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Xavier Kentucky University of Toledo University of Dayton Ohio State Eastern Baldwin-Wallace College Duquesne University Kent State Murray State University Miami WKU| Northern Kentucky University | John Carroll University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
NKU | JCU | ||
| Location | Highland Heights, KY | University Heights, OH | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 15,801 | 2,922 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #805 | #286 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Roman Catholic | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | nku.edu | jcu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
NKU | JCU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,208 | $45,490 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $20,464 | $45,490 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,248 | $13,200 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $7,259 | $30,496 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,275 | $30,415 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 100% |
Admission |
NKU | JCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,905 | 4,310 | ||
| Admitted | 5,939 | 3,550 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 86% | 82.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 27.6% | 15.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.66 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 25/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 1030/1290 | 1160/1320 | ||
| 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 |
Academics |
NKU | JCU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 14:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
NKU | JCU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 37% | 71% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,700 | $57,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 53% | 74% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,950 | $26,939 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $257 | $278 |
Diversity |
NKU | JCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 36% | 52% | ||
| % Women | 64% | 48% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 82% | 86% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 2% | ||
| % International | 3% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
NKU | JCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 66% | 66% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 26% | 34% | ||
Campus |
NKU | JCU | ||
| 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 JCU based on total student enrollment (15,801 students vs. 2,922 students)
NKU vs. JCU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, NKU or JCU?
- John Carroll University is 345.6% more expensive to attend than NKU for in-state tuition ($45,490.00 vs. $10,208.00)
- Out of state tuition is 122.3% higher at JCU than Northern Kentucky University ($45,490.00 vs. $20,464.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than JCU ($7,259 vs. $30,496)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Kentucky University are 17.4% lower than costs at John Carroll University ($11,248 vs. $13,200)
- The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University as John Carroll University (100% vs. 100%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by John Carroll University students is 169.8% larger than aid received Northern Kentucky University ($30,415 vs. $11,275)
NKU vs. JCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, NKU or JCU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between JCU or NKU .
- The average SAT score at John Carroll University (1127) is 59 points higher than at NKU (1068)
- Incoming JCU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at NKU (23)
- Accepted freshman JCU students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.66) than students at NKU (3.42)
- NKU has a higher acceptance rate (86%) than JCU (82.4%)
NKU vs. JCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, NKU or JCU? 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 JCU and NKU.
- The graduation rate at JCU is higher than Northern Kentucky University (71% vs. 37%)
- Graduates from John Carroll University earn on average $17,900 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($57,600 vs. $39,700)
- Northern Kentucky University students graduate with a $1,989 lower median federal student loan debt than JCU graduates. ($24,950 vs. $26,939)
- NKU graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than JCU graduates. ($257 vs. $278)
- More JCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NKU students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 53%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/