NKU vs. BAC

Deciding between Northern Kentucky University and Belmont Abbey 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
Belmont Abbey College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • NKU Highland Heights, KY
  • BAC Belmont, NC
  • Setting
  • NKU Large Suburban
  • BAC Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • NKU 15,347
  • BAC 1,388
  • Type
  • NKU Public 4 Year
  • BAC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • NKU #854
  • BAC #858
  • Religious Affiliation
  • NKU -
  • BAC Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • NKU Non-profit
  • BAC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • NKU
  • BAC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • NKU $11,088
  • BAC $19,500
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • NKU $21,912
  • BAC $19,500
  • Room & Board
  • NKU $12,712
  • BAC $12,974
  • Average Net Price
  • NKU $9,211
  • BAC $24,726
  • Average Grant Aid
  • NKU $10,332
  • BAC $10,168
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • NKU 98%
  • BAC 99%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • NKU 6,058
  • BAC 4,221
  • Admitted
  • NKU 4,098
  • BAC 3,151
  • Acceptance Rate
  • NKU 67.6%
  • BAC 74.7%
  • Enrolled
  • NKU 36.8%
  • BAC 12.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • NKU 1050
  • BAC 1080
  • Typical ACT score
  • NKU 21
  • BAC 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • NKU 3.42
  • BAC 3.32
  • Typical High School Grades
  • NKU B+
  • BAC B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • NKU Very Easy
  • BAC Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • NKU Low
  • BAC
  • ACT Range
  • NKU 18/25
  • BAC 18/26
  • SAT Range
  • NKU 953/1150
  • BAC 960/1200
  • Submit Test Scores
  • NKU Test optional
  • BAC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • NKU Aug 15, 2027
  • BAC

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • NKU 19:1
  • BAC 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • NKU
    • Business (26%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
  • BAC
    • Business (39%)
    • Education (25%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • NKU 37%
  • BAC 38%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • NKU $39,700
  • BAC $41,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • NKU 53%
  • BAC 40%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • NKU $24,950
  • BAC $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • NKU $257
  • BAC $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • NKU 37%
  • BAC 54%
  • % Women
  • NKU 63%
  • BAC 46%
  • Racial Diversity
  • NKU Very Low
  • BAC Medium
  • HBCU
  • NKU No
  • BAC No
  • % White
  • NKU 82%
  • BAC 45%
  • % Asian
  • NKU 1%
  • BAC 1%
  • % Black
  • NKU 7%
  • BAC 22%
  • % Hispanic
  • NKU 3%
  • BAC 1%
  • % Native American
  • NKU 0%
  • BAC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • NKU 0%
  • BAC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • NKU 2%
  • BAC 0%
  • % International
  • NKU 3%
  • BAC 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • NKU 1%
  • BAC 28%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • NKU 69%
  • BAC 35%
  • % Out-of-State
  • NKU 29%
  • BAC 58%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Northern Kentucky University in Highland Heights, KY with Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Northern Kentucky University is larger than BAC based on total student enrollment (15,347 students vs. 1,388 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Northern Kentucky University is located in Highland Heights, KY (Large Suburban setting); Belmont Abbey College is in Belmont, NC (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Northern Kentucky University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Belmont Abbey College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Northern Kentucky University 19:1; Belmont Abbey College 12:1.

NKU vs. BAC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NKU or BAC? 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 BAC ($9,211 vs. $24,726).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Kentucky University are 2% lower than at Belmont Abbey College ($12,712 vs. $12,974).
  • Belmont Abbey College is 75.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than NKU (about $8,412 more per year; $19,500.00 vs. $11,088.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 12.4% higher at NKU than at Belmont Abbey College (about $2,412 more per year; $21,912.00 vs. $19,500.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Belmont Abbey College than at Northern Kentucky University (99% vs. 98%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Kentucky University students is 1.6% larger than aid received by Belmont Abbey College students ($10,332 vs. $10,168).

NKU vs. BAC Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Belmont Abbey College (1080) is 30 points higher than at NKU (1050).
  • Incoming BAC students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (22 vs. 21 at NKU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northern Kentucky University 953/1150; Belmont Abbey College 960/1200.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northern Kentucky University 18/25; Belmont Abbey College 18/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: NKU - Test optional; BAC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: NKU Aug 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman NKU students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at BAC (3.32).
  • BAC has a higher acceptance rate (74.7%) than NKU (67.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 36.8% at NKU vs. 12.6% at BAC.

NKU vs. BAC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for NKU and BAC? 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).

  • Belmont Abbey College's six-year graduation rate (38%) is higher than Northern Kentucky University's (37%).
  • Graduates from Belmont Abbey College earn a median of about $2,200 more per year than NKU graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,900 vs. $39,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Northern Kentucky University graduates have a $2,050 lower median loan debt than BAC graduates ($24,950 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, NKU graduates have an estimated $22 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BAC graduates ($257 vs. $279).
  • More NKU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BAC students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 40%)

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.