NKU vs. Frostburg State University

Should I go to Northern Kentucky University or Frostburg State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if NKU or Frostburg State University is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Northern Kentucky University vs. Frostburg State University comparison
Northern Kentucky University Frostburg State University College 3 College 4
Northern Kentucky University Frostburg State University
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Overview

NKU Frostburg State University
Location Highland Heights, KY Frostburg, MD
Setting Large Suburban Small Suburban
Enrollment 14,961 4,075
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #912 #701
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nku.edu frostburg.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

NKU Frostburg State University
Tuition (In State) $10,512 $7,110
Tuition (Out of State) $21,096 $22,292
Room & Board $11,660 $12,502
Avg Net Price $8,151 $16,521
Avg Grant Aid $11,492 $9,767
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 92%

Admission

NKU Frostburg State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,417 4,556
Admitted 6,162 4,075
Acceptance Rate 96% 89.4%
Enrolled % 21% 15.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.42 3.5
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/25 17/25
SAT Range 916/1133 980/1200
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 Feb 15, 2026

Academics

NKU Frostburg State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (26%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)

Outcomes

NKU Frostburg State University
Graduation Rate 37% 45%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $39,700 $45,900
Making Student Loan Payments 53% 59%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,950 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $257 $222

Diversity

NKU Frostburg State University
% Men 10% 7%
% Women 24% 11%
Racial Diversity Very Low High
HBCU No No
% White 82% 55%
% Black 7% 31%
% Hispanic 3% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 4%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

NKU Frostburg State University
% In-State 71% 81%
% Out-of-State 28% 18%

Campus

NKU Frostburg State University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Northern Kentucky University is larger than than Frostburg State University based on total student enrollment (14,961 students vs. 4,075 students)

NKU vs. Frostburg State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NKU or Frostburg State University?

  • Northern Kentucky University is 47.8% more expensive to attend than Frostburg State University for in-state tuition ($10,512.00 vs. $7,110.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 5.7% higher at Frostburg State University than Northern Kentucky University ($22,292.00 vs. $21,096.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than Frostburg State University ($8,151 vs. $16,521)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Kentucky University are 7.2% lower than costs at Frostburg State University ($11,660 vs. $12,502)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than Frostburg State University (98% vs. 92%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Kentucky University students is 17.7% larger than aid received Frostburg State University ($11,492 vs. $9,767)

NKU vs. Frostburg State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, NKU or Frostburg State University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Frostburg State University or NKU .

  • The average SAT score at Northern Kentucky University (1068) is 113 points higher than at Frostburg State University (955)
  • Incoming NKU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Frostburg State University (20)
  • Accepted freshman Frostburg State University students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at NKU (3.42)
  • NKU has a higher acceptance rate (96%) than Frostburg State University (89.4%)

NKU vs. Frostburg State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, NKU or Frostburg State University? 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 Frostburg State University and NKU.

  • The graduation rate at Frostburg State University is higher than Northern Kentucky University (45% vs. 37%)
  • Graduates from Frostburg State University earn on average $6,200 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($45,900 vs. $39,700)
  • Frostburg State University students graduate with a $3,450 lower median federal student loan debt than NKU graduates. ($21,500 vs. $24,950)
  • Frostburg State University graduates are paying $35 less per month on federal student loans than NKU graduates. ($222 vs. $257)
  • More Frostburg State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NKU students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 53%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/