NKU vs. Hiwassee College

Should I go to Northern Kentucky University or Hiwassee College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if NKU or Hiwassee College 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. Hiwassee College comparison
Northern Kentucky University Hiwassee College College 3 College 4
Northern Kentucky University
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Overview

NKU Hiwassee College
Location Highland Heights, KY Madisonville, TN
Setting Large Suburban Rural Fringe
Enrollment 14,961 253
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #912
Religious Affiliation - United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nku.edu hiwassee.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

NKU Hiwassee College
Tuition (In State) $10,512 $18,484
Tuition (Out of State) $21,096 $18,484
Room & Board $11,660 $7,987
Avg Net Price $8,151 -
Avg Grant Aid $11,492 $0
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 0%

Admission

NKU Hiwassee College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,417 -
Admitted 6,162 -
Acceptance Rate 96%
Enrolled % 21%
Avg High School GPA 3.42 -
Typical High School Grades B+ -
Admissions Standards Very Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/25
SAT Range 916/1133
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2026

Academics

NKU Hiwassee College
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 8:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (26%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (48%)
  • Business (30%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Agriculture (4%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (4%)

Outcomes

NKU Hiwassee College
Graduation Rate 37% -
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $39,700 $30,000
Making Student Loan Payments 53% 40%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,950 $17,750
Median Loan Payment $257 $183

Diversity

NKU Hiwassee College
% Men 10% 43%
% Women 24% 57%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 82% 78%
% Black 7% 16%
% Hispanic 3% 2%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 1%
% International 3% 2%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

NKU Hiwassee College
% In-State 71% 89%
% Out-of-State 28% 11%

Campus

NKU Hiwassee College
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 Hiwassee College based on total student enrollment (14,961 students vs. 253 students)

NKU vs. Hiwassee College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NKU or Hiwassee College?

  • Hiwassee College is 75.8% more expensive to attend than NKU for in-state tuition ($18,484.00 vs. $10,512.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 14.1% higher at NKU than Hiwassee College ($21,096.00 vs. $18,484.00)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Hiwassee College are 46% lower than costs at Northern Kentucky University ($7,987 vs. $11,660)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than Hiwassee College (98% vs. 0%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Kentucky University students is ?% larger than aid received Hiwassee College ($11,492 vs. $0)

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

  • The average SAT score at Northern Kentucky University (1068) is 121 points higher than at Hiwassee College (947)
  • Incoming NKU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Hiwassee College (20)

NKU vs. Hiwassee College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, NKU or Hiwassee College? 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 Hiwassee College and NKU.

  • Graduates from Northern Kentucky University earn on average $9,700 more per year than Hiwassee College graduates after ten years. ($39,700 vs. $30,000)
  • Hiwassee College students graduate with a $7,200 lower median federal student loan debt than NKU graduates. ($17,750 vs. $24,950)
  • Hiwassee College graduates are paying $74 less per month on federal student loans than NKU graduates. ($183 vs. $257)
  • More NKU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hiwassee College students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 40%)

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