NKU vs. Aquinas College

Should I go to Northern Kentucky University or Aquinas College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if NKU or Aquinas College is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Northern Kentucky University vs. Aquinas College comparison
Northern Kentucky University Aquinas College College 3 College 4
Northern Kentucky University Aquinas College
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Overview

NKU Aquinas College
Location Highland Heights, KY Nashville, TN
Setting Large Suburban Large City
Enrollment 15,801 342
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #805
Religious Affiliation - Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nku.edu aquinascollege.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

NKU Aquinas College
Tuition (In State) $10,208 $21,350
Tuition (Out of State) $20,464 $21,350
Room & Board $11,248 $8,850
Avg Net Price $7,259 $20,892
Avg Grant Aid $11,275 $12,820
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

NKU Aquinas College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,905 245
Admitted 5,939 99
Acceptance Rate 86% 40.4%
Enrolled % 27.6% 33.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.42 3.55
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/25 21/28
SAT Range 1030/1290 1100/1370
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2025

Academics

NKU Aquinas College
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 0:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (26%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Health Professions (67%)
  • Business (24%)
  • Education (5%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (2%)
  • English and Literature (1%)

Outcomes

NKU Aquinas College
Graduation Rate 37% 38%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $39,700 $48,600
Making Student Loan Payments 53% 56%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,950 $20,500
Median Loan Payment $257 $211

Diversity

NKU Aquinas College
% Men 36% 0%
% Women 64% 0%
Racial Diversity Very Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 82% 69%
% Black 7% 6%
% Hispanic 3% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 2%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 3% 4%
% Unknown Race 1% 9%

Students

NKU Aquinas College
% In-State 66% -
% Out-of-State 26% -

Campus

NKU Aquinas College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Northern Kentucky University is larger than than Aquinas College based on total student enrollment (15,801 students vs. 342 students)

NKU vs. Aquinas College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NKU or Aquinas College?

  • Aquinas College is 109.1% more expensive to attend than NKU for in-state tuition ($21,350.00 vs. $10,208.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 4.3% higher at Aquinas College than Northern Kentucky University ($21,350.00 vs. $20,464.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than Aquinas College ($7,259 vs. $20,892)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Aquinas College are 27.1% lower than costs at Northern Kentucky University ($8,850 vs. $11,248)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University as Aquinas College (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Aquinas College students is 13.7% larger than aid received Northern Kentucky University ($12,820 vs. $11,275)

NKU vs. Aquinas College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, NKU or Aquinas College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Aquinas College or NKU .

  • The average SAT score at Aquinas College (1115) is 47 points higher than at NKU (1068)
  • Incoming Aquinas College students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at NKU (23)
  • Accepted freshman Aquinas College students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at NKU (3.42)
  • NKU has a higher acceptance rate (86%) than Aquinas College (40.4%)

NKU vs. Aquinas College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, NKU or Aquinas College? 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 Aquinas College and NKU.

  • The graduation rate at Aquinas College is higher than Northern Kentucky University (38% vs. 37%)
  • Graduates from Aquinas College earn on average $8,900 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($48,600 vs. $39,700)
  • Aquinas College students graduate with a $4,450 lower median federal student loan debt than NKU graduates. ($20,500 vs. $24,950)
  • Aquinas College graduates are paying $46 less per month on federal student loans than NKU graduates. ($211 vs. $257)
  • More Aquinas College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NKU students, three years after graduation. (56% vs. 53%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/