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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 | McNeese State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
NKU | McNeese | ||
| Location | Highland Heights, KY | Lake Charles, LA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 14,961 | 6,060 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #912 | #882 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | nku.edu | mcneese.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
NKU | McNeese | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,512 | $5,147 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $21,096 | $6,647 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,660 | $10,596 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $8,151 | $11,393 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,492 | $9,409 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 83% |
Admission |
NKU | McNeese | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,417 | 3,294 | ||
| Admitted | 6,162 | 2,225 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 96% | 67.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21% | 47.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.36 | ||
| 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 | 810/1120 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Required to be considered for admission | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 15, 2026 |
Academics |
NKU | McNeese | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
NKU | McNeese | ||
| Graduation Rate | 37% | 37% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,700 | $44,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 53% | 49% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,950 | $20,238 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $257 | $209 |
Diversity |
NKU | McNeese | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 10% | 2% | ||
| % Women | 24% | 6% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 82% | 67% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 18% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 3% | ||
| % International | 3% | 7% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 0% |
Students |
NKU | McNeese | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 71% | 85% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 28% | 10% | ||
Campus |
NKU | McNeese | ||
| 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 McNeese based on total student enrollment (14,961 students vs. 6,060 students)
NKU vs. McNeese Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, NKU or McNeese?
- Northern Kentucky University is 104.2% more expensive to attend than McNeese for in-state tuition ($10,512.00 vs. $5,147.00)
- Out of state tuition is 217.4% higher at NKU than McNeese State University ($21,096.00 vs. $6,647.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than McNeese ($8,151 vs. $11,393)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at McNeese State University are 10% lower than costs at Northern Kentucky University ($10,596 vs. $11,660)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than McNeese State University (98% vs. 83%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Kentucky University students is 22.1% larger than aid received McNeese State University ($11,492 vs. $9,409)
NKU vs. McNeese Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, NKU or McNeese? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between McNeese or NKU .
- The average SAT score at Northern Kentucky University (1068) is 39 points higher than at McNeese (1029)
- Incoming NKU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at McNeese (22)
- Accepted freshman NKU students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at McNeese (3.36)
- NKU has a higher acceptance rate (96%) than McNeese (67.5%)
NKU vs. McNeese Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, NKU or McNeese? 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 McNeese and NKU.
- The graduation rate at NKU is the same as at McNeese State University (37% vs. 37%)
- Graduates from McNeese State University earn on average $4,300 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($44,000 vs. $39,700)
- McNeese State University students graduate with a $4,712 lower median federal student loan debt than NKU graduates. ($20,238 vs. $24,950)
- McNeese graduates are paying $48 less per month on federal student loans than NKU graduates. ($209 vs. $257)
- More NKU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former McNeese students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 49%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/