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EWU Washington State Western Washington University Kentucky UW-Seattle University of Toledo Eastern UWB Murray State University WKU UWT Xavier| Northern Kentucky University | Central Washington University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
NKU | Central Washington University | ||
| Location | Highland Heights, KY | Ellensburg, WA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 14,961 | 8,796 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #912 | #667 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | nku.edu | cwu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
NKU | Central Washington University | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,512 | $7,021 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $21,096 | $24,600 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,660 | $16,314 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $8,151 | $15,558 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,492 | $8,970 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 90% |
Admission |
NKU | Central Washington University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,417 | 6,829 | ||
| Admitted | 6,162 | 6,161 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 96% | 90.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21% | 25.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.08 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 17/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 916/1133 | 930/1150 | ||
| 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 | Mar 1, 2026 |
Academics |
NKU | Central Washington University | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
NKU | Central Washington University | ||
| Graduation Rate | 37% | 56% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,700 | $47,800 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 53% | 60% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,950 | $20,737 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $257 | $214 |
Diversity |
NKU | Central Washington University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 10% | 2% | ||
| % Women | 24% | 3% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 82% | 59% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 14% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 7% | ||
| % International | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 9% |
Students |
NKU | Central Washington University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 71% | 93% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 28% | 6% | ||
Campus |
NKU | Central Washington University | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Northern Kentucky University is larger than than Central Washington University based on total student enrollment (14,961 students vs. 8,796 students)
NKU vs. Central Washington University Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, NKU or Central Washington University?
- Northern Kentucky University is 49.7% more expensive to attend than Central Washington University for in-state tuition ($10,512.00 vs. $7,021.00)
- Out of state tuition is 16.6% higher at Central Washington University than Northern Kentucky University ($24,600.00 vs. $21,096.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than Central Washington University ($8,151 vs. $15,558)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Kentucky University are 39.9% lower than costs at Central Washington University ($11,660 vs. $16,314)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than Central Washington University (98% vs. 90%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Kentucky University students is 28.1% larger than aid received Central Washington University ($11,492 vs. $8,970)
NKU vs. Central Washington University Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, NKU or Central Washington University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Central Washington University or NKU .
- The average SAT score at Northern Kentucky University (1068) is 90 points higher than at Central Washington University (978)
- Incoming NKU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Central Washington University (21)
- Accepted freshman NKU students have a 0.34 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at Central Washington University (3.08)
- NKU has a higher acceptance rate (96%) than Central Washington University (90.2%)
NKU vs. Central Washington University Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, NKU or Central Washington University? 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 Central Washington University and NKU.
- The graduation rate at Central Washington University is higher than Northern Kentucky University (56% vs. 37%)
- Graduates from Central Washington University earn on average $8,100 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($47,800 vs. $39,700)
- Central Washington University students graduate with a $4,213 lower median federal student loan debt than NKU graduates. ($20,737 vs. $24,950)
- Central Washington University graduates are paying $43 less per month on federal student loans than NKU graduates. ($214 vs. $257)
- More Central Washington University 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/