NKU vs. Centra College

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

NKU Centra College
Location Highland Heights, KY Lynchburg, VA
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 14,961 212
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #912
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nku.edu centrahealth.com
Team Colors                    

Costs

NKU Centra College
Tuition (In State) $10,512 $9,240
Tuition (Out of State) $21,096 $9,240
Room & Board $11,660 $11,252
Avg Net Price $8,151 $24,868
Avg Grant Aid $11,492 $6,903
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 100%

Admission

NKU Centra College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,417 1
Admitted 6,162 1
Acceptance Rate 96% 100%
Enrolled % 21% 0%
Avg High School GPA 3.42 -
Typical High School Grades B+ -
Admissions Standards Very Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition
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 Centra College
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 6:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (26%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)

Outcomes

NKU Centra College
Graduation Rate 37% -
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $39,700 $44,800
Making Student Loan Payments 53% 66%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,950 $12,042
Median Loan Payment $257 $124

Diversity

NKU Centra College
% Men 10% 8%
% Women 24% 53%
Racial Diversity Very Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 82% 65%
% Black 7% 35%
% Hispanic 3% 0%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 0%
% International 3% 0%
% Unknown Race 1% 0%

Students

NKU Centra College
% In-State 71% 100%
% Out-of-State 28% 0%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Northern Kentucky University is larger than than Centra College based on total student enrollment (14,961 students vs. 212 students)

NKU vs. Centra College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NKU or Centra College?

  • Northern Kentucky University is 13.8% more expensive to attend than Centra College for in-state tuition ($10,512.00 vs. $9,240.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 128.3% higher at NKU than Centra College ($21,096.00 vs. $9,240.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than Centra College ($8,151 vs. $24,868)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Centra College are 3.6% lower than costs at Northern Kentucky University ($11,252 vs. $11,660)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Centra College than Northern Kentucky University (100% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Kentucky University students is 66.5% larger than aid received Centra College ($11,492 vs. $6,903)

NKU vs. Centra College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Centra College has a higher acceptance rate (100%) than NKU (96%)

NKU vs. Centra College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • Graduates from Centra College earn on average $5,100 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($44,800 vs. $39,700)
  • Centra College students graduate with a $12,908 lower median federal student loan debt than NKU graduates. ($12,042 vs. $24,950)
  • Centra College graduates are paying $133 less per month on federal student loans than NKU graduates. ($124 vs. $257)
  • More Centra College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NKU students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 53%)

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