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Kentucky University of Toledo Eastern Murray State University WKU Xavier UC Morehead State University Louisville BGSU BSU Kent State| Northern Kentucky University | College for Creative Studies | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
NKU | CCS | ||
| Location | Highland Heights, KY | Detroit, MI | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 14,961 | 1,459 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #912 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | nku.edu | collegeforcreativestudies.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
NKU | CCS | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,512 | $49,950 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $21,096 | $49,950 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,660 | $11,040 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $8,151 | $34,436 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,492 | $26,983 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 99% |
Admission |
NKU | CCS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,417 | 1,132 | ||
| Admitted | 6,162 | 1,050 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 96% | 92.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21% | 25% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.19 | ||
| 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) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 15, 2025 |
Academics |
NKU | CCS | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 10:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
NKU | CCS | ||
| Graduation Rate | 37% | 57% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,700 | $46,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 53% | 60% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,950 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $257 | $279 |
Diversity |
NKU | CCS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 10% | 2% | ||
| % Women | 24% | 2% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 82% | 58% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 10% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 4% | ||
| % International | 3% | 7% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 11% |
Students |
NKU | CCS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 71% | 76% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 28% | 18% | ||
Campus |
NKU | CCS | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Northern Kentucky University is larger than than CCS based on total student enrollment (14,961 students vs. 1,459 students)
NKU vs. CCS Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, NKU or CCS?
- College for Creative Studies is 375.2% more expensive to attend than NKU for in-state tuition ($49,950.00 vs. $10,512.00)
- Out of state tuition is 136.8% higher at CCS than Northern Kentucky University ($49,950.00 vs. $21,096.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than CCS ($8,151 vs. $34,436)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College for Creative Studies are 5.6% lower than costs at Northern Kentucky University ($11,040 vs. $11,660)
- More students receive financial grant aid at College for Creative Studies than Northern Kentucky University (99% vs. 98%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by College for Creative Studies students is 134.8% larger than aid received Northern Kentucky University ($26,983 vs. $11,492)
NKU vs. CCS Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, NKU or CCS? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between CCS or NKU .
- The average SAT score at College for Creative Studies (1070) is 2 points higher than at NKU (1068)
- Incoming NKU students have at the same average ACT score (23) as students at CCS (23)
- Accepted freshman NKU students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at CCS (3.19)
- NKU has a higher acceptance rate (96%) than CCS (92.8%)
NKU vs. CCS Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, NKU or CCS? 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 CCS and NKU.
- The graduation rate at CCS is higher than Northern Kentucky University (57% vs. 37%)
- Graduates from College for Creative Studies earn on average $6,400 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($46,100 vs. $39,700)
- Northern Kentucky University students graduate with a $2,050 lower median federal student loan debt than CCS graduates. ($24,950 vs. $27,000)
- NKU graduates are paying $22 less per month on federal student loans than CCS graduates. ($257 vs. $279)
- More CCS 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/