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Regent University Lee University Cedarville University Kentucky JMU University of Toledo Messiah College Eastern Columbia International University Mason Murray State University WKU| Northern Kentucky University | Liberty University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
NKU | Liberty University | ||
| Location | Highland Heights, KY | Lynchburg, VA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 15,801 | 96,709 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #805 | #852 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Baptist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | nku.edu | liberty.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
NKU | Liberty University | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,208 | $21,374 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $20,464 | $21,374 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,248 | $12,350 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $7,259 | $29,913 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,275 | $12,471 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 98% |
Admission |
NKU | Liberty University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,905 | 30,943 | ||
| Admitted | 5,939 | 30,723 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 86% | 99.3%Open | ||
| Enrolled % | 27.6% | 19.9%Open | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.56 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 21/29 | ||
| SAT Range | 1030/1290 | 1040/1250 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 15, 2025 |
Academics |
NKU | Liberty University | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
NKU | Liberty University | ||
| Graduation Rate | 37% | 47% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,700 | $39,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 53% | 36% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,950 | $24,166 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $257 | $249 |
Diversity |
NKU | Liberty University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 36% | 41% | ||
| % Women | 64% | 59% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 82% | 46% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 13% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 2% | ||
| % International | 3% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 31% |
Students |
NKU | Liberty University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 66% | 22% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 26% | 76% | ||
Campus |
NKU | Liberty University | ||
| 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
- Liberty University is larger than than NKU based on total student enrollment (96,709 students vs. 15,801 students)
NKU vs. Liberty University Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, NKU or Liberty University?
- Liberty University is 109.4% more expensive to attend than NKU for in-state tuition ($21,374.00 vs. $10,208.00)
- Out of state tuition is 4.4% higher at Liberty University than Northern Kentucky University ($21,374.00 vs. $20,464.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than Liberty University ($7,259 vs. $29,913)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Kentucky University are 9.8% lower than costs at Liberty University ($11,248 vs. $12,350)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than Liberty University (100% vs. 98%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Liberty University students is 10.6% larger than aid received Northern Kentucky University ($12,471 vs. $11,275)
NKU vs. Liberty University Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, NKU or Liberty University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Liberty University or NKU .
- The average SAT score at Liberty University (1070) is 2 points higher than at NKU (1068)
- Incoming Liberty University students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at NKU (23)
- Accepted freshman Liberty University students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at NKU (3.42)
- Liberty University has a higher acceptance rate (99.3%) than NKU (86%)
NKU vs. Liberty University Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, NKU or Liberty University? 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 Liberty University and NKU.
- The graduation rate at Liberty University is higher than Northern Kentucky University (47% vs. 37%)
- Graduates from Northern Kentucky University earn on average $600 more per year than Liberty University graduates after ten years. ($39,700 vs. $39,100)
- Liberty University students graduate with a $784 lower median federal student loan debt than NKU graduates. ($24,166 vs. $24,950)
- Liberty University graduates are paying $8 less per month on federal student loans than NKU graduates. ($249 vs. $257)
- More NKU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Liberty University students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 36%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/