NKU vs. McNeese

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

NKU McNeese
Location Highland Heights, KY Lake Charles, LA
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 15,801 6,230
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #805 #890
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nku.edu mcneese.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

NKU McNeese
Tuition (In State) $10,208 $5,147
Tuition (Out of State) $20,464 $6,647
Room & Board $11,248 $9,878
Avg Net Price $7,259 $10,154
Avg Grant Aid $11,275 $9,540
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 88%

Admission

NKU McNeese
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,905 3,554
Admitted 5,939 2,532
Acceptance Rate 86% 71.2%
Enrolled % 27.6% 41.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.42 3.36
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/25 18/24
SAT Range 1030/1290 970/1180
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2025

Academics

NKU McNeese
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 19:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (26%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (22%)
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Engineering (5%)

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 36% 38%
% Women 64% 62%
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 66% 84%
% Out-of-State 26% 8%

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 (15,801 students vs. 6,230 students)

NKU vs. McNeese Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NKU or McNeese?

  • Northern Kentucky University is 98.3% more expensive to attend than McNeese for in-state tuition ($10,208.00 vs. $5,147.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 207.9% higher at NKU than McNeese State University ($20,464.00 vs. $6,647.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than McNeese ($7,259 vs. $10,154)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at McNeese State University are 13.9% lower than costs at Northern Kentucky University ($9,878 vs. $11,248)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than McNeese State University (100% vs. 88%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Kentucky University students is 18.2% larger than aid received McNeese State University ($11,275 vs. $9,540)

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 (86%) than McNeese (71.2%)

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/