NKU vs. CMU

Deciding between Northern Kentucky University and Central Michigan University? 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
Central Michigan University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • NKU Highland Heights, KY
  • CMU Mount Pleasant, MI
  • Setting
  • NKU Large Suburban
  • CMU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • NKU 15,347
  • CMU 14,488
  • Type
  • NKU Public 4 Year
  • CMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • NKU #854
  • CMU #782
  • Religious Affiliation
  • NKU -
  • CMU -
  • Status
  • NKU Non-profit
  • CMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • NKU
  • CMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • NKU $11,088
  • CMU $14,760
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • NKU $21,912
  • CMU $14,760
  • Room & Board
  • NKU $12,712
  • CMU $12,564
  • Average Net Price
  • NKU $9,211
  • CMU $17,575
  • Average Grant Aid
  • NKU $10,332
  • CMU $13,042
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • NKU 98%
  • CMU 94%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • NKU 6,058
  • CMU 21,969
  • Admitted
  • NKU 4,098
  • CMU 19,732
  • Acceptance Rate
  • NKU 67.6%
  • CMU 89.8%
  • Enrolled
  • NKU 36.8%
  • CMU 11.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • NKU 1050
  • CMU 1080
  • Typical ACT score
  • NKU 21
  • CMU 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • NKU 3.42
  • CMU 3.47
  • Typical High School Grades
  • NKU B+
  • CMU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • NKU Very Easy
  • CMU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • NKU Low
  • CMU
  • ACT Range
  • NKU 18/25
  • CMU 21/27
  • SAT Range
  • NKU 953/1150
  • CMU 960/1200
  • Submit Test Scores
  • NKU Test optional
  • CMU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • NKU Aug 15, 2027
  • CMU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • NKU 19:1
  • CMU 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • NKU
    • Business (26%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
  • CMU
    • Business (24%)
    • Education (16%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • NKU 37%
  • CMU 54%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • NKU $39,700
  • CMU $44,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • NKU 53%
  • CMU 54%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • NKU $24,950
  • CMU $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • NKU $257
  • CMU $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • NKU 37%
  • CMU 39%
  • % Women
  • NKU 63%
  • CMU 61%
  • Racial Diversity
  • NKU Very Low
  • CMU Low
  • HBCU
  • NKU No
  • CMU No
  • % White
  • NKU 82%
  • CMU 79%
  • % Asian
  • NKU 1%
  • CMU 1%
  • % Black
  • NKU 7%
  • CMU 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • NKU 3%
  • CMU 4%
  • % Native American
  • NKU 0%
  • CMU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • NKU 0%
  • CMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • NKU 2%
  • CMU 3%
  • % International
  • NKU 3%
  • CMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • NKU 1%
  • CMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • NKU 69%
  • CMU 88%
  • % Out-of-State
  • NKU 29%
  • CMU 9%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Northern Kentucky University in Highland Heights, KY with Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, MI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Northern Kentucky University is larger than CMU based on total student enrollment (15,347 students vs. 14,488 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Northern Kentucky University is located in Highland Heights, KY (Large Suburban setting); Central Michigan University is in Mount Pleasant, MI (Distant Town setting).
  • Northern Kentucky University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Central Michigan University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Northern Kentucky University 19:1; Central Michigan University 16:1.

NKU vs. CMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NKU or CMU? 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 CMU ($9,211 vs. $17,575).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Central Michigan University are 1.2% lower than at Northern Kentucky University ($12,564 vs. $12,712).
  • Central Michigan University is 33.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than NKU (about $3,672 more per year; $14,760.00 vs. $11,088.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 48.5% higher at NKU than at Central Michigan University (about $7,152 more per year; $21,912.00 vs. $14,760.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than at Central Michigan University (98% vs. 94%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Central Michigan University students is 26.2% larger than aid received by Northern Kentucky University students ($13,042 vs. $10,332).

NKU vs. CMU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Central Michigan University (1080) is 30 points higher than at NKU (1050).
  • Incoming CMU students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 21 at NKU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northern Kentucky University 953/1150; Central Michigan University 960/1200.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northern Kentucky University 18/25; Central Michigan University 21/27.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: NKU - Test optional; CMU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: NKU Aug 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman CMU students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.47) than students at NKU (3.42).
  • CMU has a higher acceptance rate (89.8%) than NKU (67.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 36.8% at NKU vs. 11.3% at CMU.

NKU vs. CMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for NKU and CMU? 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).

  • Central Michigan University's six-year graduation rate (54%) is higher than Northern Kentucky University's (37%).
  • Graduates from Central Michigan University earn a median of about $4,800 more per year than NKU graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,500 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 CMU graduates ($24,950 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, NKU graduates have an estimated $22 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.