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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 | Mary Baldwin College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
NKU | MBC | ||
| Location | Highland Heights, KY | Staunton, VA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 14,961 | 1,792 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #912 | #1048 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Presbyterian Church (USA) | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | nku.edu | mbc.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
NKU | MBC | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,512 | $32,732 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $21,096 | $32,732 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,660 | $10,630 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $8,151 | $18,838 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,492 | $25,673 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 98% |
Admission |
NKU | MBC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,417 | - | ||
| Admitted | 6,162 | - | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 96% | |||
| Enrolled % | 21% | |||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.57 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 18/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 916/1133 | 940/1120 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | |||
| Application Deadline | Aug 15, 2026 |
Academics |
NKU | MBC | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 14:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
NKU | MBC | ||
| Graduation Rate | 37% | 49% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,700 | $38,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 53% | 53% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,950 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $257 | $279 |
Diversity |
NKU | MBC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 10% | 6% | ||
| % Women | 24% | 26% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 82% | 58% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 23% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 4% | ||
| % International | 3% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 5% |
Students |
NKU | MBC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 71% | 85% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 28% | 15% | ||
Campus |
NKU | MBC | ||
| 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 MBC based on total student enrollment (14,961 students vs. 1,792 students)
NKU vs. MBC Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, NKU or MBC?
- Mary Baldwin College is 211.4% more expensive to attend than NKU for in-state tuition ($32,732.00 vs. $10,512.00)
- Out of state tuition is 55.2% higher at MBC than Northern Kentucky University ($32,732.00 vs. $21,096.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than MBC ($8,151 vs. $18,838)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mary Baldwin College are 9.7% lower than costs at Northern Kentucky University ($10,630 vs. $11,660)
- The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University as Mary Baldwin College (98% vs. 98%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Mary Baldwin College students is 123.4% larger than aid received Northern Kentucky University ($25,673 vs. $11,492)
Which college is harder to get into, NKU or MBC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between MBC or NKU .
- The average SAT score at Northern Kentucky University (1068) is 59 points higher than at MBC (1009)
- Incoming NKU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at MBC (22)
- Accepted freshman MBC students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.57) than students at NKU (3.42)
NKU vs. MBC Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, NKU or MBC? 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 MBC and NKU.
- The graduation rate at MBC is higher than Northern Kentucky University (49% vs. 37%)
- Graduates from Northern Kentucky University earn on average $1,300 more per year than MBC graduates after ten years. ($39,700 vs. $38,400)
- Northern Kentucky University students graduate with a $2,050 lower median federal student loan debt than MBC graduates. ($24,950 vs. $27,000)
- NKU graduates are paying $22 less per month on federal student loans than MBC graduates. ($257 vs. $279)
- More MBC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NKU students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 53%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/