Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Kentucky University of Toledo Eastern Murray State University WKU Xavier UC Morehead State University Louisville BGSU BSU Kent State| Northern Kentucky University | Columbus College of Art and Design | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
NKU | CCAD | ||
| Location | Highland Heights, KY | Columbus, OH | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 14,961 | 918 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #912 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | nku.edu | ccad.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
NKU | CCAD | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,512 | $39,150 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $21,096 | $39,150 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,660 | $11,450 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $8,151 | $30,900 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,492 | $21,807 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 98% |
Admission |
NKU | CCAD | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,417 | 867 | ||
| Admitted | 6,162 | 622 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 96% | 71.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21% | 30.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Unavailable | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| 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, 2026 |
Academics |
NKU | CCAD | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 9:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
NKU | CCAD | ||
| Graduation Rate | 37% | 64% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,700 | $38,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 53% | 63% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,950 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $257 | $279 |
Diversity |
NKU | CCAD | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 10% | 1% | ||
| % Women | 24% | 2% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 82% | 66% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 10% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 5% | ||
| % International | 3% | 7% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 3% |
Students |
NKU | CCAD | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 71% | 69% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 28% | 22% | ||
Campus |
NKU | CCAD | ||
| 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 CCAD based on total student enrollment (14,961 students vs. 918 students)
NKU vs. CCAD Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, NKU or CCAD?
- Columbus College of Art and Design is 272.4% more expensive to attend than NKU for in-state tuition ($39,150.00 vs. $10,512.00)
- Out of state tuition is 85.6% higher at CCAD than Northern Kentucky University ($39,150.00 vs. $21,096.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than CCAD ($8,151 vs. $30,900)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbus College of Art and Design are 1.8% lower than costs at Northern Kentucky University ($11,450 vs. $11,660)
- The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University as Columbus College of Art and Design (98% vs. 98%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Columbus College of Art and Design students is 89.8% larger than aid received Northern Kentucky University ($21,807 vs. $11,492)
NKU vs. CCAD Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, NKU or CCAD? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between CCAD or NKU .
- NKU has a higher acceptance rate (96%) than CCAD (71.7%)
NKU vs. CCAD Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, NKU or CCAD? 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 CCAD and NKU.
- The graduation rate at CCAD is higher than Northern Kentucky University (64% vs. 37%)
- Graduates from Northern Kentucky University earn on average $1,600 more per year than CCAD graduates after ten years. ($39,700 vs. $38,100)
- Northern Kentucky University students graduate with a $2,050 lower median federal student loan debt than CCAD graduates. ($24,950 vs. $27,000)
- NKU graduates are paying $22 less per month on federal student loans than CCAD graduates. ($257 vs. $279)
- More CCAD 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/