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WSSU Kentucky UNCG University of Toledo Howard CAU North Carolina Central University Florida A&M Eastern Morgan State Murray State University ECU| Northern Kentucky University | North Carolina A & T State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
NKU | NCAT | ||
| Location | Highland Heights, KY | Greensboro, NC | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 14,961 | 13,885 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #912 | #950 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | nku.edu | ncat.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
NKU | NCAT | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,512 | $3,540 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $21,096 | $17,200 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,660 | $8,832 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $8,151 | $10,258 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,492 | $10,700 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 89% |
Admission |
NKU | NCAT | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,417 | 30,717 | ||
| Admitted | 6,162 | 14,183 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 96% | 46.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21% | 19.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.61 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 16/22 | ||
| SAT Range | 916/1133 | 960/1190 | ||
| 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, 2026 | Jun 1, 2026 |
Academics |
NKU | NCAT | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 20:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
NKU | NCAT | ||
| Graduation Rate | 37% | 41% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,700 | $38,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 53% | 27% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,950 | $29,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $257 | $299 |
Diversity |
NKU | NCAT | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 10% | 5% | ||
| % Women | 24% | 7% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | Yes | ||
| % White | 82% | 5% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 84% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 4% | ||
| % International | 3% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 2% |
Students |
NKU | NCAT | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 71% | 67% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 28% | 32% | ||
Campus |
NKU | NCAT | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| 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 NCAT based on total student enrollment (14,961 students vs. 13,885 students)
NKU vs. NCAT Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, NKU or NCAT?
- Northern Kentucky University is 196.9% more expensive to attend than NCAT for in-state tuition ($10,512.00 vs. $3,540.00)
- Out of state tuition is 22.7% higher at NKU than North Carolina A & T State University ($21,096.00 vs. $17,200.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than NCAT ($8,151 vs. $10,258)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at North Carolina A & T State University are 32% lower than costs at Northern Kentucky University ($8,832 vs. $11,660)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than North Carolina A & T State University (98% vs. 89%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Kentucky University students is 7.4% larger than aid received North Carolina A & T State University ($11,492 vs. $10,700)
NKU vs. NCAT Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, NKU or NCAT? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between NCAT or NKU .
- The average SAT score at Northern Kentucky University (1068) is 158 points higher than at NCAT (910)
- Incoming NKU students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at NCAT (19)
- Accepted freshman NCAT students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at NKU (3.42)
- NKU has a higher acceptance rate (96%) than NCAT (46.2%)
NKU vs. NCAT Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, NKU or NCAT? 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 NCAT and NKU.
- The graduation rate at NCAT is higher than Northern Kentucky University (41% vs. 37%)
- Graduates from Northern Kentucky University earn on average $1,600 more per year than NCAT graduates after ten years. ($39,700 vs. $38,100)
- Northern Kentucky University students graduate with a $4,050 lower median federal student loan debt than NCAT graduates. ($24,950 vs. $29,000)
- NKU graduates are paying $42 less per month on federal student loans than NCAT graduates. ($257 vs. $299)
- More NKU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NCAT students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 27%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/