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BGSU Cleveland State Ohio University Ohio State University of Akron University of Dayton Kentucky WVU Youngstown State UC University of Toledo Miami| Northern Kentucky University | Kent State University at Kent | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
NKU | Kent State | ||
| Location | Highland Heights, KY | Kent, OH | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 15,801 | 25,854 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #805 | #839 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | nku.edu | kent.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
NKU | Kent State | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,208 | $12,304 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $20,464 | $21,410 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,248 | $12,676 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $7,259 | $19,046 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,275 | $9,539 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 96% |
Admission |
NKU | Kent State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,905 | 20,369 | ||
| Admitted | 5,939 | 17,929 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 86% | 88% | ||
| Enrolled % | 27.6% | 23.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.61 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Moderate | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 18/25 | ||
| SAT Range | 1030/1290 | 990/1220 | ||
| 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 | Aug 1, 2025 |
Academics |
NKU | Kent State | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 19:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
NKU | Kent State | ||
| Graduation Rate | 37% | 50% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,700 | $40,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 53% | 46% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,950 | $25,825 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $257 | $267 |
Diversity |
NKU | Kent State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 36% | 37% | ||
| % Women | 64% | 63% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 82% | 75% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 9% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 3% | ||
| % International | 3% | 6% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 3% |
Students |
NKU | Kent State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 66% | 80% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 26% | 18% | ||
Campus |
NKU | Kent State | ||
| 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
- Kent State University at Kent is larger than than NKU based on total student enrollment (25,854 students vs. 15,801 students)
NKU vs. Kent State Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, NKU or Kent State?
- Kent State University at Kent is 20.5% more expensive to attend than NKU for in-state tuition ($12,304.00 vs. $10,208.00)
- Out of state tuition is 4.6% higher at Kent State than Northern Kentucky University ($21,410.00 vs. $20,464.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than Kent State ($7,259 vs. $19,046)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Kentucky University are 12.7% lower than costs at Kent State University at Kent ($11,248 vs. $12,676)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than Kent State University at Kent (100% vs. 96%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Kentucky University students is 18.2% larger than aid received Kent State University at Kent ($11,275 vs. $9,539)
NKU vs. Kent State Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, NKU or Kent State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Kent State or NKU .
- The average SAT score at Northern Kentucky University (1068) is 1 points higher than at Kent State (1067)
- Incoming NKU students have at the same average ACT score (23) as students at Kent State (23)
- Accepted freshman Kent State students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at NKU (3.42)
- Kent State has a higher acceptance rate (88%) than NKU (86%)
NKU vs. Kent State Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, NKU or Kent 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 Kent State and NKU.
- The graduation rate at Kent State is higher than Northern Kentucky University (50% vs. 37%)
- Graduates from Kent State University at Kent earn on average $600 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($40,300 vs. $39,700)
- Northern Kentucky University students graduate with a $875 lower median federal student loan debt than Kent State graduates. ($24,950 vs. $25,825)
- NKU graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than Kent State graduates. ($257 vs. $267)
- More NKU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Kent State students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 46%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/