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Kentucky University of Toledo Eastern Murray State University WKU Xavier UC Morehead State University Louisville BGSU BSU Kent State| Northern Kentucky University | Lake Erie College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
NKU | LEC | ||
| Location | Highland Heights, KY | Painesville, OH | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 14,961 | 942 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #912 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | nku.edu | lec.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
NKU | LEC | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,512 | $34,596 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $21,096 | $34,596 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,660 | $11,592 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $8,151 | $22,322 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,492 | $26,289 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 100% |
Admission |
NKU | LEC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,417 | 1,193 | ||
| Admitted | 6,162 | 765 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 96% | 64.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21% | 24.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.19 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 18/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 916/1133 | 945/1115 | ||
| 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 | Aug 1, 2026 |
Academics |
NKU | LEC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
NKU | LEC | ||
| Graduation Rate | 37% | 53% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,700 | $36,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 53% | 62% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,950 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $257 | $279 |
Diversity |
NKU | LEC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 10% | 8% | ||
| % Women | 24% | 13% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 82% | 77% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 10% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 2% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 3% | ||
| % International | 3% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 3% |
Students |
NKU | LEC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 71% | 54% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 28% | 40% | ||
Campus |
NKU | LEC | ||
| 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 LEC based on total student enrollment (14,961 students vs. 942 students)
NKU vs. LEC Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, NKU or LEC?
- Lake Erie College is 229.1% more expensive to attend than NKU for in-state tuition ($34,596.00 vs. $10,512.00)
- Out of state tuition is 64% higher at LEC than Northern Kentucky University ($34,596.00 vs. $21,096.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than LEC ($8,151 vs. $22,322)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lake Erie College are 0.6% lower than costs at Northern Kentucky University ($11,592 vs. $11,660)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Lake Erie College than Northern Kentucky University (100% vs. 98%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Lake Erie College students is 128.8% larger than aid received Northern Kentucky University ($26,289 vs. $11,492)
NKU vs. LEC Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, NKU or LEC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between LEC or NKU .
- The average SAT score at Northern Kentucky University (1068) is 79 points higher than at LEC (989)
- Incoming NKU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at LEC (21)
- Accepted freshman NKU students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at LEC (3.19)
- NKU has a higher acceptance rate (96%) than LEC (64.1%)
NKU vs. LEC Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, NKU or LEC? 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 LEC and NKU.
- The graduation rate at LEC is higher than Northern Kentucky University (53% vs. 37%)
- Graduates from Northern Kentucky University earn on average $3,100 more per year than LEC graduates after ten years. ($39,700 vs. $36,600)
- Northern Kentucky University students graduate with a $2,050 lower median federal student loan debt than LEC graduates. ($24,950 vs. $27,000)
- NKU graduates are paying $22 less per month on federal student loans than LEC graduates. ($257 vs. $279)
- More LEC 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/