NKU vs. Livingstone College

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

NKU Livingstone College
Location Highland Heights, KY Salisbury, NC
Setting Large Suburban Distant Town
Enrollment 14,961 814
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #912
Religious Affiliation - African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nku.edu livingstone.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

NKU Livingstone College
Tuition (In State) $10,512 $15,917
Tuition (Out of State) $21,096 $15,917
Room & Board $11,660 $6,794
Avg Net Price $8,151 $15,162
Avg Grant Aid $11,492 $13,065
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 100%

Admission

NKU Livingstone College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,417 4,748
Admitted 6,162 3,518
Acceptance Rate 96% 74.1%
Enrolled % 21% 7.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.42 2.64
Typical High School Grades B+ C+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/25 14/21
SAT Range 916/1133 800/960
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 Livingstone College
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (26%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (19%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Human Services (13%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)

Outcomes

NKU Livingstone College
Graduation Rate 37% 28%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $39,700 $24,200
Making Student Loan Payments 53% 13%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,950 $42,000
Median Loan Payment $257 $434

Diversity

NKU Livingstone College
% Men 10% 1%
% Women 24% 1%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 82% 0%
% Black 7% 81%
% Hispanic 3% 1%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 0%
% International 3% 0%
% Unknown Race 1% 17%

Students

NKU Livingstone College
% In-State 71% 49%
% Out-of-State 28% 48%

Campus

NKU Livingstone College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No Yes
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 Livingstone College based on total student enrollment (14,961 students vs. 814 students)

NKU vs. Livingstone College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NKU or Livingstone College?

  • Livingstone College is 51.4% more expensive to attend than NKU for in-state tuition ($15,917.00 vs. $10,512.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 32.5% higher at NKU than Livingstone College ($21,096.00 vs. $15,917.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than Livingstone College ($8,151 vs. $15,162)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Livingstone College are 71.6% lower than costs at Northern Kentucky University ($6,794 vs. $11,660)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Livingstone College than Northern Kentucky University (100% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Livingstone College students is 13.7% larger than aid received Northern Kentucky University ($13,065 vs. $11,492)

NKU vs. Livingstone College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Northern Kentucky University (1068) is 360 points higher than at Livingstone College (708)
  • Incoming NKU students have a 9 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Livingstone College (14)
  • Accepted freshman NKU students have a 0.78 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at Livingstone College (2.64)
  • NKU has a higher acceptance rate (96%) than Livingstone College (74.1%)

NKU vs. Livingstone College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, NKU or Livingstone 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 Livingstone College and NKU.

  • The graduation rate at NKU is higher than Livingstone College (37% vs. 28%)
  • Graduates from Northern Kentucky University earn on average $15,500 more per year than Livingstone College graduates after ten years. ($39,700 vs. $24,200)
  • Northern Kentucky University students graduate with a $17,050 lower median federal student loan debt than Livingstone College graduates. ($24,950 vs. $42,000)
  • NKU graduates are paying $177 less per month on federal student loans than Livingstone College graduates. ($257 vs. $434)
  • More NKU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Livingstone College students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 13%)

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