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UNCW ECU WCU University of North Carolina at Asheville NC State UNC Charlotte UNC Chapel Hill JMU Tennessee Elon UofSC Clemson| Northern Kentucky University | Appalachian State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
NKU | ASU | ||
| Location | Highland Heights, KY | Boone, NC | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 15,801 | 20,436 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #805 | #594 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | nku.edu | appstate.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
NKU | ASU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,208 | $4,242 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $20,464 | $20,246 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,248 | $11,582 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $7,259 | $13,084 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,275 | $7,443 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 47% |
Admission |
NKU | ASU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,905 | 22,255 | ||
| Admitted | 5,939 | 18,489 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 86% | 83.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 27.6% | 21.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.96 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 21/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 1030/1290 | 1100/1270 | ||
| 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 | Feb 1, 2025 |
Academics |
NKU | ASU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
NKU | ASU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 37% | 65% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,700 | $41,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 53% | 74% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,950 | $20,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $257 | $211 |
Diversity |
NKU | ASU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 36% | 42% | ||
| % Women | 64% | 58% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 82% | 85% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 3% | ||
| % International | 3% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 2% |
Students |
NKU | ASU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 66% | 87% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 26% | 13% | ||
Campus |
NKU | ASU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Appalachian State University is larger than than NKU based on total student enrollment (20,436 students vs. 15,801 students)
NKU vs. ASU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, NKU or ASU?
- Northern Kentucky University is 140.6% more expensive to attend than ASU for in-state tuition ($10,208.00 vs. $4,242.00)
- Out of state tuition is 1.1% higher at NKU than Appalachian State University ($20,464.00 vs. $20,246.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than ASU ($7,259 vs. $13,084)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Kentucky University are 3% lower than costs at Appalachian State University ($11,248 vs. $11,582)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than Appalachian State University (100% vs. 47%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Kentucky University students is 51.5% larger than aid received Appalachian State University ($11,275 vs. $7,443)
NKU vs. ASU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, NKU or ASU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between ASU or NKU .
- The average SAT score at Appalachian State University (1157) is 89 points higher than at NKU (1068)
- Incoming ASU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at NKU (23)
- Accepted freshman ASU students have a 0.54 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at NKU (3.42)
- NKU has a higher acceptance rate (86%) than ASU (83.1%)
NKU vs. ASU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, NKU or ASU? 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 ASU and NKU.
- The graduation rate at ASU is higher than Northern Kentucky University (65% vs. 37%)
- Graduates from Appalachian State University earn on average $1,900 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($41,600 vs. $39,700)
- Appalachian State University students graduate with a $4,450 lower median federal student loan debt than NKU graduates. ($20,500 vs. $24,950)
- ASU graduates are paying $46 less per month on federal student loans than NKU graduates. ($211 vs. $257)
- More ASU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NKU students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 53%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/