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Ole Miss Auburn Kentucky University of Toledo Texas Tech Alabama Eastern Memphis LSU ASU Murray State University Tennessee| Northern Kentucky University | Mississippi State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
NKU | Mississippi State | ||
| Location | Highland Heights, KY | Mississippi State, MS | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Rural Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 15,801 | 22,649 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #805 | #523 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | nku.edu | msstate.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
NKU | Mississippi State | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,208 | $9,248 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $20,464 | $25,294 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,248 | $10,964 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $7,259 | $15,364 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,275 | $14,252 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 98% |
Admission |
NKU | Mississippi State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,905 | 18,830 | ||
| Admitted | 5,939 | 14,158 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 86% | 75.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 27.6% | 23.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.58 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 21/29 | ||
| SAT Range | 1030/1290 | 1070/1280 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 15, 2025 | Aug 1, 2025 |
Academics |
NKU | Mississippi State | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
NKU | Mississippi State | ||
| Graduation Rate | 37% | 60% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,700 | $47,500 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 53% | 63% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,950 | $23,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $257 | $240 |
Diversity |
NKU | Mississippi State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 36% | 49% | ||
| % Women | 64% | 51% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 82% | 72% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 20% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 2% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 2% | ||
| % International | 3% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
NKU | Mississippi State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 66% | 59% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 26% | 40% | ||
Campus |
NKU | Mississippi State | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Mississippi State University is larger than than NKU based on total student enrollment (22,649 students vs. 15,801 students)
NKU vs. Mississippi State Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, NKU or Mississippi State?
- Northern Kentucky University is 10.4% more expensive to attend than Mississippi State for in-state tuition ($10,208.00 vs. $9,248.00)
- Out of state tuition is 23.6% higher at Mississippi State than Northern Kentucky University ($25,294.00 vs. $20,464.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than Mississippi State ($7,259 vs. $15,364)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mississippi State University are 2.6% lower than costs at Northern Kentucky University ($10,964 vs. $11,248)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than Mississippi State University (100% vs. 98%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Mississippi State University students is 26.4% larger than aid received Northern Kentucky University ($14,252 vs. $11,275)
NKU vs. Mississippi State Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, NKU or Mississippi State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Mississippi State or NKU .
- The average SAT score at Mississippi State University (1140) is 72 points higher than at NKU (1068)
- Incoming Mississippi State students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at NKU (23)
- Accepted freshman Mississippi State students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.58) than students at NKU (3.42)
- NKU has a higher acceptance rate (86%) than Mississippi State (75.2%)
NKU vs. Mississippi State Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, NKU or Mississippi State? 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 Mississippi State and NKU.
- The graduation rate at Mississippi State is higher than Northern Kentucky University (60% vs. 37%)
- Graduates from Mississippi State University earn on average $7,800 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($47,500 vs. $39,700)
- Mississippi State University students graduate with a $1,700 lower median federal student loan debt than NKU graduates. ($23,250 vs. $24,950)
- Mississippi State graduates are paying $17 less per month on federal student loans than NKU graduates. ($240 vs. $257)
- More Mississippi State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NKU students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 53%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/