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Kentucky University of Toledo WVSU Eastern WVU Murray State University Marshall University WKU Xavier UC Morehead State University Louisville| Northern Kentucky University | Fairmont State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
NKU | Fairmont State | ||
| Location | Highland Heights, KY | Fairmont, WV | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 14,961 | 3,307 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #912 | #947 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | nku.edu | fairmontstate.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
NKU | Fairmont State | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,512 | $6,468 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $21,096 | $16,174 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,660 | $11,486 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $8,151 | $10,993 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,492 | $7,034 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 92% |
Admission |
NKU | Fairmont State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,417 | 1,979 | ||
| Admitted | 6,162 | 1,964 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 96% | 99.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21% | 34.3% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.36 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 17/23 | ||
| SAT Range | 916/1133 | 830/1040 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Required to be considered for admission | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 15, 2026 |
Academics |
NKU | Fairmont State | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
NKU | Fairmont State | ||
| Graduation Rate | 37% | 33% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,700 | $37,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 53% | 43% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,950 | $22,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $257 | $227 |
Diversity |
NKU | Fairmont State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 10% | 3% | ||
| % Women | 24% | 5% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 82% | 86% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 5% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 2% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 3% | ||
| % International | 3% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
NKU | Fairmont State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 71% | 87% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 28% | 11% | ||
Campus |
NKU | Fairmont State | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | Yes | ||
| 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 Fairmont State based on total student enrollment (14,961 students vs. 3,307 students)
NKU vs. Fairmont State Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, NKU or Fairmont State ?
- Northern Kentucky University is 62.5% more expensive to attend than Fairmont State for in-state tuition ($10,512.00 vs. $6,468.00)
- Out of state tuition is 30.4% higher at NKU than Fairmont State University ($21,096.00 vs. $16,174.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than Fairmont State ($8,151 vs. $10,993)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fairmont State University are 1.5% lower than costs at Northern Kentucky University ($11,486 vs. $11,660)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than Fairmont State University (98% vs. 92%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Kentucky University students is 63.4% larger than aid received Fairmont State University ($11,492 vs. $7,034)
NKU vs. Fairmont State Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, NKU or Fairmont State ? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Fairmont State or NKU .
- The average SAT score at Northern Kentucky University (1068) is 106 points higher than at Fairmont State (962)
- Incoming NKU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Fairmont State (21)
- Accepted freshman NKU students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at Fairmont State (3.36)
- Fairmont State has a higher acceptance rate (99.2%) than NKU (96%)
NKU vs. Fairmont State Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, NKU or Fairmont 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 Fairmont State and NKU.
- The graduation rate at NKU is higher than Fairmont State University (37% vs. 33%)
- Graduates from Northern Kentucky University earn on average $2,100 more per year than Fairmont State graduates after ten years. ($39,700 vs. $37,600)
- Fairmont State University students graduate with a $2,950 lower median federal student loan debt than NKU graduates. ($22,000 vs. $24,950)
- Fairmont State graduates are paying $30 less per month on federal student loans than NKU graduates. ($227 vs. $257)
- More NKU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fairmont State students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 43%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/