Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Kentucky University of Toledo Tennessee State University Eastern Murray State University Central State University WKU Xavier UC Morehead State University ISU Louisville| Kentucky State University | Northern Kentucky University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
KY State | NKU | ||
| Location | Frankfort, KY | Highland Heights, KY | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 1,689 | 14,961 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #1018 | #912 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | kysu.edu | nku.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
KY State | NKU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $8,088 | $10,512 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $12,134 | $21,096 | ||
| Room & Board | $8,186 | $11,660 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $9,672 | $8,151 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,850 | $11,492 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 98% |
Admission |
KY State | NKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 2,001 | 6,417 | ||
| Admitted | 1,852 | 6,162 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 92.6% | 96% | ||
| Enrolled % | 18.6% | 21% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 2.72 | 3.42 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Extremely Easy | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 14/20 | 19/25 | ||
| SAT Range | 820/1010 | 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 |
KY State | NKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 14:1 | 18:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
KY State | NKU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 21% | 37% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $31,000 | $39,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 24% | 53% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $29,000 | $24,950 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $299 | $257 |
Diversity |
KY State | NKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 4% | 10% | ||
| % Women | 5% | 24% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | Yes | No | ||
| % White | 27% | 82% | ||
| % Black | 57% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 2% | ||
| % International | 0% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 9% | 1% |
Students |
KY State | NKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 35% | 71% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 64% | 28% | ||
Campus |
KY State | 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 KY State based on total student enrollment (14,961 students vs. 1,689 students)
KY State vs. NKU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, KY State or NKU?
- Northern Kentucky University is 30% more expensive to attend than KY State for in-state tuition ($10,512.00 vs. $8,088.00)
- Out of state tuition is 73.9% higher at NKU than Kentucky State University ($21,096.00 vs. $12,134.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than KY State ($8,151 vs. $9,672)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Kentucky State University are 42.4% lower than costs at Northern Kentucky University ($8,186 vs. $11,660)
- The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Kentucky State University as Northern Kentucky University (98% vs. 98%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Kentucky University students is 16.7% larger than aid received Kentucky State University ($11,492 vs. $9,850)
KY State vs. NKU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, KY State or NKU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between NKU or KY State .
- The average SAT score at Northern Kentucky University (1068) is 137 points higher than at KY State (931)
- Incoming NKU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at KY State (20)
- Accepted freshman NKU students have a 0.7 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at KY State (2.72)
- NKU has a higher acceptance rate (96%) than KY State (92.6%)
KY State vs. NKU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, KY 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 KY State.
- The graduation rate at NKU is higher than Kentucky State University (37% vs. 21%)
- Graduates from Northern Kentucky University earn on average $8,700 more per year than KY State graduates after ten years. ($39,700 vs. $31,000)
- Northern Kentucky University students graduate with a $4,050 lower median federal student loan debt than KY State graduates. ($24,950 vs. $29,000)
- NKU graduates are paying $42 less per month on federal student loans than KY State graduates. ($257 vs. $299)
- More NKU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former KY State students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 24%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/