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 Eastern Murray State University WKU Xavier UC Morehead State University Louisville BGSU BSU Kent State| Kentucky Wesleyan College | Northern Kentucky University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
KWC | NKU | ||
| Location | Owensboro, KY | Highland Heights, KY | ||
| Setting | Small City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 813 | 15,801 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #805 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | United Methodist | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | kwc.edu | nku.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
KWC | NKU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $30,040 | $10,208 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $30,040 | $20,464 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,175 | $11,248 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $20,735 | $7,259 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $20,036 | $11,275 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 100% |
Admission |
KWC | NKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 1,434 | 6,905 | ||
| Admitted | 983 | 5,939 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 68.5% | 86% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22.4% | 27.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.3 | 3.42 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Easy | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 17/23 | 19/25 | ||
| SAT Range | 980/1210 | 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 |
KWC | NKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 17:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
KWC | NKU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 44% | 37% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $38,500 | $39,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 54% | 53% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,907 | $24,950 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $236 | $257 |
Diversity |
KWC | NKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 51% | 36% | ||
| % Women | 49% | 64% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 73% | 82% | ||
| % Black | 15% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 1% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 0% | 2% | ||
| % International | 0% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 9% | 1% |
Students |
KWC | NKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 67% | 66% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 32% | 26% | ||
Campus |
KWC | 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 KWC based on total student enrollment (15,801 students vs. 813 students)
KWC vs. NKU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, KWC or NKU?
- Kentucky Wesleyan College is 194.3% more expensive to attend than NKU for in-state tuition ($30,040.00 vs. $10,208.00)
- Out of state tuition is 46.8% higher at KWC than Northern Kentucky University ($30,040.00 vs. $20,464.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than KWC ($7,259 vs. $20,735)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Kentucky Wesleyan College are 0.7% lower than costs at Northern Kentucky University ($11,175 vs. $11,248)
- The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Kentucky Wesleyan College as Northern Kentucky University (100% vs. 100%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Kentucky Wesleyan College students is 77.7% larger than aid received Northern Kentucky University ($20,036 vs. $11,275)
KWC vs. NKU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, KWC or NKU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between NKU or KWC .
- The average SAT score at Northern Kentucky University (1068) is 20 points higher than at KWC (1048)
- Incoming KWC students have at the same average ACT score (23) as students at NKU (23)
- Accepted freshman NKU students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at KWC (3.3)
- NKU has a higher acceptance rate (86%) than KWC (68.5%)
KWC vs. NKU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, KWC 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 KWC.
- The graduation rate at KWC is higher than Northern Kentucky University (44% vs. 37%)
- Graduates from Northern Kentucky University earn on average $1,200 more per year than KWC graduates after ten years. ($39,700 vs. $38,500)
- Kentucky Wesleyan College students graduate with a $2,043 lower median federal student loan debt than NKU graduates. ($22,907 vs. $24,950)
- KWC graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than NKU graduates. ($236 vs. $257)
- More KWC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NKU students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 53%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/