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Kentucky University of Toledo Eastern Murray State University WKU Xavier UC Morehead State University Louisville BGSU UWM BSU| Northern Kentucky University | Concordia University Wisconsin | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
NKU | CUW | ||
| Location | Highland Heights, KY | Mequon, WI | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Rural Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 14,961 | 5,063 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #912 | #432 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | nku.edu | cuw.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
NKU | CUW | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,512 | $33,750 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $21,096 | $33,750 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,660 | $12,700 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $8,151 | $28,060 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,492 | $23,693 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 100% |
Admission |
NKU | CUW | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,417 | 4,537 | ||
| Admitted | 6,162 | 3,064 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 96% | 67.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21% | 14.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.52 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Moderate | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 20/26 | ||
| SAT Range | 916/1133 | |||
| 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, 2026 |
Academics |
NKU | CUW | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
NKU | CUW | ||
| Graduation Rate | 37% | 58% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,700 | $46,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 53% | 52% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,950 | $23,925 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $257 | $247 |
Diversity |
NKU | CUW | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 10% | 20% | ||
| % Women | 24% | 30% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 82% | 72% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 15% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 2% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 3% | ||
| % International | 3% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 2% |
Students |
NKU | CUW | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 71% | 63% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 28% | 37% | ||
Campus |
NKU | CUW | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Northern Kentucky University is larger than than CUW based on total student enrollment (14,961 students vs. 5,063 students)
NKU vs. CUW Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, NKU or CUW?
- Concordia University Wisconsin is 221.1% more expensive to attend than NKU for in-state tuition ($33,750.00 vs. $10,512.00)
- Out of state tuition is 60% higher at CUW than Northern Kentucky University ($33,750.00 vs. $21,096.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than CUW ($8,151 vs. $28,060)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Kentucky University are 8.9% lower than costs at Concordia University Wisconsin ($11,660 vs. $12,700)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Concordia University Wisconsin than Northern Kentucky University (100% vs. 98%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Concordia University Wisconsin students is 106.2% larger than aid received Northern Kentucky University ($23,693 vs. $11,492)
NKU vs. CUW Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, NKU or CUW? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between CUW or NKU .
- The average SAT score at Northern Kentucky University (1068) is 2 points higher than at CUW (1066)
- Incoming NKU students have at the same average ACT score (23) as students at CUW (23)
- Accepted freshman CUW students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.52) than students at NKU (3.42)
- NKU has a higher acceptance rate (96%) than CUW (67.5%)
NKU vs. CUW Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, NKU or CUW? 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 CUW and NKU.
- The graduation rate at CUW is higher than Northern Kentucky University (58% vs. 37%)
- Graduates from Concordia University Wisconsin earn on average $6,400 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($46,100 vs. $39,700)
- Concordia University Wisconsin students graduate with a $1,025 lower median federal student loan debt than NKU graduates. ($23,925 vs. $24,950)
- CUW graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than NKU graduates. ($247 vs. $257)
- More NKU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CUW students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 52%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/