NKU vs. Bluefield College

Should I go to Northern Kentucky University or Bluefield College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if NKU or Bluefield 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. Bluefield College comparison
Northern Kentucky University Bluefield College College 3 College 4
Northern Kentucky University
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Overview

NKU Bluefield College
Location Highland Heights, KY Bluefield, VA
Setting Large Suburban Remote Town
Enrollment 14,961 989
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #912
Religious Affiliation - Baptist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nku.edu bluefield.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

NKU Bluefield College
Tuition (In State) $10,512 $27,876
Tuition (Out of State) $21,096 $27,876
Room & Board $11,660 $9,814
Avg Net Price $8,151 $22,191
Avg Grant Aid $11,492 $19,288
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 99%

Admission

NKU Bluefield College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,417 1,057
Admitted 6,162 663
Acceptance Rate 96% 62.7%
Enrolled % 21% 27.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.42 3.31
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/25
SAT Range 916/1133
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2026

Academics

NKU Bluefield College
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (26%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Business (42%)
  • Psychology (21%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (17%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • General Studies (4%)

Outcomes

NKU Bluefield College
Graduation Rate 37% 36%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $39,700 $45,700
Making Student Loan Payments 53% 51%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,950 $20,834
Median Loan Payment $257 $215

Diversity

NKU Bluefield College
% Men 10% 9%
% Women 24% 21%
Racial Diversity Very Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 82% 65%
% Black 7% 22%
% Hispanic 3% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 3% 4%
% Unknown Race 1% 3%

Students

NKU Bluefield College
% In-State 71% 66%
% Out-of-State 28% 33%

Campus

NKU Bluefield 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 Bluefield College based on total student enrollment (14,961 students vs. 989 students)

NKU vs. Bluefield College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NKU or Bluefield College?

  • Bluefield College is 165.2% more expensive to attend than NKU for in-state tuition ($27,876.00 vs. $10,512.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 32.1% higher at Bluefield College than Northern Kentucky University ($27,876.00 vs. $21,096.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than Bluefield College ($8,151 vs. $22,191)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bluefield College are 18.8% lower than costs at Northern Kentucky University ($9,814 vs. $11,660)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Bluefield College than Northern Kentucky University (99% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bluefield College students is 67.8% larger than aid received Northern Kentucky University ($19,288 vs. $11,492)

NKU vs. Bluefield College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Northern Kentucky University (1068) is 145 points higher than at Bluefield College (923)
  • Incoming NKU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Bluefield College (20)
  • Accepted freshman NKU students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at Bluefield College (3.31)
  • NKU has a higher acceptance rate (96%) than Bluefield College (62.7%)

NKU vs. Bluefield College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, NKU or Bluefield 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 Bluefield College and NKU.

  • The graduation rate at NKU is higher than Bluefield College (37% vs. 36%)
  • Graduates from Bluefield College earn on average $6,000 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($45,700 vs. $39,700)
  • Bluefield College students graduate with a $4,116 lower median federal student loan debt than NKU graduates. ($20,834 vs. $24,950)
  • Bluefield College graduates are paying $42 less per month on federal student loans than NKU graduates. ($215 vs. $257)
  • More NKU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bluefield College 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/