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Michigan State WMU CMU Oakland Ferris State University Saginaw Valley State University WSU Michigan Kentucky Hope College University of Toledo Eastern Michigan University| Northern Kentucky University | Grand Valley State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
NKU | GVSU | ||
| Location | Highland Heights, KY | Allendale, MI | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 15,801 | 21,648 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #805 | #583 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | nku.edu | gvsu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
NKU | GVSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,208 | $13,952 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $20,464 | $19,856 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,248 | $10,140 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $7,259 | $17,105 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,275 | $8,811 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 93% |
Admission |
NKU | GVSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,905 | 17,123 | ||
| Admitted | 5,939 | 15,474 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 86% | 90.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 27.6% | 25% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.65 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Moderate | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 21/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 1030/1290 | 960/1210 | ||
| 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, 2025 | May 1, 2025 |
Academics |
NKU | GVSU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 15:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
NKU | GVSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 37% | 63% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,700 | $44,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 53% | 62% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,950 | $25,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $257 | $258 |
Diversity |
NKU | GVSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 36% | 38% | ||
| % Women | 64% | 62% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 82% | 83% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 5% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 3% | ||
| % International | 3% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 0% |
Students |
NKU | GVSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 66% | 91% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 26% | 8% | ||
Campus |
NKU | GVSU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Grand Valley State University is larger than than NKU based on total student enrollment (21,648 students vs. 15,801 students)
NKU vs. GVSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, NKU or GVSU?
- Grand Valley State University is 36.7% more expensive to attend than NKU for in-state tuition ($13,952.00 vs. $10,208.00)
- Out of state tuition is 3.1% higher at NKU than Grand Valley State University ($20,464.00 vs. $19,856.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than GVSU ($7,259 vs. $17,105)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Grand Valley State University are 10.9% lower than costs at Northern Kentucky University ($10,140 vs. $11,248)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than Grand Valley State University (100% vs. 93%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Kentucky University students is 28% larger than aid received Grand Valley State University ($11,275 vs. $8,811)
NKU vs. GVSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, NKU or GVSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between GVSU or NKU .
- The average SAT score at Grand Valley State University (1090) is 22 points higher than at NKU (1068)
- Incoming GVSU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at NKU (23)
- Accepted freshman GVSU students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at NKU (3.42)
- GVSU has a higher acceptance rate (90.4%) than NKU (86%)
NKU vs. GVSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, NKU or GVSU? 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 GVSU and NKU.
- The graduation rate at GVSU is higher than Northern Kentucky University (63% vs. 37%)
- Graduates from Grand Valley State University earn on average $4,900 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($44,600 vs. $39,700)
- Northern Kentucky University students graduate with a $50 lower median federal student loan debt than GVSU graduates. ($24,950 vs. $25,000)
- NKU graduates are paying $1 less per month on federal student loans than GVSU graduates. ($257 vs. $258)
- More GVSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NKU students, three years after graduation. (62% vs. 53%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/