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University of Dayton Kent State BGSU UC Ohio State WSU Kentucky Gannon University Lewis University University of Akron Youngstown State Case Western| Northern Kentucky University | Cleveland State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
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 | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 16:1 | ||
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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/