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Kentucky University of Toledo Eastern Murray State University WKU Xavier UC Morehead State University Louisville BGSU IUPUI BSU| Marian University | Northern Kentucky University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Marian | NKU | ||
| Location | Indianapolis, IN | Highland Heights, KY | ||
| Setting | Large City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 3,586 | 14,961 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #912 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | Roman Catholic | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | marian.edu | nku.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Marian | NKU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $39,100 | $10,512 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $39,100 | $21,096 | ||
| Room & Board | $13,200 | $11,660 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $23,225 | $8,151 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $29,269 | $11,492 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 98% |
Admission |
Marian | NKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 3,883 | 6,417 | ||
| Admitted | 3,702 | 6,162 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 95.3% | 96% | ||
| Enrolled % | 16.7% | 21% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.56 | 3.42 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Unavailable | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | |||
| SAT Range | 916/1133 | |||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 1, 2026 | Aug 15, 2026 |
Academics |
Marian | NKU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Marian | NKU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 58% | 37% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $44,800 | $39,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 57% | 53% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $24,950 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $257 |
Diversity |
Marian | NKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 12% | 10% | ||
| % Women | 19% | 24% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 72% | 82% | ||
| % Black | 12% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 2% | ||
| % International | 1% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 1% |
Students |
Marian | NKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 87% | 71% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 10% | 28% | ||
Campus |
Marian | NKU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Northern Kentucky University is larger than than Marian based on total student enrollment (14,961 students vs. 3,586 students)
Marian vs. NKU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Marian or NKU?
- Marian University is 272% more expensive to attend than NKU for in-state tuition ($39,100.00 vs. $10,512.00)
- Out of state tuition is 85.3% higher at Marian than Northern Kentucky University ($39,100.00 vs. $21,096.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than Marian ($8,151 vs. $23,225)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Kentucky University are 13.2% lower than costs at Marian University ($11,660 vs. $13,200)
- The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Marian University as Northern Kentucky University (98% vs. 98%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Marian University students is 154.7% larger than aid received Northern Kentucky University ($29,269 vs. $11,492)
Marian vs. NKU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Marian or NKU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between NKU or Marian .
- The average SAT score at Northern Kentucky University (1068) is 42 points higher than at Marian (1026)
- Incoming Marian students have at the same average ACT score (23) as students at NKU (23)
- Accepted freshman Marian students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at NKU (3.42)
- NKU has a higher acceptance rate (96%) than Marian (95.3%)
Marian vs. NKU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Marian 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 Marian.
- The graduation rate at Marian is higher than Northern Kentucky University (58% vs. 37%)
- Graduates from Marian University earn on average $5,100 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($44,800 vs. $39,700)
- Northern Kentucky University students graduate with a $2,050 lower median federal student loan debt than Marian graduates. ($24,950 vs. $27,000)
- NKU graduates are paying $22 less per month on federal student loans than Marian graduates. ($257 vs. $279)
- More Marian graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NKU students, three years after graduation. (57% vs. 53%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/