend than IU Northwest for in-state tuition ($10,512.00 vs. $7,492.00)
- Out of state tuition is 1.2% higher at IU Northwest than Northern Kentucky University ($21,356.00 vs. $21,096.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Indiana University Northwest than NKU ($5,553 vs. $8,151)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indiana University Northwest are 13.8% lower than costs at Northern Kentucky University ($10,244 vs. $11,660)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than Indiana University Northwest (98% vs. 66%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Kentucky University students is 41% larger than aid received Indiana University Northwest ($11,492 vs. $8,153)
IU Northwest vs. NKU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, IU Northwest or NKU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between NKU or IU Northwest .
- The average SAT score at Northern Kentucky University (1068) is 140 points higher than at IU Northwest (928)
- Incoming NKU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at IU Northwest (20)
- Accepted freshman NKU students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at IU Northwest (3.14)
- NKU has a higher acceptance rate (96%) than IU Northwest (76.7%)
IU Northwest vs. NKU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, IU Northwest 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 Northwest.
- The graduation rate at NKU is higher than Indiana University Northwest (37% vs. 23%)
- Graduates from Northern Kentucky University earn on average $200 more per year than IU Northwest graduates after ten years. ($39,700 vs. $39,500)
- Northern Kentucky University students graduate with a $80 lower median federal student loan debt than IU Northwest graduates. ($24,950 vs. $25,030)
- NKU graduates are paying $1 less per month on federal student loans than IU Northwest graduates. ($257 vs. $258)
- More NKU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IU Northwest students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 33%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/