NKU vs. AQ

Deciding between Northern Kentucky University and Aquinas College? 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.

Northern Kentucky University
Aquinas College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • NKU Highland Heights, KY
  • AQ Grand Rapids, MI
  • Setting
  • NKU Large Suburban
  • AQ Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • NKU 15,347
  • AQ 1,157
  • Type
  • NKU Public 4 Year
  • AQ Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • NKU #854
  • AQ #753
  • Religious Affiliation
  • NKU -
  • AQ Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • NKU Non-profit
  • AQ Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • NKU
  • AQ

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • NKU $11,088
  • AQ $40,218
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • NKU $21,912
  • AQ $40,218
  • Room & Board
  • NKU $12,712
  • AQ $11,680
  • Average Net Price
  • NKU $9,211
  • AQ $18,018
  • Average Grant Aid
  • NKU $10,332
  • AQ $33,535
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • NKU 98%
  • AQ 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • NKU 6,058
  • AQ 2,193
  • Admitted
  • NKU 4,098
  • AQ 1,971
  • Acceptance Rate
  • NKU 67.6%
  • AQ 89.9%
  • Enrolled
  • NKU 36.8%
  • AQ 11.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • NKU 1050
  • AQ 1030
  • Typical ACT score
  • NKU 21
  • AQ 23
  • Average High School GPA
  • NKU 3.42
  • AQ 3.52
  • Typical High School Grades
  • NKU B+
  • AQ A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • NKU Very Easy
  • AQ Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • NKU Low
  • AQ
  • ACT Range
  • NKU 18/25
  • AQ 20/26
  • SAT Range
  • NKU 953/1150
  • AQ 910/1140
  • Submit Test Scores
  • NKU Test optional
  • AQ Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • NKU Aug 15, 2027
  • AQ

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • NKU 19:1
  • AQ 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • NKU
    • Business (26%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
  • AQ
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • Biology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • NKU 37%
  • AQ 52%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • NKU $39,700
  • AQ $40,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • NKU 53%
  • AQ 60%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • NKU $24,950
  • AQ $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • NKU $257
  • AQ $268

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • NKU 37%
  • AQ 47%
  • % Women
  • NKU 63%
  • AQ 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • NKU Very Low
  • AQ Very Low
  • HBCU
  • NKU No
  • AQ No
  • % White
  • NKU 82%
  • AQ 82%
  • % Asian
  • NKU 1%
  • AQ 1%
  • % Black
  • NKU 7%
  • AQ 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • NKU 3%
  • AQ 6%
  • % Native American
  • NKU 0%
  • AQ 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • NKU 0%
  • AQ 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • NKU 2%
  • AQ 3%
  • % International
  • NKU 3%
  • AQ 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • NKU 1%
  • AQ 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • NKU 69%
  • AQ 87%
  • % Out-of-State
  • NKU 29%
  • AQ 10%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Northern Kentucky University is larger than AQ based on total student enrollment (15,347 students vs. 1,157 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Northern Kentucky University is located in Highland Heights, KY (Large Suburban setting); Aquinas College is in Grand Rapids, MI (Midsize City setting).
  • Northern Kentucky University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Aquinas College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Northern Kentucky University 19:1; Aquinas College 10:1.

NKU vs. AQ Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NKU or AQ? 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 AQ ($9,211 vs. $18,018).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Aquinas College are 8.1% lower than at Northern Kentucky University ($11,680 vs. $12,712).
  • Aquinas College is 262.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than NKU (about $29,130 more per year; $40,218.00 vs. $11,088.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 83.5% higher at AQ than at Northern Kentucky University (about $18,306 more per year; $40,218.00 vs. $21,912.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Aquinas College than at Northern Kentucky University (100% vs. 98%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Aquinas College students is 224.6% larger than aid received by Northern Kentucky University students ($33,535 vs. $10,332).

NKU vs. AQ Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Northern Kentucky University (1050) is 20 points higher than at AQ (1030).
  • Incoming AQ students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (23 vs. 21 at NKU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northern Kentucky University 953/1150; Aquinas College 910/1140.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northern Kentucky University 18/25; Aquinas College 20/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: NKU - Test optional; AQ - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: NKU Aug 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman AQ students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.52) than students at NKU (3.42).
  • AQ has a higher acceptance rate (89.9%) than NKU (67.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 36.8% at NKU vs. 11.8% at AQ.

NKU vs. AQ Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for NKU and AQ? 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).

  • Aquinas College's six-year graduation rate (52%) is higher than Northern Kentucky University's (37%).
  • Graduates from Aquinas College earn a median of about $300 more per year than NKU graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,000 vs. $39,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Northern Kentucky University graduates have a $1,050 lower median loan debt than AQ graduates ($24,950 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, NKU graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AQ graduates ($257 vs. $268).
  • More AQ graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NKU students, three years after graduation. (60% 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.