KWC vs. NKU

Deciding between Kentucky Wesleyan College and Northern Kentucky University? 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.

Kentucky Wesleyan College
Northern Kentucky University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • KWC Owensboro, KY
  • NKU Highland Heights, KY
  • Setting
  • KWC Small City
  • NKU Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • KWC 887
  • NKU 15,347
  • Type
  • KWC Private 4 Year
  • NKU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • KWC
  • NKU #854
  • Religious Affiliation
  • KWC United Methodist
  • NKU -
  • Status
  • KWC Non-profit
  • NKU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • KWC
  • NKU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • KWC $34,673
  • NKU $11,088
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • KWC $34,673
  • NKU $21,912
  • Room & Board
  • KWC $11,855
  • NKU $12,712
  • Average Net Price
  • KWC $20,999
  • NKU $9,211
  • Average Grant Aid
  • KWC $25,538
  • NKU $10,332
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • KWC 100%
  • NKU 98%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • KWC 2,113
  • NKU 6,058
  • Admitted
  • KWC 1,513
  • NKU 4,098
  • Acceptance Rate
  • KWC 71.6%
  • NKU 67.6%
  • Enrolled
  • KWC 17.7%
  • NKU 36.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • KWC 1010
  • NKU 1050
  • Typical ACT score
  • KWC 19
  • NKU 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • KWC 3.3
  • NKU 3.42
  • Typical High School Grades
  • KWC B+
  • NKU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • KWC Extremely Easy
  • NKU Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • KWC Low
  • NKU Low
  • ACT Range
  • KWC 16/23
  • NKU 18/25
  • SAT Range
  • KWC 890/1130
  • NKU 953/1150
  • Submit Test Scores
  • KWC Test optional
  • NKU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • KWC
  • NKU Aug 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • KWC 15:1
  • NKU 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • KWC
    • Education (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • NKU
    • Business (26%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • KWC 44%
  • NKU 37%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • KWC $38,500
  • NKU $39,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • KWC 54%
  • NKU 53%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • KWC $22,907
  • NKU $24,950
  • Median Loan Payment
  • KWC $236
  • NKU $257

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • KWC 50%
  • NKU 37%
  • % Women
  • KWC 50%
  • NKU 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • KWC Low
  • NKU Very Low
  • HBCU
  • KWC No
  • NKU No
  • % White
  • KWC 73%
  • NKU 82%
  • % Asian
  • KWC 0%
  • NKU 1%
  • % Black
  • KWC 15%
  • NKU 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • KWC 1%
  • NKU 3%
  • % Native American
  • KWC 0%
  • NKU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • KWC 0%
  • NKU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • KWC 0%
  • NKU 2%
  • % International
  • KWC 0%
  • NKU 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • KWC 9%
  • NKU 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • KWC 56%
  • NKU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • KWC 38%
  • NKU 29%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • KWC Yes
  • NKU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • KWC No
  • NKU No
  • Meal Plan
  • KWC Yes
  • NKU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • KWC No
  • NKU Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • KWC No
  • NKU Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro, KY with Northern Kentucky University in Highland Heights, KY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Northern Kentucky University is larger than KWC based on total student enrollment (15,347 students vs. 887 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Kentucky Wesleyan College is located in Owensboro, KY (Small City setting); Northern Kentucky University is in Highland Heights, KY (Large Suburban setting).
  • Kentucky Wesleyan College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Northern Kentucky University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Kentucky Wesleyan College 15:1; Northern Kentucky University 19:1.

KWC vs. NKU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, KWC or NKU? 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 Northern Kentucky University than KWC ($9,211 vs. $20,999).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Kentucky Wesleyan College are 6.7% lower than at Northern Kentucky University ($11,855 vs. $12,712).
  • Kentucky Wesleyan College is 212.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than NKU (about $23,585 more per year; $34,673.00 vs. $11,088.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 58.2% higher at KWC than at Northern Kentucky University (about $12,761 more per year; $34,673.00 vs. $21,912.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Kentucky Wesleyan College than at Northern Kentucky University (100% vs. 98%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Kentucky Wesleyan College students is 147.2% larger than aid received by Northern Kentucky University students ($25,538 vs. $10,332).

KWC vs. NKU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, KWC or NKU? 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 NKU and KWC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Northern Kentucky University (1050) is 40 points higher than at KWC (1010).
  • Incoming NKU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (21 vs. 19 at KWC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Kentucky Wesleyan College 890/1130; Northern Kentucky University 953/1150.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Kentucky Wesleyan College 16/23; Northern Kentucky University 18/25.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: KWC - Test optional; NKU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: NKU Aug 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman NKU students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at KWC (3.3).
  • KWC has a higher acceptance rate (71.6%) than NKU (67.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.7% at KWC vs. 36.8% at NKU.

KWC vs. NKU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for KWC and NKU? 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).

  • Kentucky Wesleyan College's six-year graduation rate (44%) is higher than Northern Kentucky University's (37%).
  • Graduates from Northern Kentucky University earn a median of about $1,200 more per year than KWC graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,700 vs. $38,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Kentucky Wesleyan College graduates have a $2,043 lower median loan debt than NKU graduates ($22,907 vs. $24,950).
  • Among borrowers, KWC graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.