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Kentucky University of Toledo Eastern PennWest California Murray State University Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus WKU Xavier UC Morehead State University Louisville BGSU| Northern Kentucky University | PennWest Clarion | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
NKU | PennWest Clarion | ||
| Location | Highland Heights, KY | Clarion, PA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Remote Town | ||
| Enrollment | 14,961 | 3,922 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #912 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | nku.edu | clarion.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
NKU | PennWest Clarion | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,512 | $7,716 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $21,096 | $11,574 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,660 | $12,930 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $8,151 | - | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,492 | $0 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 0% |
Admission |
NKU | PennWest Clarion | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,417 | - | ||
| Admitted | 6,162 | - | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 96% | |||
| Enrolled % | 21% | |||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.5 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | 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) | |||
| Application Deadline | Aug 15, 2026 |
Academics |
NKU | PennWest Clarion | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
NKU | PennWest Clarion | ||
| Graduation Rate | 37% | 49% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,700 | $39,200 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 53% | 63% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,950 | $26,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $257 | $268 |
Diversity |
NKU | PennWest Clarion | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 10% | 28% | ||
| % Women | 24% | 72% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 82% | 83% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 8% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 3% | ||
| % International | 3% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 2% |
Students |
NKU | PennWest Clarion | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 71% | 94% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 28% | 5% | ||
Campus |
NKU | PennWest Clarion | ||
| 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 PennWest Clarion based on total student enrollment (14,961 students vs. 3,922 students)
NKU vs. PennWest Clarion Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, NKU or PennWest Clarion?
- Northern Kentucky University is 36.2% more expensive to attend than PennWest Clarion for in-state tuition ($10,512.00 vs. $7,716.00)
- Out of state tuition is 82.3% higher at NKU than PennWest Clarion ($21,096.00 vs. $11,574.00)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Kentucky University are 10.9% lower than costs at PennWest Clarion ($11,660 vs. $12,930)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than PennWest Clarion (98% vs. 0%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Kentucky University students is ?% larger than aid received PennWest Clarion ($11,492 vs. $0)
Which college is harder to get into, NKU or PennWest Clarion? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between PennWest Clarion or NKU .
- The average SAT score at Northern Kentucky University (1068) is 134 points higher than at PennWest Clarion (934)
- Incoming NKU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at PennWest Clarion (20)
- Accepted freshman PennWest Clarion students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at NKU (3.42)
NKU vs. PennWest Clarion Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, NKU or PennWest Clarion? 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 PennWest Clarion and NKU.
- The graduation rate at PennWest Clarion is higher than Northern Kentucky University (49% vs. 37%)
- Graduates from Northern Kentucky University earn on average $500 more per year than PennWest Clarion graduates after ten years. ($39,700 vs. $39,200)
- Northern Kentucky University students graduate with a $1,050 lower median federal student loan debt than PennWest Clarion graduates. ($24,950 vs. $26,000)
- NKU graduates are paying $11 less per month on federal student loans than PennWest Clarion graduates. ($257 vs. $268)
- More PennWest Clarion graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NKU students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 53%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/