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Kentucky University of Toledo Eastern Murray State University WKU Xavier UC Morehead State University Louisville BGSU Campbellsville University Middle Tennessee State University| Northern Kentucky University | Cumberland University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
NKU | CU | ||
| Location | Highland Heights, KY | Lebanon, TN | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 14,961 | 3,072 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #912 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | nku.edu | cumberland.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
NKU | CU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,512 | $26,640 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $21,096 | $26,640 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,660 | $10,360 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $8,151 | $17,669 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,492 | $23,749 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 100% |
Admission |
NKU | CU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,417 | 2,788 | ||
| Admitted | 6,162 | 1,868 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 96% | 67% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21% | 36% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.3 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | 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 | CU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
NKU | CU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 37% | 34% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,700 | $39,900 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 53% | 60% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,950 | $21,729 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $257 | $224 |
Diversity |
NKU | CU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 10% | 8% | ||
| % Women | 24% | 6% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 82% | 63% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 12% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 0% | ||
| % International | 3% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 16% |
Students |
NKU | CU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 71% | 88% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 28% | 8% | ||
Campus |
NKU | CU | ||
| 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 CU based on total student enrollment (14,961 students vs. 3,072 students)
NKU vs. CU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, NKU or CU?
- Cumberland University is 153.4% more expensive to attend than NKU for in-state tuition ($26,640.00 vs. $10,512.00)
- Out of state tuition is 26.3% higher at CU than Northern Kentucky University ($26,640.00 vs. $21,096.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than CU ($8,151 vs. $17,669)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cumberland University are 12.5% lower than costs at Northern Kentucky University ($10,360 vs. $11,660)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Cumberland University than Northern Kentucky University (100% vs. 98%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Cumberland University students is 106.7% larger than aid received Northern Kentucky University ($23,749 vs. $11,492)
NKU vs. CU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, NKU or CU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between CU or NKU .
- The average SAT score at Northern Kentucky University (1068) is 79 points higher than at CU (989)
- Incoming NKU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at CU (21)
- Accepted freshman NKU students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at CU (3.3)
- NKU has a higher acceptance rate (96%) than CU (67%)
NKU vs. CU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, NKU or CU? 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 CU and NKU.
- The graduation rate at NKU is higher than Cumberland University (37% vs. 34%)
- Graduates from Cumberland University earn on average $200 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($39,900 vs. $39,700)
- Cumberland University students graduate with a $3,221 lower median federal student loan debt than NKU graduates. ($21,729 vs. $24,950)
- CU graduates are paying $33 less per month on federal student loans than NKU graduates. ($224 vs. $257)
- More CU 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/