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WMU Eastern Michigan University Michigan State GVSU WSU Saginaw Valley State University Michigan Kentucky Oakland Ferris State University University of Toledo Michigan Tech| Northern Kentucky University | Central Michigan University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
NKU | CMU | ||
| Location | Highland Heights, KY | Mount Pleasant, MI | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 15,801 | 14,557 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #805 | #715 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | nku.edu | cmich.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
NKU | CMU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,208 | $13,200 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $20,464 | $13,200 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,248 | $11,248 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $7,259 | $15,605 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,275 | $11,314 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 96% |
Admission |
NKU | CMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,905 | 19,888 | ||
| Admitted | 5,939 | 15,701 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 86% | 78.9% | ||
| Enrolled % | 27.6% | 12.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.47 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 21/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 1030/1290 | 980/1220 | ||
| 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 |
Academics |
NKU | CMU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
NKU | CMU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 37% | 54% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,700 | $44,500 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 53% | 54% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,950 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $257 | $279 |
Diversity |
NKU | CMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 36% | 40% | ||
| % Women | 64% | 60% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 82% | 79% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 8% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 3% | ||
| % International | 3% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 3% |
Students |
NKU | CMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 66% | 90% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 26% | 9% | ||
Campus |
NKU | CMU | ||
| 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 CMU based on total student enrollment (15,801 students vs. 14,557 students)
NKU vs. CMU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, NKU or CMU?
- Central Michigan University is 29.3% more expensive to attend than NKU for in-state tuition ($13,200.00 vs. $10,208.00)
- Out of state tuition is 55% higher at NKU than Central Michigan University ($20,464.00 vs. $13,200.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than CMU ($7,259 vs. $15,605)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Central Michigan University are 0% lower than costs at Northern Kentucky University ($11,248 vs. $11,248)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than Central Michigan University (100% vs. 96%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Central Michigan University students is 0.3% larger than aid received Northern Kentucky University ($11,314 vs. $11,275)
NKU vs. CMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, NKU or CMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between CMU or NKU .
- The average SAT score at Northern Kentucky University (1068) is 19 points higher than at CMU (1049)
- Incoming NKU students have at the same average ACT score (23) as students at CMU (23)
- Accepted freshman CMU students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.47) than students at NKU (3.42)
- NKU has a higher acceptance rate (86%) than CMU (78.9%)
NKU vs. CMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, NKU or CMU? 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 CMU and NKU.
- The graduation rate at CMU is higher than Northern Kentucky University (54% vs. 37%)
- Graduates from Central Michigan University earn on average $4,800 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($44,500 vs. $39,700)
- Northern Kentucky University students graduate with a $2,050 lower median federal student loan debt than CMU graduates. ($24,950 vs. $27,000)
- NKU graduates are paying $22 less per month on federal student loans than CMU graduates. ($257 vs. $279)
- More CMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NKU students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 53%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/