NKU vs. AU

Deciding between Northern Kentucky University and Averett 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.

Northern Kentucky University
Averett University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • NKU Highland Heights, KY
  • AU Danville, VA
  • Setting
  • NKU Large Suburban
  • AU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • NKU 15,347
  • AU 1,476
  • Type
  • NKU Public 4 Year
  • AU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • NKU #854
  • AU #637
  • Religious Affiliation
  • NKU -
  • AU -
  • Status
  • NKU Non-profit
  • AU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • NKU
  • AU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • NKU $11,088
  • AU $38,550
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • NKU $21,912
  • AU $38,550
  • Room & Board
  • NKU $12,712
  • AU $14,530
  • Average Net Price
  • NKU $9,211
  • AU $23,471
  • Average Grant Aid
  • NKU $10,332
  • AU $29,998
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • NKU 98%
  • AU 99%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • NKU 6,058
  • AU 2,573
  • Admitted
  • NKU 4,098
  • AU 1,456
  • Acceptance Rate
  • NKU 67.6%
  • AU 56.6%
  • Enrolled
  • NKU 36.8%
  • AU 18.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • NKU 1050
  • AU 1030
  • Typical ACT score
  • NKU 21
  • AU 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • NKU 3.42
  • AU 3.07
  • Typical High School Grades
  • NKU B+
  • AU B
  • Admissions Standards
  • NKU Very Easy
  • AU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • NKU Low
  • AU Low
  • ACT Range
  • NKU 18/25
  • AU 15/28
  • SAT Range
  • NKU 953/1150
  • AU 926/1143
  • Submit Test Scores
  • NKU Test optional
  • AU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • NKU Aug 15, 2027
  • AU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • NKU 19:1
  • AU 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • NKU
    • Business (26%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
  • AU
    • Business (23%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • NKU 37%
  • AU 41%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • NKU $39,700
  • AU $48,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • NKU 53%
  • AU 51%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • NKU $24,950
  • AU $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • NKU $257
  • AU $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • NKU 37%
  • AU 45%
  • % Women
  • NKU 63%
  • AU 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • NKU Very Low
  • AU Medium
  • HBCU
  • NKU No
  • AU No
  • % White
  • NKU 82%
  • AU 58%
  • % Asian
  • NKU 1%
  • AU 1%
  • % Black
  • NKU 7%
  • AU 33%
  • % Hispanic
  • NKU 3%
  • AU 4%
  • % Native American
  • NKU 0%
  • AU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • NKU 0%
  • AU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • NKU 2%
  • AU 0%
  • % International
  • NKU 3%
  • AU 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • NKU 1%
  • AU 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • NKU 69%
  • AU 54%
  • % Out-of-State
  • NKU 29%
  • AU 39%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Northern Kentucky University is larger than AU based on total student enrollment (15,347 students vs. 1,476 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Northern Kentucky University is located in Highland Heights, KY (Large Suburban setting); Averett University is in Danville, VA (Small City setting).
  • Northern Kentucky University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Averett University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Northern Kentucky University 19:1; Averett University 16:1.

NKU vs. AU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NKU or AU? 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 AU ($9,211 vs. $23,471).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Kentucky University are 12.5% lower than at Averett University ($12,712 vs. $14,530).
  • Averett University is 247.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than NKU (about $27,462 more per year; $38,550.00 vs. $11,088.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 75.9% higher at AU than at Northern Kentucky University (about $16,638 more per year; $38,550.00 vs. $21,912.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Averett University than at Northern Kentucky University (99% vs. 98%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Averett University students is 190.3% larger than aid received by Northern Kentucky University students ($29,998 vs. $10,332).

NKU vs. AU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Northern Kentucky University (1050) is 20 points higher than at AU (1030).
  • Incoming NKU students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 21) as students at AU (21).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northern Kentucky University 953/1150; Averett University 926/1143.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northern Kentucky University 18/25; Averett University 15/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: NKU - Test optional; AU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: NKU Aug 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman NKU students have a 0.35 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at AU (3.07).
  • NKU has a higher acceptance rate (67.6%) than AU (56.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 36.8% at NKU vs. 18.1% at AU.

NKU vs. AU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for NKU and AU? 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).

  • Averett University's six-year graduation rate (41%) is higher than Northern Kentucky University's (37%).
  • Graduates from Averett University earn a median of about $8,700 more per year than NKU graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,400 vs. $39,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Northern Kentucky University graduates have a $50 lower median loan debt than AU graduates ($24,950 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, NKU graduates have an estimated $1 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AU graduates ($257 vs. $258).
  • More NKU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AU students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 51%)

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.