NKU vs. Cleveland State

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

NKU Cleveland State
Location Highland Heights, KY Cleveland, OH
Setting Large Suburban Large City
Enrollment 15,801 14,385
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #805 #769
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nku.edu csuohio.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

NKU Cleveland State
Tuition (In State) $10,208 $12,144
Tuition (Out of State) $20,464 $17,359
Room & Board $11,248 $14,197
Avg Net Price $7,259 $15,719
Avg Grant Aid $11,275 $9,436
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 91%

Admission

NKU Cleveland State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,905 11,570
Admitted 5,939 9,872
Acceptance Rate 86% 85.3%
Enrolled % 27.6% 16.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.42 3.31
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/25 18/25
SAT Range 1030/1290 880/1130
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 Aug 15, 2025

Academics

NKU Cleveland State
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (26%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

NKU Cleveland State
Graduation Rate 37% 30%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $39,700 $44,200
Making Student Loan Payments 53% 47%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,950 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $257 $222

Diversity

NKU Cleveland State
% Men 36% 46%
% Women 64% 54%
Racial Diversity Very Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 82% 64%
% Black 7% 17%
% Hispanic 3% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 3% 5%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

NKU Cleveland State
% In-State 66% 85%
% Out-of-State 26% 7%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Northern Kentucky University is larger than than Cleveland State based on total student enrollment (15,801 students vs. 14,385 students)

NKU vs. Cleveland State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NKU or Cleveland State?

  • Cleveland State University is 19% more expensive to attend than NKU for in-state tuition ($12,144.00 vs. $10,208.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 17.9% higher at NKU than Cleveland State University ($20,464.00 vs. $17,359.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than Cleveland State ($7,259 vs. $15,719)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Kentucky University are 26.2% lower than costs at Cleveland State University ($11,248 vs. $14,197)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than Cleveland State University (100% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Kentucky University students is 19.5% larger than aid received Cleveland State University ($11,275 vs. $9,436)

NKU vs. Cleveland State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Northern Kentucky University (1068) is 40 points higher than at Cleveland State (1028)
  • Incoming NKU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Cleveland State (22)
  • Accepted freshman NKU students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at Cleveland State (3.31)
  • NKU has a higher acceptance rate (86%) than Cleveland State (85.3%)

NKU vs. Cleveland State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, NKU or Cleveland State? 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 Cleveland State and NKU.

  • The graduation rate at NKU is higher than Cleveland State University (37% vs. 30%)
  • Graduates from Cleveland State University earn on average $4,500 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($44,200 vs. $39,700)
  • Cleveland State University students graduate with a $3,450 lower median federal student loan debt than NKU graduates. ($21,500 vs. $24,950)
  • Cleveland State graduates are paying $35 less per month on federal student loans than NKU graduates. ($222 vs. $257)
  • More NKU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cleveland State 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/