NKU vs. Cleary College

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

NKU Cleary College
Location Highland Heights, KY Howell, MI
Setting Large Suburban Midsize City
Enrollment 14,961 1,040
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #912 #796
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nku.edu cleary.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

NKU Cleary College
Tuition (In State) $10,512 $23,292
Tuition (Out of State) $21,096 $23,292
Room & Board $11,660 $12,800
Avg Net Price $8,151 $24,965
Avg Grant Aid $11,492 $13,563
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 98%

Admission

NKU Cleary College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,417 593
Admitted 6,162 295
Acceptance Rate 96% 49.7%Open
Enrolled % 21% 30.8%Open
Avg High School GPA 3.42 3.17
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Very Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/25 18/19
SAT Range 916/1133 950/1170
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 Jul 15, 2026

Academics

NKU Cleary College
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 21:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (26%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Business (79%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (16%)
  • Health Professions (5%)

Outcomes

NKU Cleary College
Graduation Rate 37% 59%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $39,700 $54,900
Making Student Loan Payments 53% 47%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,950 $30,227
Median Loan Payment $257 $312

Diversity

NKU Cleary College
% Men 10% 10%
% Women 24% 12%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 82% 79%
% Black 7% 5%
% Hispanic 3% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 0%
% International 3% 2%
% Unknown Race 1% 9%

Students

NKU Cleary College
% In-State 71% 82%
% Out-of-State 28% 12%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Northern Kentucky University is larger than than Cleary College based on total student enrollment (14,961 students vs. 1,040 students)

NKU vs. Cleary College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NKU or Cleary College?

  • Cleary University is 121.6% more expensive to attend than NKU for in-state tuition ($23,292.00 vs. $10,512.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 10.4% higher at Cleary College than Northern Kentucky University ($23,292.00 vs. $21,096.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than Cleary College ($8,151 vs. $24,965)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Kentucky University are 9.8% lower than costs at Cleary University ($11,660 vs. $12,800)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University as Cleary University (98% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cleary University students is 18% larger than aid received Northern Kentucky University ($13,563 vs. $11,492)

NKU vs. Cleary College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Northern Kentucky University (1068) is 118 points higher than at Cleary College (950)
  • Incoming NKU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Cleary College (20)
  • Accepted freshman NKU students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at Cleary College (3.17)
  • NKU has a higher acceptance rate (96%) than Cleary College (49.7%)

NKU vs. Cleary College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Cleary College is higher than Northern Kentucky University (59% vs. 37%)
  • Graduates from Cleary University earn on average $15,200 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($54,900 vs. $39,700)
  • Northern Kentucky University students graduate with a $5,277 lower median federal student loan debt than Cleary College graduates. ($24,950 vs. $30,227)
  • NKU graduates are paying $55 less per month on federal student loans than Cleary College graduates. ($257 vs. $312)
  • More NKU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cleary College students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 47%)

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