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Kentucky University of Toledo Eastern Murray State University Lenoir-Rhyne University WKU Xavier UC Morehead State University Louisville BGSU BSU| Northern Kentucky University | Catawba College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
NKU | Catawba College | ||
| Location | Highland Heights, KY | Salisbury, NC | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 14,961 | 1,241 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #912 | #659 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | nku.edu | catawba.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
NKU | Catawba College | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,512 | $33,400 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $21,096 | $33,400 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,660 | $12,550 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $8,151 | $18,319 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,492 | $29,599 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 100% |
Admission |
NKU | Catawba College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,417 | 2,547 | ||
| Admitted | 6,162 | 1,979 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 96% | 77.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21% | 15.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.64 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 20/25 | ||
| SAT Range | 916/1133 | 1010/1186 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 15, 2025 | Aug 15, 2025 |
Academics |
NKU | Catawba College | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
NKU | Catawba College | ||
| Graduation Rate | 37% | 54% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,700 | $42,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 53% | 60% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,950 | $25,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $257 | $258 |
Diversity |
NKU | Catawba College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 10% | 3% | ||
| % Women | 24% | 4% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 82% | 69% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 19% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 3% | ||
| % International | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 0% |
Students |
NKU | Catawba College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 71% | 61% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 28% | 34% | ||
Campus |
NKU | Catawba College | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Northern Kentucky University is larger than than Catawba College based on total student enrollment (14,961 students vs. 1,241 students)
NKU vs. Catawba College Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, NKU or Catawba College?
- Catawba College is 217.7% more expensive to attend than NKU for in-state tuition ($33,400.00 vs. $10,512.00)
- Out of state tuition is 58.3% higher at Catawba College than Northern Kentucky University ($33,400.00 vs. $21,096.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than Catawba College ($8,151 vs. $18,319)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Kentucky University are 7.6% lower than costs at Catawba College ($11,660 vs. $12,550)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Catawba College than Northern Kentucky University (100% vs. 98%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Catawba College students is 157.6% larger than aid received Northern Kentucky University ($29,599 vs. $11,492)
NKU vs. Catawba College Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, NKU or Catawba College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Catawba College or NKU .
- The average SAT score at Northern Kentucky University (1068) is 78 points higher than at Catawba College (990)
- Incoming NKU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Catawba College (21)
- Accepted freshman Catawba College students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.64) than students at NKU (3.42)
- NKU has a higher acceptance rate (96%) than Catawba College (77.7%)
NKU vs. Catawba College Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, NKU or Catawba 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 Catawba College and NKU.
- The graduation rate at Catawba College is higher than Northern Kentucky University (54% vs. 37%)
- Graduates from Catawba College earn on average $2,300 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($42,000 vs. $39,700)
- Northern Kentucky University students graduate with a $50 lower median federal student loan debt than Catawba College graduates. ($24,950 vs. $25,000)
- NKU graduates are paying $1 less per month on federal student loans than Catawba College graduates. ($257 vs. $258)
- More Catawba College 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/